Keeping your windows shiny
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
If your home possesses a lot of windows, you may find your current challenge is keeping them shiny. Having bright or glossy windows is always nice when it comes to the appearance of your homes but you most definitely have to maintain this look.
It’s so very easy to just spray on the Windex but then you get possible streaks. It’s also easy to just use soapy water but yet again streaks and possibly a grimy and faded look. It’s worth the effort to keep them looking great but how can it be done and effectively?
- Vinegar poured on a dry cloth helps remove spots, stains, and mineral deposits.
- Alcohol and sudsing ammonia mixture about 1/2 cup and 2 cups (alcohol), makes a great overall cleaning solution for your windows. Wash from side to side. The rubbing alcohol helps prevent streaking.
- A chamois will effectively dry your windows without any dirty build up.
And there you have it, shiny windows! Doing this once a week will keep a nice appearance to your windows. Your windows could potentially be the shiniest in the neighborhood!
Source: eHow
Image: Wikimedia Commons
How to wash second story windows on your home
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Window washing your windows can be a challenging task. What about those second story windows? This may sound even more challenging than first story windows and quite frankly, a problem. It can be done believe it or not and without the added headaches. Here are are few tips that you may find helpful:
- Use a ladder to remove the screen. Bring down and wash thoroughly with soapy water. Give a good rinse.
- Hang a bucket at the top of the ladder and begin washing the window with a good squeegee.
- Wash the windows thoroughly and rinse.
- Replace the screen
- Clean siding windows from inside the house.
- Use magnetic squeegees
The magnetic squeegees can be effective for second story windows but they also can leave major streaks if not done properly. It is just best to use a ladder for the overall job.
Source: eHow
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Keep moisture on your windows out
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
When warm air and cold air meet, you have instant precipation. This can reign true on your house windows when water condenses and settles on it, especially if your house is warm.
How can you keep condensation out? According to homerepairgeek.com, there are some “possibly” effective ways but keep in mind some of these don’t always work. It’s always worth giving a shot.
- Rain X-Glass Anti-Fog-This product keeps fog off of windows etc.
- Window Film Kit-Keeps condensation off your windows
- A dehumidifier in any room helps keep condensation off the windows.
Trying these methods may keep nasty droplets off your window sills which may eventually lead to the floor causing mold in cracks and crevaces to appear.
Source: Home Repair Geek
Image: Wikipedia Commons
Household cleaning products you should avoid
Friday, January 20th, 2012
In your daily home cleaning routines you most likely use what is popular or what works the best right? Unfortunately, many of these products contain harsh chemicals that could potentially harm us. Yikes right? Some of the strong odors that many of these products produce should make us wonder if breathing them in is even safe?
If you are concerned about your home cleaning products and would like to know which ones to avoid, here is a brief list to give you an idea:
- Formaldehyde
- Phenol
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
If you read the labels on your every day household cleaning products right now, most likely you will see one or more of those chemicals contained in it. The strong odors alone should tell you something.
Are there alternatives? Yes, and believe it or not the ingredients are most likely in your kitchen right now. Here are a few eco-friendly ideas you can use and with something as simple as vinegar.
- For a simple glass/window cleaner, you can use 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with about one litre of warm water. No more forking out money for Windex with those harsh chemicals.
- Stainless steel cleaners can be easier than you think. All you need to remove that nasty grease and residue build up on your appliances is something as simple as apple vinegar and a soft cloth. This does the trick and very easily!
- Want some simple yet effective deoderizers and bathroom cleaners? 3 cups of white vinegar will deoderize your toilet for hours. Add in a 1/4 cup of baking soda and you have a nice toilet bowl cleaner as well.
As you can see here are a few simple household ingredients to make your own cleaning products that are safe for the environment and your family. Try lemon juice and olive oil as furniture polish. Smells great and does the job! Want to concot a nice all purpose cleaner all you need is:
- 1/2 cup of vinegar
- 1/4 of baking soda
- 2 litres of water
And that’s it! Label and store away and reuse whenever needed.
Source: Mommy Foot Print
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The best kind of window cleaner
Friday, November 11th, 2011
Keeping windows streak free and shiny can be a challenge in itself that is why it’s better to stick with window cleaners that truly get the job done without any hassles.
If you just want to go the simple route, good ole’ Windex glass cleaner is pretty reliable but if you are all for saving money but really cleaning your windows efficiently and effectively you may be surprised to know that a dab of dish soap, vinegar, and water will do just as good a job if not better.
What you will need
- Vinegar
- Liquid soap or detergent
- Water
Combine 1/4 cup of vinegar with a 1/2 cup of liquid soap or detergent and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. You will want to shake gently then spray your glass cleaner solution onto your windows.
Sometimes the simplest things work out better than that of products that may end up costing you more than you would really like to pay. If you think about it, soap should be the easiest ingredient to clean a window. The vinegar helps keep the streaks away and well water, it’s the foundation of a good cleanser.
Source: Care 2
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Prevent cloudy windows
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
After you clean your windows do they continue to look spotted, cloudy, or stained? This can be such a pain and very unsightly to say the least. What exactly causes this problem? According to Crystal Clean Windows this happens for two reasons:
- Insulated glass seal failure
- Staining at the glass surface
With these two reasons in mind, what is the main contributor to most glass stains? Believe it or not it is your sprinklers. It is best to adjust the sprinklers away from spraying your windows since most likely hard water is adding to those cloudy stains you see appearing on your windows.
Now that you know what causes your windows to produce these negative results, you may find that this small piece of information brought something to light where you have originally been in the dark with for so long.
Source: Crystal Clean Windows
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Home environment and its affects on your windows
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Did you know that there are ways in which your home’s environment affects window cleanliness? Good examples of this might be grime from a city environment, or pollen and other concerns from a rural environment. This time of year can really come into play with these examples as well.
How can you keep your windows clean from these environmental elements that seem to occur every year?
- When it comes to tree sap that seems to invade your windows, try using a little bit of lemon juice or some sort of organic citrus cleaner. The citrus really seems to break down that nasty and sticky sap which would be harder to clean with traditional soapy water.
- For dirt and grime build up try using vinegar. It’s not as soapy and effectively removes any of these environmentally unfriendly issues.
- One thing you may notice when it comes to cleaning your windows, especially heavily soiled with pollen, dirt, grime, etc., the results can leave nasty streaks on your windows. To eliminate this problem try using rubbing alcohol. It apparently also keeps your windows from “fogging up.”
- Have you ever noticed that paper towel doesn’t always do the trick? Believe it or not according to Jaipi Sixbear, if you use old newspapers and crumple them up it works better with a vinegar solution would because the “texture is rougher.”
A nice little tip also from Jaipe Sixbear over at Associatedcontent.com, is to “oil down your windows.” Okay, sounds strange right? But apparently after a nice and thorough window cleaning, if you rub down your windows with vegetable or olive oil, it “keeps bird droppings and tree sap from sticking to your window making your windows easier to clean next time.” I have never heard of this tip and would most definitely love to try it, what about you?
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Source: Associated Content
Window screen maintenance and cleaning
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Image by Maniago
Who is ready to clean their window screens? Sounds exciting doesn’t it? No, I know that it surely doesn’t but of course like every other item in our home, they need to be cleaned. Screens can be a major pain but there are easier ways of getting the job done. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you clean your window screens as well as how to properly maintain them if needed.
Tips for cleaning and maintenance
- Any household cleaner like Fantastik or 409 is perfect for cleaning dirt and grime out of window screens.
- It is best to take the screens off the windows then soak them in a bath tub which contains the desired cleaner.
- Gently rub the screens with a sponge to remove any dirt, dust, and grime.
- Do not reinstall the window screens until they are completely dried.
Proper window screen maintenance
- According to Home Tips, “you are supposed to clean your screens every year with a stiff bristle brush.” “If you have galvanized metal screening, thin screen enamel paint or varnish will do the trick and preserve the screens for a long time.” The same goes for aluminum frames. Be sure to clean with aluminum polish and coat with wax.
- If you have wood frames just use screws or fasteners etc. This will prolong their life.
- If your screen has holes or tears, just replace the whole screen itself.
- Always wear gloves when cutting metal screening and use scissors and a knife to make sure everything is straight and ready to install properly.
If you would like more information how to properly maintain your window screens you can check out maintenance tips on oldhouseweb.com.
Source: Home Tips and Essortment
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Reduce your family’s allergies with pollen free windows
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Image by Ragesoss
Does your family suffer from allergies or maybe didn’t use to but now all of the sudden do? Certain factors could contribute to this and believe it or not it can be within your own home, your windows to be exact.
How can windows cause allergies? Well, we know that if dirt, dust, grime, and even mold and mildew build up on your windows it can cause serious health issues if not properly cleaned and maintained. Did you know that pollen can also be stuck to your windows as well? That nasty pollen that causes itchy noses and watery eyes? Yes! It’s important to get pollen off your windows to reduce the allergies that may be attacking you and your family. Here are some tips on how to remove pollen from your windows:
Cleaning Tips
- Try to clean your windows on a cloudy day to avoid direct sunlight which causes nasty streaks. Direct sunlight may also make it harder to see the pollen built up on your windows.
- Use about 1 to 2 Tbsp. of dish soap or even shampoo and up to 2 gallons of warm water.
- Allow your sponge to get sudsy and begin washing the windows to start removing that nasty pollen. You may need to wash a few times until the pollen loosens and washes away. If you need to, let the soapy water set a while.
- Empty your soapy bucket and fill with fresh warm water and rinse your windows
FYI: These tips are great for plastic windows as well!
You can check out more cleaning tips and how to prevent pollen on Lennox.com!
Sources: Lennox and eHow
What to use for washing window sills
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
Image by Doug Coldwell
Part of your spring cleaning routine most likely includes washing your windows. What about window sills? It is so easy to forget about this part of a window but it should also be thoroughly cleaned.
What is the best way to wash a window sill and what should be used to get the job done? Here are a few tips that may help you with your window washing projects, specifically window sills:
Window Sills
- First you may want to get some sort of soft rag or bristled brush to free away any of the loose dust and dirt trapped on the window sill.
- Next you will want to wash the window sill with warm water and soap. After a thorough cleaning, rinse the window sill with clean warm water. (For those hard to clean places like small corners, using a toothbrush is very effective with getting rid of that stubborn dirt and grime.)
*If your window contains a natural finish, consider using a wood cleaner and dusting with paper towel.
What about nasty mold from a window sill? This can build very easily if not washed at least once a week. Use some sort of mildew spray and let it stand for about 10 minutes or so. Take a sponge or cloth to wipe the mold away.
It is highly advised to call a professional to take care of a recurring mold problem. Mold can cause health problems so it’s very important to get this taken care of.
Source: eHow
