8 Neat Tricks to Keep Your Windows Clean for Longer

Every homeowner dreams of having clean and sparkling windows all the time.

After all, the windows are one of the main things that catch your eye when you look at a building, so it’s understandable why keeping them clean is so important.

And this is why we scrub, wipe and dry our windows so often. But sometimes, no matter what you do, it looks like the forces of nature are against you, and the dirt sticks to the glass surface the second you clean it.

Dust is something natural, so you shouldn’t be afraid of it. But you shouldn’t let it win the fight for your windows.

Don’t worry. There are some neat tricks you can use to keep your windows clean for longer. You just need to follow the next few tips.

1. Change the air filters regularly

As you probably know, dust always finds a way to get inside our homes. Most air distribution systems nowadays have air filters, preventing dust from entering.

But after some time, these air filters get clogged, and they stop working correctly, which means that the dust is practically being distributed into the air. And this is one of the leading causes of allergies. The dust gets stuck to the window surface because it’s smooth and quite often moist.

To avoid this and keep your windows clean for longer, you should regularly clean and change your air filters.

You should also consider cleaning the air ducts from time to time because they are like big dust catchers. If you limit the amount of dust coming inside your home, you will be able to protect your windows efficiently.

2. Be careful with the candles

If you use many scented candles or similar items, just keep them away from the windows. This will seriously reduce the amount of smoke residue that usually forms on the glass.

Also, some candles emit more soot and smoke than others, so if you want to have lots of candles in your home, at least ensure they don’t generate too much smoke because otherwise, you will never have clean windows.

3. Wash the windows on a cloudy day

Many people make the rookie mistake of cleaning their windows in the sunniest weather possible. The sun causes the cleaning solution to dry faster, which makes it difficult to clean the window efficiently.

The best time to clean your windows is early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Choose a cloudy day to clean your windows, but avoid rainy clouds, as the rain will double your work.

4. Use the right window-cleaning solution

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Sometimes homemade cleaning solutions do a way better job than anything you can find in the store. They are usually made from natural ingredients and don’t contain harmful chemicals that would later release into the air while you spray.

The best DIY window cleaning solution is pretty simple.

All you need is the following:

A spray bottle
2 cups of warm water
2-3 tablespoons of white vinegar
2-3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol (for more stubborn stains)
A squeegee
2 microfibre cloths

Mix all the ingredients in the spray bottle and shake it well to blend together. Spray the window surface, leave the product to work for a minute, and spread it around the window with one of the microfibre cloths.

If the window is highly stained, you can use a soft-bristled brush instead to move around any loose dirt. After that, place the squeegee in the top left corner of the window and drag it right to the bottom.

After each move, wipe the squeegee with the microfibre cloth. Once you’re done with the window, wipe the frames and edges with a clean cloth as well.

5. Clean the window corners with cotton swabs

When it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach spots like those around the corners of your windows and doors, you don’t want to make things more difficult for yourself by using the wrong tool.

Cotton swabs are a great choice because they’re tough enough to get the results you need while being gentle on surfaces like glass.

They are also small, which allows them to get into all the crevices, like the space where the window locking mechanism is.

6. The kitchen exhausts

Many professionals who specialize in domestic window cleaning claim that kitchen exhaust seriously affects how often you’ll have to clean your windows. We spend lots of time in our kitchens, cooking, washing, and preparing delicious meals for our families and us.

This is all good, but our cooking is the main reason for condensation on windows and dirt gathering on them. It is beneficial to always turn on the kitchen exhaust every single time you cook.

This way, the airborne oils will be quickly removed from the environment and won’t get stuck to the other surfaces in your home.

7. Protect the windows from rain

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One of the most important things you should remember is that rain doesn’t make your windows dirty – dust does. It settles on the outer part of your windows, and once the water touches it, it turns into mud, which leaves very unpleasant marks on the window glass.

If the glass is clean, it will remain this way after the rain is gone because nothing on the surface could destroy the view.

If you want, there are some water-repellent products for windows on the market, but there won’t be a big difference unless you clean the windows first.

Consider protecting your windows with covers. This will keep the outside dirt at bay.

8. Keep the outdoor area clean

To keep your windows clean for longer from both sides, you should also take care of your outdoor area and make sure it’s also clean and not cluttered.

You can take some special steps to avoid staining from the outer part. One of them would be to keep the barbecue grill as far as possible from your windows because the oil and grease can quickly get stuck to your windows.

You can also keep your trees well-trimmed and a few meters away from the windows because they give off lots of pollens, which can gather on the window glass and block the light.

And last but not least important, you should be very careful with the lawn sprinklers. Some homeowners leave them in the wrong position, and they start watering the windows, which is never a good thing.

Takeaways

You’d think keeping your windows clean would be as simple as a quick wipe-down every so often. The problem is that the dirt and grime that builds up on windows can be stubborn and can quickly turn into a major chore.

Of course, an untidy window can also ruin the appearance of your home. We genuinely hope the seven neat tricks to keep your windows clean will work for you — and ensure they stay that way.

About The Author:

Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology, and nutrition and provides in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.