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Premier 3M Window Films | New York | NY | MetroSolar | 1- 800-874-4017 | Keep your home’s windows looking great with these tricks

If your home’s windows are dirty, it’s hard for your home as a whole to look good—inside or out. Dirt, dust, and smoke can leave your windows looking old and discolored, impacting the way you see the world outside through them. It’s time to make a positive change. In this article, we’ll review several ways you can keep your home’s windows looking their best, both in the present and down the road.

Use the right soap when cleaning

There’s an endless number of window cleaning products out there, each purporting to clean windows better than the rest. But, you don’t really need to spend a ton of money on these one-time-use chemicals. Instead, you probably have the right cleaning agent you need, right in your kitchen: dish soap. As a natural degreaser, dish soap is perfect for removing dirt, dust, and other contaminants such as smoke. All you typically need is a pea-sized drop per window.

If you’re short on dish soap, another viable option is distilled white vinegar. The same principle applies: vinegar is a degreaser. Make a 50-50 mix of vinegar and purified water (more on this below) and then spray it onto the surface of the glass.

We’ve recommended several natural or easy-to-find cleaning products. Here’s something you should buy, however: a squeegee. It’s a professional cleaner’s secret weapon. A rubber-bladed squeegee allows you to thoroughly clean without streaks. You should be able to find one at your local hardware store. Just remember: if you have tall windows, be sure to get an extension pole that will help you reach them.

When washing your windows, water quality matters

Unfortunately, the first instinct of most homeowners is to grab the garden hose and spray down their windows. Depending on where you live, this is probably counterproductive. Most communities here in the United States have hard water in some form or another. Hard water is filled with minerals, mostly as a result of being pumped out of groundwater sources. While safe to drink and shower in, these minerals can be rough on your glass. When you hose down your windows, you’re accidentally leaving that mineralization behind, causing hard water spotting later.

If your tap water is hard, take a different approach. Purchase several gallons of distilled or purified water from the grocery store and fill up a spray bottle. Use this softened water to spray down your windows before cleaning. It’s a bit more work, but you’ll be shocked at how much better your windows will look when you’re done. Plus, it’s much better for the longevity and long-term look of your glass.

Protect your window glass

When professionally installed, window film forms an invisible shield that protects your windows and everything inside your home. 3M Sun Control UV-blocking film, for instance, helps to cut down on the fading of your floors, furniture, curtains, and rugs. By deflecting the sun’s rays, it helps keep your home cooler and more comfortable in the hot summer months. Plus, window film is great for homeowners who want sunlight coming in, but still want some privacy from the street.

windows

As every homeowner knows, it just takes one errant fastball to break a window. As the window shatters, it sends shards of dangerous glass throughout your home. This is an incredibly hazardous situation, especially if you have young children. Window film can protect you here, too. When installed correctly, window film forms a shield that not only protects the glass from impact, but prevents it from shattering when something does break the glass. It’s a protective layer against both baseballs and burglars.

There’s no substitute for a professional cleaning

Cleaning your own windows is a little like brushing your teeth. It’s something you should do regularly, and it can make your windows look a lot cleaner, but you should still schedule a professional cleaning every year. Window cleaning professionals are experts at what they do, and they have the right equipment to perfectly wash your home’s windows—every time.

We’d recommend you schedule professional window cleaning any time you’re looking to impress. This could be before a holiday party held at your home, or right before you list your property for sale. When presentation matters, you want your windows to be looking their best. Of course, you’re also not limited to just special occasions, or even cleaning just once a year. If you love the look of your clean windows, many professional cleaners offer package deals where you can set up quarterly appointments for your home.

Guest Blogger:
Diane Thompson
dianet@clearproclean.com
Home Maintenance Writer