When it comes to house cleaning, windows are often passed over. Maybe because they tend to get dirty very slowly or perhaps because Long Island homeowners simply don’t have the time or the proper materials to do the job right. Or maybe it’s because window cleaning is a thankless, exacting job. Even when people do decide to roll up their sleeves and have at it, it can be devilishly difficult to create a clean, streak-free window. And in some ways, post-window washing streaks can be more annoying than the dirt the homeowner was trying to clean off. So they just leave the windows dirty.
The bottom line is that there is a right way and a wrong way to clean windows and doing it the wrong way is bound to lead to streaks, smears and frustration. In this post, we’re going to look at some common mistakes people make when cleaning their windows.
Mistake #1: Washing windows on a hot sunny day
Most folks believe that a sunny summer afternoon is the best time to clean their windows. The bright light will help you spot streaks and the warm air will dry the window off faster. But here’s the thing: hot days produce hot windows and hot windows actually undermine the effectiveness of the cleaning products you’re using. As a result, it can seem like all you’re doing is chasing streaks and smears.
You may attribute it to the notion that you’re just seeing streaks you otherwise wouldn’t see. But in reality, you may just be creating streaks you wouldn’t be creating if you cleaned the windows earlier or later in the day when things were cooler.
Mistake #2: Not hiring a professional window washing company
We need to mention this before we go any further because, by far the easiest way to ensure your windows are cleaned right, while also being cleaned quickly and safely, is to hire a professional company to do it for you.
A company like Majestic will save you the trouble and danger of trying to reach 2nd or 3rd story windows off a ladder, save you the frustration of chasing smears across countless window panes all day, and leave your home looking great in no time at all. The only question is: why would you choose any other method?
Mistake #3: Not wiping off excess dirt before cleaning
If your windows have not been cleaned in some time it’s likely quite a lot of dirt and debris has attached itself to the exterior surfaces. Long Island, after all, is only a stone’s throw east of New York City. And with the prevailing winds in this part of the country blowing west to east much of the air pollution that is generated in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens winds up settling on our windows.
So before you break out the high-end cleaning solution use a wet cloth and go over the window first to remove the bulk of the dirt. After that, you can lean into it with your special cleaning solutions.
Mistake #4: Using the wrong cleaning product or using too much of it
All products intended to facilitate the cleaning of windows are not created equal. In some cases, people may buy a product to clean their windows that is heavy on grease cutters, when oily deposits on the window aren’t really a problem. Other times they’ll try to save a few bucks by picking up a discount cleaning solution thinking they’re all the same. They’re not.
Cheap window cleaners use cheap detergents that can leave behind streaks and films and never get the window entirely clean. In other instances, the homeowner may adopt the attitude that if a little bit of this cleaning solution is good, a lot of it must be great. All too often in such cases using too much detergent can leave behind a chemical layer that dulls your view out the window and actually attracts dirt and dust.
Mistake #5: Washing windows with dirty water
The further you get into the process of window cleaning, the dirtier your cleaning solution is going to get. So much so that by the time you get past the halfway point of the job you will just be smearing your windows with dirty greasy water. Not good if you want clean windows. At the same time, the cloths you are using to clean the windows have themselves become embedded with dirt and grime.
So what to do? If it’s been a while since you cleaned your windows you should swap out the water after every few windows, the rags too. Attempting to produce clean windows using dirty water and dirty rags isn’t going to create anything other than frustration. If you aren’t into window counting then swap out the solution when it becomes difficult to see your rag at the bottom of the bucket.
Conclusion
Cleaning windows is a thankless job that is best left to the professionals. But not all window cleaners are created equal so finding one whose work will match their marketing can be difficult. If you are searching for “window washers near me” or “window cleaners near me” and not having any luck just pick up the phone and call Majestic Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing. You’ll find working with us to be a breeze and our prices to be very competitive. Call (631) 421-229 today and put the scourge of dirty windows behind you once and for all.