🏚 Home Tips Issue #4: Cleaning Your Windows and Window Screens

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In this issue, we’ll discuss a simple but essential home maintenance task: cleaning your windows and window screens.

Clean windows and screens are essential for your home to look clean and polished. When the sunlight hits a grimy window at the wrong angle, every tiny smear and fleck of dust is highlighted - so maintaining clean, streak-free windows is a must!

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How do you keep your windows and window screens clean?

The Pros & Cons

😊 Pros of Cleaning Your Windows and Window Screens

• Improved light: Who doesn’t love natural light? Clean windows let in significantly more light, creating a bright, pleasant environment. 

• Better view: Removing the grime, streaks, and dirt from your windows gives you a better view of your yard and the outside world. 

• Improved overall aesthetics: Clean, sparkling windows and screens lift the overall appearance of your home, making it look clean and well cared for. 

• Increased lifespan: While dirt doesn’t tend to damage your windows themselves long-term, screens, and frames can become corroded if left dirty for long periods, reducing their lifespan. 

😞 Cons of Cleaning Your Windows and Window Screens

• Time investment: Keeping your windows streak-free and your screens clean can take a long time, particularly if you have a large house. 

• Potential risk: If you have a multi-story house with hard-to-access windows, cleaning can require the use of a ladder, which always carries safety risks. 

• Water consumption: Keeping windows clean can use a lot of water, which may be restricted or expensive - particularly during the height of summer. 

• Cost: If you need to hire a professional to clean hard-to-reach windows, this can be expensive. 

Why Do Windows And Screens Get So Dirty?

Windows and window screens are prone to accumulating dust and dirt, particularly in the summer months. The dirt can be caused by:

• Pollen and dust

• Insects and bird droppings

• Fumes and smoke

• Mineral deposits from rain

• Fingerprints and pet smudges

• Salt spray (if you live near the ocean)

• Residue from cleaning products

While some dirt is inevitable, regular and effective cleaning helps to keep your windows sparkling clean for as long as possible. 

🏡 How to instructions: Washing Your Windows And Screens

You’ll Need:

• A bucket

• Cleaning solution (a teaspoon of dish detergent dissolved in two gallons of water works well, or you can purchase a commercial cleaning product)

• Window squeegee (extendable if necessary)

• Scrubbing brush and sponge

• Microfiber cloths

• Ladder

• Garden hose

• Towels

• Vacuum cleaner (for screens only)

To Clean Your Screens

When cleaning your windows and screens, it makes sense to start with the screens. Windows look best with a shiny, streak-free finish, and it’s easy to accidentally contaminate the shine when reinstalling your screens. 

Step 1: Remove Your Screens

• Take the screens carefully off the windows, ensuring you don’t damage them.

• If it is safe to do so, use a ladder to access the screens that are out of your reach. Ensure you have help and don’t take unnecessary risks. 

Step 2: Remove Loose Dirt

• Use the vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove dirt, grime, and dust from your screens. 

• Wipe around the edges with a microfiber cloth to remove any dirt on the framing. 

Step 3: Wash Away Stubborn Dirt

• Use a scrubbing brush dipped in the cleaning solution to scrub away any lingering grime on the screens. 

• Rinse the screens thoroughly with a garden hose, then place them in the sun to dry completely. Make sure you put them somewhere clean where they won’t immediately get dirty again. 

To Clean Your Windows

Step 1: Prepare Your Solution:

• Either mix a teaspoon of dish detergent with two gallons of water or prepare a commercial cleaning solution according to instructions. 

Step 2: Apply the Cleaning Solution

• Use your sponge to thoroughly apply the cleaning solution to your windows. 

• Make sure you apply the solution to only a couple of windows at a time, as otherwise the solution will dry and leave streaks. 

• If there are any stubborn spots of dirty, use the scrubbing brush to dislodge them

• When cleaning the interior windows, put towels in place to prevent water from damaging your windowsills and flooring. 

Step 3: Squeegee the Windows

• Use your squeegee to remove the solution from your windows. Work quickly and in straight lines to avoid streaking. 

• If there are spots that haven’t come clean, reapply the solution and squeegee again. 

• As always, if you’re using a ladder to access higher windows, ensure you are taking all necessary safety precautions. 

Step 4: Use Vinegar to Remove Hard Water Stains

If your windows have mineral stains from hard water, try the following to remove them:

• Soak a microfibre cloth or similar in white vinegar (not diluted).

• Place the soaked cloth on the affected area and let it sit for five minutes. 

• Remove the cloth then repeat steps 2 and 3. 

Step 5: Dry And Polish

• Use a microfiber cloth to polish away any streaks and to dry the edges where the squeegee can’t reach. 

Step 6: Reinstall The Screens

• Make sure the screens are completely dry. If not, dry any excess moisture with old towels. 

• Reinstall the screens, making sure to avoid touching the windows as much as possible to avoid creating new streaks. 

✔ Tips & Tricks

• Avoid the heat: It’s best to avoid cleaning windows during the hottest part of the day, as the cleaning solution will dry too quickly and cause streaking. 

• Don’t overdo cleaning products: Less is more when it comes to cleaning windows - just a tiny amount of detergent mixed with water is sufficient. 

• Avoid lint: Make sure you use high-quality, lint-free microfibre cloths to avoid lint residue. 

• Clean as needed: It’s far better to do regular light cleaning than the occasional deep clean. Keep on top of your windows and screens and the process will be quick and easy. 

🛠 When to call a Pro

• High or difficult access: Don’t risk hurting yourself - if your windows require precarious balancing on ladders, it’s best left to the pros. 

• Time shortages: If you’re already pressed for time, hiring professionals will save you hours of work. 

• Equipment problems: While most people have the basics to clean ground floor windows, if you have a multi-story home you may not have the necessary tools for hard-to-reach areas. 

Transform your home with confidence, one tip at a time!

Ron

The Handy Homeowner

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