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Clean up your act! How to really clean windows

Printed from: http://pressroom.pella.com//fast_facts/99/

"Maintaining and cleaning windows should be part of an annual home improvement checklist to maximize your view and the overall performance of your home. It's easier than ever to keep your windows clean and functioning at their best, thanks to innovations and handy tips from Pella."

Kathy Krafka Harkema
Window expert
Pella Corporation

How hard can it be to clean a window? Believe it or not there is an art to it. Anyone who's ever tried to clean glass knows there's more involved than a few shots of window cleaner and a roll of paper towels. Large swipe marks, smudges of dirt, streaks and residue are telltale signs of improper cleaning.

Take some tips from the experts at Pella on how to professionally clean glass windows, insect screens, blinds and even hardware.

Yes, I do windows

• To wash interior glass of windows and doors, use a premixed vinegar and water solution (one part white vinegar to 10 parts water) and a soft, lint-free towel or cloth.
• Ammonia-free Windex® Glass and Surface Cleaner (clear liquid) or Sparkle Glass Cleaner (purple liquid) are Pella-recommended glass cleaning options for best overall results.
• For outside cleaning, use the same mixture and a squeegee.
• Be generous with the amount of cleaner applied.
• Rinse with clear water if streaks remain after cleaning.
• Carefully use a mild abrasive, such as Soft Scrub® (The Clorox Company), and wet cloth for tougher marks such as grease, oil, tape adhesive, crayons or paint. Wipe clean using a dry, clean, lint-free towel or cloth. Then clean the glass as mentioned above.

Screens

• To remove dust and dirt from screens, simply vacuum with the upholstery brush attachment.
• For grease spots, typically found in kitchen screens, use hot water and a mild detergent.
• For a flat screen, those found on a storm door or patio door, remove the screen and wash with soap and water. Or use a drapery brush attachment on a vacuum.

America would rather clean anything than the blinds

In a survey of homeowners across the United States, Pella found that homeowners would rather clean their grimy sinks, investigate the deep dark depths of their closets or wade through the old food in the refrigerator than tackle cleaning dirty shades or blinds. Nearly four in 10 Americans (39%) say cleaning the shades and blinds is simply the pits.

While no one really wants to take on the blinds and window shades, wealthy homeowners and Westerners especially resist it. Homeowners earning more than $50,000 annually are almost twice as likely (46% vs. 26%) to dread window treatment cleaning more than those who earn $25,000 or less, a sentiment that 47% of Westerners agree with. That's 10% more than all the rest of the nation. Of all the household cleaning chores that need attention, cleaning the blinds is least liked.

Here are a few tips from Pella to make this household chore easier:

Blinds/shades

• Wood blinds
  • Regular dusting will maintain a like-new appearance
  • For deeper cleaning, vacuum gently with brush attachment of any vacuum cleaner
• Non-wood blinds (plastic, metal or otherwise)
  • Immerse blinds in a tub or tray of lukewarm water and mild detergent
  • Rinse with clear water and let dry before reinstalling
• Fabric blinds or shades
  • To remove dust, use a vacuum cleaner with a drapery brush attachment
  • Use a damp cloth for smudges, fingerprints, etc.

Hardware

• Brass
  • Place the removed hardware on newspaper in well-ventilated area
  • Brush with lacquer remover per manufacturer's instructions
  • Use fine steel wool to remove coating and polish the brass
  • Rinse with mild soap solution
  • Apply high quality, nonabrasive, polymer-based car wax to seal the surface
  • For tough to clean brass hardware, try soaking the hardware in a lacquer thinner or paint reducer overnight

Good cleaning tips

• Avoid using ammonia- or alcohol-based glass cleaners which can result in streaks or a film that attracts moisture or dust.
• Never use cleaners with ammonia on fabric — they will cause irreversible damage.
• Avoid using a razor blade on glass to scrape off stubborn marks — permanent scratches can result.
• To reduce the likelihood of cleaning blinds or shades all together, choose Pella® Designer Series® windows or patio doors with the shades protected between the panes of glass.
• Remember, cleaning windows from inside the home is a safer proposition than standing on a two-story ladder, so consider replacement windows with a tilt-in feature (double-hung) or extra wide openings between the sash and frame (casement) for easy access and safe cleaning.

Further questions?

• Contact your local Pella® Window & Door Showroom or call 888-847-3552 or visit www.pella.com.
• For year-round window safety tips visit www.nsc.org/aware/window/.

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