How often to clean windows?
So, our grandmothers and mothers attached great importance to the cleanliness of glass. And quite rightly, because windows are like the eyes of a house. According to their condition, they often judged the thriftiness of a woman and evaluated her as the keeper of the hearth.
Clean window profiles are not only a guarantee of cleanliness and comfort - the health of households also depends on this. After all, it is known that the dust on the glass is fraught with so many “interesting” things - microbes, bacteria, and small insects, and all of them can bring into our lives not only discomfort but also various diseases.
It is for this reason that windows need to be washed promptly, and this must be done correctly.
Some Tips
Choose a day and time for window cleaning
Do not clean windows on a bright sunny day when the sun's rays fall directly on the glass. In windy weather, you should also refrain from washing windows. Otherwise, detergents will dry out very quickly and leave stains from them. When washing kitchen windows, it is advisable not to cook anything on the stove and in the oven: the glass can fog up from the steam, and it will not be possible to wash them properly.
Prepare everything you need
To clean windows, you will need a rubber scraper on a stick (the optimal length is up to thirty centimeters), several well-absorbing rags or microfiber cloths depending on the washing method - glass cleaner, a special solution, or a bucket of water.
First of all, frames!
Before cleaning the glass, it is necessary to put the frames in order. In most cases, clean water is sufficient for metal-plastic profiles and wooden frames; in case of severe contamination, a washing liquid, for example, an ordinary soap solution, will be required. Under no circumstances should abrasive cleaners be used - they can ruin both the sealing gum and the window profiles themselves! It is advisable to wipe the washed frames dry immediately.
Follow the correct sequence
After cleaning the frames, you can start cleaning the glass. It would be more correct to wash the inner surfaces of the glasses first and then the outer ones.
Find a better way
There are many ways to clean windows. Here are some of the most popular:
- Cleaning windows with special chemicals. As a rule, household products are suitable not only for windows but also for cleaning mirrors and any glass surfaces. The main thing is not to mix different chemicals in one "cocktail" - the effect can be completely unpredictable!
- Glasses can be washed with ordinary soapy water. In this case, you need to prepare two containers of water: one with soapy water, and the other with clean water. And also three rags (for both containers and for wiping dry). First, wash the window with soapy water, then with clean water. Then wipe with a dry, absorbent cloth. To avoid streaks on the glass, you can wipe them with a crumpled newspaper - it perfectly absorbs excess moisture and polishes the surface.
- Lightly soiled glass can be easily washed with a cold aqueous solution of potato starch (1 tablespoon of starch per 1 liter of water) - window glass will literally shine!
- The glasses will also shine after wiping them with warm water with the addition of ammonia (2 tablespoons of ammonia per 1 liter of water).
- In addition to ammonia, our grandmothers used vinegar (2 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 liter of water).
- Before the advent of various new glass cleaners, toothpowder and powdered chalk were the most reliable products. It is enough to dissolve a little tooth powder or chalk in water and apply it on both sides of the glass. After the mass has dried on the glass, remove the residue with a soft dry cloth.
- Polish the glass with a dry cloth - first the vertical and then the horizontal direction. It is good to wipe the window panes with a cotton or woolen cloth.
Let’s Sum Up
So, to summarize: a general window cleaning should be carried out twice a year - in the fall (ideally - October) and in the spring (April, and May). By the way, it is worth mentioning that these periods were also chosen for a reason. In October, dust does not fly as intensively as in summer, and therefore it will settle less on the windows. And in May, you simply get rid of the consequences of a long winter - wash off all the layer of dirt and dust that has accumulated.
