How do I wash my own windows?

It seems rather fun and industrious to wash one’s own windows. The first time. And then you realize what’s involved and promptly turn the task over to the professionals, a rare breed of human being who actually enjoy the detailed, involved and surprisingly skilled task of cleaning your panes.

But we understand – the first time you want to try it yourself. We did too. And were promptly hooked. If you feel the same, hurrah – welcome to the club! If you’re not immediately enthralled with the process, give the experts at Stone Surface Specialists a call at 801 856 0164. We’ll come charging over with our fancy-looking tools to get your windows sparkling like new in a jiffy!

1   Use a strip applicator.

Cleaning picture windows requires large, dedicated tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up lots of lovely soapy water and dislodges dirt without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, we suggest using just a teeny squirt of dishwashing liquid and about a half-cup of plain white vinegar in a bucket of warm water—the less suds, the better. The more suds you put on the glass, the more water and elbow grease you’ll have to use to remove them. And modern soap products are highly effective emulsifiers – you only need a teeny bit to go a long way.

2   Wipe clean with a squeegee

This is the fiddly bit! Professional window cleaners make it look easy and quick, but wielding a squeegee is a skill that comes with a lot of practice.

Starting at the top left of your window, pull the squeegee over the still-soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (do the opposite if you’re left-handed). Keep the squeegee in contact with the window through the entire motion, keeping your wrist loose and bendy. Don’t apply too much pressure on the squeegee or you’ll get strange lines on the glass – just keep enough pressure to keep it in contact with the pane. At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee’s blade clean with a lint-free cloth. Old linen napkins are perfect for this.

Alternative Method:

If you’re washing the outside of your windows, you can get all big-gunsy about it and just use the hose to wash the suds off the glass. And then proceed to the last step. We would suggest doing one window at a time though if you’re going to do it this way, as the water will dry and leave nasty little mineral deposits and spots on the glass if you don’t get to it right away.

3   Remove any remaining drips

Remove any water or suds remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag. Repeat with the other side of the window. Don’t be tempted to use anything other than a damp chamois for this purpose – anything else WILL leave streaks and bits of fluff. It’s worth investing in a good chammy if you’re planning to clean your own windows regularly. It’s a jolly useful bit of kit.

If all this sounds a bit more than you wanted to do and you’re frankly ready to throw in the towel, give the experts at Stone Surface Specialists a call at 801 856 0164. We’ll take all the ‘grrr’ out of window cleaning and have your panes sparkling in a jiffy. With a smile, we might add.