How to clean your windows in the best way

When it is overcast or dark outside, dirt and dust are not usually visible on our windows. When the sun then looks ahead, the dirt is more clearly visible. Many people then want to take the opportunity to clean their windows in the nice weather. However, it is better to clean windows when the sun is not shining, which you can read more about in the article.

Rain, pollen and dust attach easily to the windows. So that the dirt does not settle too hard, it is therefore good to clean your windows a few times a year. Here you get smart tips to make your window cleaning as simple and fun as possible and also with a shiny clean result.

Tools for window cleaning

Using the right and good tools when you clean your windows makes it easier and more fun while you get a better result. Here we have gathered good advice when it comes to what things are good to have when you clean your windows.

Buckets as an aid

To facilitate the cleaning of your windows, it is good to use a large bucket with handles. Then it is easy to carry between different windows and it can also serve as storage when you are not using it. The bucket should preferably hold at least ten liters of water so that you do not have to change several times during window cleaning.

Window scraper

A window scraper is not a must to clean your windows, but it simplifies the work and the result is better. Remember to use a window scraper or rubber scraper as a shower scraper is not suitable for cleaning windows. A tip is to store it in a plastic bag when not in use so that the rubber blade does not dry out.

Trasor

You will need several cloths or cloths. It is important that they are lint-free so that they do not leave traces behind. By using several cloths, you can ensure that leftover dirt from one window is not transferred to another. Both microfiber cloths and rags of a well-washed cotton sheet work well.

High windows

If you have windows that sit high, you may need a ladder or chair to stand on. You can also use a shaft extender to access the windows, much like using a roller roller to paint ceilings or walls. We at Freska are happy to help with cleaning your windows and we can clean windows up to 4.5 meters high.

Window cleaner

There are many different products that you can use to wash your windows. Unfortunately, many of the ones you can buy in the store contain dangerous chemicals. However, there are two good options that work great for cleaning windows and that are dishwashing liquid and vinegar. We at Freska only use cleaning products that are labeled with the Swan, which are gentle on the environment.

Window plaster with vinegar

Window cleaning vinegar is an old housewife trick that actually works really well. Just add a splash of vinegar to the bucket of water. Vinegar dissolves ingrained dirt and makes your windows shiny clean, without leaving streaks.

Window cleaning with detergent

Detergent also works really well to use as a window cleaner. You do the same as with vinegar, you take a splash of detergent in the bucket of lukewarm water. Detergents are good for dissolving grease and other dirt that is hard.

Own window cleaning

It is excellent to make a homemade window plaster by mixing detergent and vinegar with water. You take one deciliter of 24% vinegar or two decilitres of 12% vinegar and mix with three to four decilitres of water. Then take about five drops of detergent and mix with the other ingredients.

How to clean windows?

Window cleaning is not difficult and the best way to clean windows is also the easiest. By following these steps, you will get shiny clean windows with the least possible effort.

• Fill your bucket with warm water and add vinegar or detergent. You can use both if you want.
• If you want to clean the entire window, including frames, you start with the frames. Take a damp cloth to wipe off dirt and dust from the frames before starting with the windows.
• Use a cloth to soak the window pane thoroughly and rub extra where there are stubborn stains and ingrained dirt. It is important that the window does not dry during cleaning, so use plenty of water and wet the window again if it starts to dry before you are done.
• Then remove the window scraper to get rid of excess water when you are done with the window. The most common is to drain the water by pulling it up and down, but you can also try to pull it in an S-shape over the window. Choose the method that is easiest for you.
• In order not to transfer dirt from one part of the box to another, it is good to wipe the rubber on the scraper between the pulls.
• Repeat the procedure on the parts of the window that are still wet until you have scraped clean the entire window and it is fairly dry.
• Then take a cloth and pull it along the window frame and joints so that it absorbs the last water that the scraper did not get rid of.
• Use a new cloth to clean handles and fittings on the window.
• Finally, wipe the window panes and the window sill from any water and dirt that has fallen down during cleaning.

Window cleaning tips - clean windows without stripes

There are some things that can be good to think about before and during the time you clean your windows. If you follow the advice we have gathered below, it means that you do not have to wash your windows more often than necessary and you also get the best possible results.

Do not wash in sunshine

Of course it's nice to stand outside and wash windows when the sun is shining. But the fact is that it is better to clean your windows on a cloudy day. This is because the washing water dries faster in the sun and streaks can form if you do not have time to scrape clearly before it dries. If this happens, you will need to wet the window again and wash off the stripes.

Take one window at a time

If you wet several windows at the same time, the washing water also has time to dry and streaks can occur. For best results, wash one window completely before starting the next.

You can use newsprint

In the past, it was common to use newsprint to clean windows because it then had a substance in the printing ink that was considered to be cleansing. Today, printing ink has a different content and newsprint is mostly used as a substitute for rags because they do not fluff.

Lint-free rags

Use rags or cloths that do not fluff. You can advantageously use an old sheet in cotton or similar that you can cut down to the right size. This way you can reuse the sheet and you do not have to buy new cleaning cloths, which is good for the environment. Microfiber cloths also work very well.

Schedule the time

If you live in an urban environment, a tip is to wait with the window cleaning until after your street has been cleaned, which usually happens in the spring. This is because garbage and garbage trucks can whirl up road dust and other dirt that then settles on the windows. If you live in the countryside, it can be good not to clean your windows just before you cut the grass or rake leaves. This is because it can draw up a lot of pollen and dust in the air.

The right technology

Think about technology. If you do not have small windows with bars, you can try to pull the window scraper with a sweeping motion from one side to the other, instead of upside down. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you pull the scraper from side to side, you should not stop in the middle of the movement. It can give streaks and uneven results.

Washcloth holder

A fur coat holder, also called a soaker, is suitable for you who want to feel like a real professional when you clean your windows. They are available both with and without water channels. The advantage of having a washbasin holder with water channels is that you do not have to soak it as often. This in turn means that the cleaning is faster.

The water channels function as a water reserve and are well suited for cleaning the outside of the windows, which usually collect more dirt than the inside. If you use a microfiber cloth, the cloth may have time to dry before you finish the box and then you have to wet it several times. If you use a washbasin holder, the water channels are filled with water which then flows out when you pull it over the window.

Clean windows minus degrees or rain

Washing windows in minus degrees or when it is raining is excellent. The trick is to mix in a little T-red or washer fluid in the window cleaner so that the water does not freeze. It is also possible to wash windows when it is raining if it is not a downpour or strong wind. Even if the rain is clean, dust and pollen accumulate in the raindrops when it ends up on dirty windows, which can give ugly stains when it dries. If you clean your windows when it rains, there is no dirt left on the windows and in this way neither dust nor the like collects in the raindrops.

How often should windows be cleaned

It is not possible to say exactly how many times in a year you need to clean your windows because several factors come into play. It depends on whether your home is in an urban environment or in the countryside, which floor you live on or if you live near the sea. A general measure is that you should clean the outside of your windows about once a quarter. Internally, two to three times a year is enough. It is usually the case that windows on the ground floor need to be cleaned at some point more per year than windows that are higher up. If you live near the sea, in a place where it rains a lot or for example near a busy street, you may need to clean your windows a little more often.

Clean windows without scratching

Although a window scraper is a good tool for getting your windows clean, it is of course possible to wash them with only cleaning agents and rags. After all, this is how windows were plastered in times before the scraper was invented. This is how easy it is to clean your windows with microfiber cloths and detergents.

• Use a microfiber cloth of good quality, preferably several pieces, and your own window cleaner in a spray bottle. As we mentioned earlier, you mix water with detergent and / or vinegar.
• Spray the window thoroughly with your window cleaner and then wipe with the cloth. You may need to rub a little extra if there are stubborn stains. Then rinse the cloth in clean water, or take a new one, and wipe the window again with the damp cloth.
• If the window is still very wet, you can wipe off the last with a dry cloth.

Window scraper

If, on the other hand, you want to use a window scraper, they are available in several different models and sizes. There are scrapers with replaceable rubber blades and those that are specially adapted for windows with bars and many small windows. It is recommended to invest in a scraper where you can replace the rubber blade as it is the part that wears the fastest. Over time, it also becomes a better choice environmentally as you only need to replace a small part instead of the whole scraper.

Wash windows when deep cleaning

A good tip is to take the opportunity to clean your windows when you are deep cleaning your home. Partly because you already have all the cleaning tools in front and partly because cleaning windows makes the whole home feel brighter and fresher. It's a wonderful feeling when the sun shines through freshly washed windows into a dust-free and clean house. If you feel that you do not have the desire or time to clean, you can book a general cleaning or home cleaning by us at Freska. You can also add window cleaning and you get your whole home shiny clean at the same time.