How to Plan Window Cleaning

It is amazing the difference a clean window can make. Washing a window removes the unsightly buildup of dust on the inner side of the window and dust and other various debris from the outside of the window. The result lends a clean feel to the entire room and allows the light of the outdoors to come pouring in. Washing windows is not hard to do but it is time-consuming. Before you attack the windows in your home, streamline the task by developing a plan for cleaning your windows.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cleaning solution
• Paper towel or newspaper
• Squeegee
• Ladder or step stool

1. Arm yourself with the right tools. Good window cleaning means more than a quick swipe of a paper towel across the surface of the windows. You'll need a good cleaning solution. Many people prefer a natural solution of white vinegar and hot water. Others use commercial products to get the job done. Use what you prefer but just be sure to have plenty on hand. You will also need a hefty supply of paper towels or newspaper for wiping the window and a window squeegee to dry the windows without streaking. Finally, in all likelihood, you will need a ladder or at least a step stool.

2. Check your technique. Before you begin the task of washing your windows you'll want to make sure that you are cleaning them properly. The goal is to remove the dirt, not smear it all over the window. Take a few practice runs on the bathroom mirror before getting started on the real thing.

3. Keep in mind two guiding principles: Work from the top down and from the inside out.

4. Start planning your window washing chore. Begin with cleaning the highest windows and working downward if you have a two-story home. You'll also have to decide on a logical way to work on all the windows in your home without losing track of what has already be cleaned. To keep track of which windows you have washed, just work through the house one room at a time rather than dividing the task into the front of the house or the back of the house.

5. Plan to wash the inside of the windows first. Starting indoors will make it easier when you wash the outside of the windows. Anything remaining on the window after cleaning the outside of the windows will likely be something you missed on the inside, which you can easily revisit when you return indoors.

6. When you clean the outside of the windows, work from the top of the house downward. This will eliminate the hassle of rewashing the lower windows if anything splashes on them as you work on the windows above.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution whenever using a ladder.