Window Cleaning Tools & Supplies

Household cleaning and maintenance take up a good deal of time for homeowners. With a full-time job and a busy life, finding ways to maintain the home more efficiently pays off in more leisure time. Window cleaning might be a necessary job but it can be one of the most time-consuming home maintenance tasks. Using the correct window cleaning tools and supplies can make this messy job easier.

Water

Plain water works wonders for cleaning windows. When you mix a small amount of dish detergent with a bucket of warm water, you've got all your need to effectively clean your dirty windows. Some individuals prefer to use window sprays to clean windows, wiping off the cleanser with paper towels. The frustration begins with the inevitable streaks produced by this method. The water/detergent mix works best when sponged onto the dirty window and removed with a squeegee. If you don't have a rubber-bladed squeegee, use dry, lint-free towels to remove the dirt and grime from the window.

Squeegee

Smaller, window-sized squeegees provide a much quicker way to clean windows than a roll of paper towels. The higher-end models work best since they function with a rubber blade to slide the water off the window and you can replace the blades. Squeegees slide dirt right off the window toward the edge or bottom for a quick wipe-up with a towel. Purchasing an extension pole allows you to reach upper exterior windows easily.

Lint-Free Cloths

Many paper towel products contain little bits of lint that can ruin the look of a freshly washed window. It's best to choose lint-free cloths for cleaning the windows. Using these cloths reduces smudges and streaks. Consider checking the automotive section of your local stores. Micro-fiber car drying cloths will provide extra absorbency and absolutely no lint to mar your clean windows.

Sponge

Cleaning a window with a sponge might seem strange at first. However, there's no better soft-cleaning tool to use on your window. Porous yellow sponges offer a soft surface with a very slight abrading ability to remove tough dirt from windowpanes. Don't use textured, pot-scrubber sponges on windows to avoid scratching the glass surface.

Stain Removal Tools

Don't do without the one essential window-cleaning tool that helps remove even the toughest stains. When bird scat, acid rain or sap lands on your window pane, it gets baked onto the glass in the hot sun. Easily remove tough buildup with a flat edged razor blade. The blades are typically used for edging windowpanes after painting. If you've got excessive water spots on your windows, pour full-strength white vinegar into a spray bottle and apply to the window. Work the vinegar into the stains using a sponge and then wash with the soap solution. A few applications should remove even the toughest water spots.

References

• This Old House