How to Start the New Year With Sparkling Clean Windows

New Year’s always brings the promise of starting afresh in every aspect of your life. Whatever your personal resolutions may be, very few people think about giving their homes a chance for a new start.

On behalf of homes everywhere, we’re going to show you how easy it is to start your new year with beautifully clean windows. Just follow these simple steps:

• Determine the type of windows you have. The way you clean your windows will depend heavily on whether or not they can be tilted in and out or if they are stationary. Tilting windows tend to be much easier to clean, but the older style isn’t impossible to make shine.

• Gather your materials. You’ll need a bucket of cool water, a double sided window squeegee with a soft scrubber on one side, lint-free cloth like an old tee-shirt and a couple of drops of dish detergent.

• Choose your timing wisely. You don’t want to try to clean windows when the sun is directly hitting them or when the wind is blowing. Of course, if it’s raining, you’ll want to postpone your efforts for another day.

• Get to work. Don’t put more than just a drop or two of soap in your bucket, or you’ll have to deal with residue. Suds are not necessary here. Apply your solution with your squeegee, and wash the dirt off. Don’t allow the solution to dry — use the blade side of your squeegee to clear away the solution as you go, wiping the blade dry between swipes.

• Use your lint-free cloth to tidy up the edges. Your squeegee blade won’t be able to reach the very edges, but you don’t want to streak up what you’ve done. That’s where your old tee-shirt comes in. Carefully wipe around the corners to finish up the job.

Of course, if you have specially-treated windows, you’ll want to check with any manufacturer directions before cleaning. You could void your warranty if you don’t use a specific cleaning solution. For most windows, however, this solution is cheap, easy and safe. Now go shine in your New Year!

Image: zoetnet