You might have heard that the best time for window cleaning is when it’s warm, but not sunny outside. Such a description automatically brings autumn or spring into your mind. And it’s true. Cleaning windows when it’s warm is definitely a more pleasant experience, but what can you do if it’s winter outside?
Don’t be afraid, even though it’s pretty cold in the street, you still can perform window cleaning. Such a chore will help you keep the home clean and pleasant to prepare it for the upcoming holidays. In this article you will read about the common window cleaning rules as well as learn several tricks related to window cleaning in cold weather.
Note:
Before we proceed to the actual window cleaning tips, remember that your windows require regular care. If you monthly or at least once in a season clean them, you can have clean windows. Otherwise the dirt and dust will accumulate around the windows and eventually will become impossible to get rid of. Furthermore, the more dirt accumulates on your windows, the higher is the risk of scratches appearing on the glass. Try to stick to your windows cleaning schedule and get pleasant and transparent windows at all times.
Weather conditions
Now let’s get down to the actual window cleaning. The first thing you need to consider is the weather. Check the forecast and don’t forget to use common sense by looking outside of the window. Your goal is to choose the warmest day in the row, yet not a sunny one. Sun helps water evaporate much faster which leads to water steaks on the windows; add to the sun below-zero temperature and you get the worst weather conditions for window cleaning. Remember the set in stone rule from window cleaners: Cloudy and warm day that doesn’t bring snow and harsh wind.
Pre-cleaning
Windows tend to collect all possible dust. If you haven’t cleaned the windows for a long time, then before you clean them for real, ensure that you get rid of the thick dust and dirt layer on the outside parts of windows. By doing this you ensure that the actual cleaning goes faster and smoother. Furthermore, pre-cleaning helps protecting window opening mechanisms (piling up dust and dirt eventually will damage the mechanisms).
Forget about hot water!
Do you know what happens if you put hot water onto cold glass? Well, if no then check this page for the answer.
Now you know that the glass will simply break. In case you’re not interested in dealing with broken windows a couple of weeks before the Christmas, we insist on the importance of using barely warm water for winter window cleaning. Don’t consider using cold water either because it has more chances of freezing up on your windows and making even bigger mess than there was before.
Gloves
In case you want to protect your hands from detergents and cold then you can use gloves, but again approach this issue in a smart way. Don’t wear regular gloves made of napped fabric because it will only lead to additional complications in window cleaning. Don’t also use very thin (surgical) gloves because the risk of them getting frozen to the glass is too high. The ideal option is gloves made of thick rubber that will protect your hands, under which you can put your regular gloves for warmth, and which won’t stick to the windows.
Detergent
At this point you have already learnt that winter window cleaning is a bit different from the same warm weather experience. This means that you need to make some alterations in terms of detergent too. In case you don’t have an option of cleaning your windows when the temperature gets above zero and you desperately need to clean them, then some special non-freezing component is needed. The best solution you can get is antifreeze liquid for cars. It contains special chemicals that allow it not to freeze and at the same time it’s meant for cleaning. So you get two in one. You can either use only this special detergent, or opt for a water-antifreeze mix in half to half proportion.
Drying
The most important part of the winter window cleaning process is drying your windows. You need to ensure that no water marks and stains are left because you’ll have to do everything all over again. The best way to dry your windows in winter is to do it in two stages: squeegee and towel. With a squeegee, you will remove excessive water from the window efficiently and then dry it completely with a towel. Don’t use newspaper or paper towels in winter because the former have higher risk of leaving scratches in winter, and the latter might just freeze to the window. Paper towels can be used for window cleaning in winter, but only after you remove the water with a squeegee.
As you can see, winter window cleaning is similar in its process to a regular window cleaning, but it has several peculiar points that should always be accounted for.
