The 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Windows: Make Them Crystal Clear

Autumn is near and we already need to prepare our house for the upcoming season. Have you cleaned the windows? Yes, this is one of the hardest things when it comes to housekeeping. But, what are the mistakes to avoid when cleaning the windows? How to make sure that they are crystal clear?

The 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Windows: Make Them Crystal Clear

Summer is almost over, so it’s a good idea to use the last few days to give your windows a good clean and get them ready for autumn. Yes, having dirty windows gives the feeling that the whole house is messy. And if you have a nice view, how can you enjoy it when you can barely see it through the smeared glass? Surely you’ve tried all sorts of ways, but your windows don’t seem to get crystal clear. You’ve even resorted to giving lots of money to a company to come and clean. That’s because until now you haven’t understood exactly what you’re doing wrong. If you find out which are the mistakes to avoid, window cleaning will seem like child’s play. This will save you a lot of money and a lot of time.

What Are The Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Windows?

There are 7 mistakes that you should avoid at all cost, if you want your windows to be clear. Normally, people don’t like to clean them and are procrastinating because they think this is something hard and time-consuming. Actually, it could be one of the easiest things to do around the house, if you learn how to do it properly. Let’s start with the list!

Cleaning Windows on a Sunny/Windy Day

Strange as it may sound, if you want to clean your windows in the summer, you should do it in the early hours of the morning when there is shade. The reason is that dirt is harder to clean when the sun is out and the window is heated. The same goes for a day when there is wind. If dirt and dust is caked on the window, the wind will just blow it back and all the cleaning becomes pointless.

Spraying Windows Cleaner Directly on Dirt and Dust

Many people think that if the windows are covered in dirt, dust and even mud, they should be sprayed immediately with a cleaner. But, this will actually make things look even worse! For this, pre-clean either with the vacuum cleaner or a duster, the dust and dirt and then spray with detergent. Depending on the dirt caked on, choose a way that will remove most of the dust from the window. Otherwise, you risk creating a paste of dirt that will look like this…

Using Too Much Glass Cleaner

In our goal to clean our windows better, sometimes we overdo the detergent and it doesn’t lead to anything good. Not only do you waste it unnecessarily, but the windows can become even more smudged and look worse than before as well. For this, choose a suitable cleaner, it doesn’t even have to be the most expensive one. There are many glass cleaners on the market that will do a wonderful job for you.

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Cleaning The Entire Window at Once

I know you want to get this tedious chore over with quickly, but you risk leaving huge marks on your window if you clean it once. For this, we recommend working in small sections, especially if you’re dealing with large windows.

Using Abrasive Materials to Clean

Forget about using brushes, steel wool, or scouring pads when cleaning your windows. It will not only make them dirtier, but you are risking damaging them and scratch them. I know that you think they don’t scratch easy and you want to remove everything from them, but there are products that are made especially for that purpose. Instead, use a microfiber glass cleaning cloths.

Read also: Discover how to clean coolers in case of mold and bacteria.

Letting Your Windows Dry in The Sun

When using detergent there is no need to wash your windows afterwards. But the cleaner itself should not be left to simply dry in the sun. After cleaning, ensure that you remove excess detergent and liquid. If you don’t, you run the risk of your windows becoming drippy. For best results, use a squeegee. You know that professional cleaners are using it, but you have to know how to do it properly.  There’s a specific motion to do with it to avoid making marks on the window. You have to kind of create half circles when using the squeegee, as shown on the photo.

Rushing and Cleaning Fast

We’ve already mentioned that with these tips to avoid mistakes, cleaning windows will become like child’s play, but don’t think you can finish everything in 15 minutes… Cleaning windows really does take time and you need to do it precisely if you want them to look really crystal clear! So take your time, be careful and follow every step.

Read also: Learn how to clean your swimming pool and what chemicals make the water clear.