Oh, it’s muddy out there. It’s been raining a lot lately. Fall and winter are an unpleasant time for our windows. However, as soon as it starts to get sunny and mild, that’s even less pleasant, since the sun shines through the grime and highlights it for all to see.
If you’re looking out some dirty windows and are tempted to just close the curtains and be done with it, wait! What’s a good and nontoxic way to clean windows? Vinegar and water, of course. Here are a few window washing tips.
When you wash your windows, wash the windowsills and any wooden centerpieces first. These tend to capture the dirt at the edges, and you don’t want to clean your windows, only to clean the frames and get the windows messy again.
Remove the screens from the windows and wash them in light soapy water. Wash the screens gently, since they often have small tears.
If possible, start on the outside. Use your energy on this more difficult job, then you’ll be able to do the easier indoor cleaning later. It’s tough when you spend energy cleaning the insides of the windows, only to find that the outside was the real problem.
Wash windows on a cool day. On a hot day, the sun will dry them and they will streak.
Wash windows with a lint-free cloth like linen. This will help you avoid adding lint balls to dirt on the windows. It’s also possible to use newspaper, but test this on a small area first to make sure that the newspaper does not disintegrate or leave streaks.
Use a quarter cup of vinegar in 2 quarts of warm water for large spaces, and use equal parts of vinegar and water for dirtier windows. Undiluted vinegar is good for stubborn stains. Buy double-strength cleaning vinegar if necessary.
Do you have any good tips for making windows sparkle?