Now that we are moving into spring, you may find yourself wanting to dust away the cobwebs to reveal fresh, clean windows that let in as much sunlight as possible. Spring is the perfect time to clean your windows after the inclement winter weather has coated them in dust and dirt, but it is important that you know where to start. It is all too easy to be left with streaky, stained windows that look worse than they did before which is why here we’ll be discussing the main causes of streaky windows that you should aim to avoid.
A sunny spring day may seem like the perfect time to start cleaning your windows but in fact the best weather for window cleaning is when it is overcast and cloudy. If you are cleaning a window that has sunlight shining directly onto it, you will find that the heated glass will dry down any solution you spray onto the window before you have chance to wipe it away. Not only will the sun cause streaks across your window but they will be much more visible in the light.
Whether you have purchased a premixed glass cleaner, or you are using your own soapy mixture, too much cleaning solution will cause streaky windows. It is a common misconception that the more cleaning solution you use, the cleaner the glass will be but with windows this is not the case. If you are using a glass cleaner, be mindful of how much solution you are spraying onto your windows. Equally if you are creating your own solution of soap and water, ensure that the parts used are equal to avoid soap residue being left on the glass.
For many years, people used old scrunched up newspaper and white vinegar to clean their windows, but this has always been a recipe for disaster. What many people don’t realise is that often the ink from the newspaper will run when wet and leave streaks across your windows. Kitchen roll is another household favourite which is great at absorbing liquid but again, not ideal when it comes to window cleaning as it will leave lint scattered across the glass.
Using the correct equipment when cleaning your windows will save you a lot of time and paper which is why most window cleaners suggest microfibre cloths, rubber blade squeegees and scrubbers. Even simply using a microfibre cloth will help you realise how much dust and lint was previously being left on your windows from kitchen roll!
Around 60% of the UK is classed as having hard water with many areas exhibiting over 200mg of Calcium carbonate per litre. Hard water has a high number of dissolved minerals, predominantly magnesium and calcium which are not ideal for window cleaning. When cleaning your windows with hard water, these minerals have a tendency to dry onto the glass and leave streaks. Distilled water on the other hand, is the perfect water type to use when cleaning both mirrors and windows as the minerals are removed and it leaves your windows with a streak free shine.
You may have the right equipment to clean your windows, but it still doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left with gleaming, streak free glass. You can’t beat experience and window cleaning, as with everything in life requires time and experience to get right. Sometimes the best thing you can do is call in a professional window cleaning service to get the best results. With years of training, experience and in depth knowledge, window cleaners know how to make your windows look there best year round.
Are you interested in making your windows streak free and shiny? At Direct Cleaning Group, we are the leading experts in our field offering state-of-the-art window cleaning services. To find out more about our window cleaning services or to request a quote for cleaning your windows, contact Direct Cleaning today.
