In any room, the cleanliness of each room and its fullness of light depend on the cleanliness of the windows. Despite the fact that windows made of plastic do not require any labor-intensive care, there are still some simple rules that you should know when washing such windows.
The old methods that many are accustomed to will not work in this case. Cleaning windows with soapy water and rubbing with newspapers will take a lot of time and it is unlikely that they will bring exactly the result that you would like to achieve.
How to clean windows outside?
Glass. The double-glazed windows themselves are best cleaned using a special window cleaner and a microfiber cloth. The sprayer on the bottle allows you to distribute the product over the entire surface of the window, and the microfiber perfectly absorbs all liquid and dirt. Glasses are always wiped from top to bottom.
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When and how often should you wash your windows?
The frequency of window cleaning largely depends on climatic conditions. It is mandatory to clean windows with the onset of spring. After all, over the entire winter period quite a lot of dirt accumulates on them. It is believed that it is no less important to prepare windows for winter, that is, to put the profile and glass in order. Many housewives start general cleaning of the house before the onset of major holidays or any significant events, forgetting that the windows also need to be washed. If they are clean enough, you can simply wipe them down and add a little shine.
Windows in buildings that are located away from noisy highways do not require more frequent cleaning. But, living in large cities with an abundance of dust and various pollutants, washing twice a year may not be enough. In this case, at least superficial cleaning of windows should be more intensive and carried out at least 2 times a month.
Do not forget that windows can become dirty not only from the street side; there is also dust from the inside of the room.
In addition, mandatory window cleaning should be carried out after special cases, such as, for example, major repairs, cosmetic and various unforeseen circumstances.
Useful tricks for keeping windows clean
There are some unusual recommendations that help keep glass clean:
- in order to prevent dirt from sticking to the glass for as long as possible, after washing, you can wipe it with a solution of water with ammonia and the addition of glycerin;
- to repel annoying flies that pollute windows, simply wipe them with vinegar;
- to give the glass a pleasant blue, you can use dry ultramarine, and a greenish tint can be easily achieved using a solution of copper sulfate;
- if trouble occurs and a small crack forms on the glass, it can be hidden by covering it with a simple colorless varnish.
With enough attention and proper care of a plastic window, it can serve for a long time, preserving all the beauty of its original appearance.
Private questions
The material reviewed did not include some specific issues that concern site visitors.
How to wash if there are grates
At first glance, it seems that bars create serious problems when caring for windows. But that's not true. The reason is simple - they are usually installed on the first two floors of the house. Therefore, a stepladder will help when cleaning glass on the first floor, and magnetic brushes or a telescopic mop on the second. The washing technology is no different from the standard procedure.
It’s even easier if there are swing bars. In this case, there are no problems at all.
How to clean on high floors
Cleaning windows from the outside on a high floor is really problematic if one sash opens into the apartment and the other is blind. Here, the first place is not the quality of washing, but safety. After all, the risk of falling from a height and breaking is very high.
To solve the problem you can:
- hire a cleaning company;
- use magnetic brushes (how to use them here);
- buy a window cleaning robot (a way out of the situation, but not the best solution);
- use a mop with a special handle.
The above tips are good, but they do not allow you to remove dirt in the corners and near the profile. Therefore, the vast majority of housewives take a risk and stand on the windowsill, holding the frame with one hand and cleaning the glass with the other. The editors of the site categorically do not recommend climbing out of the window opening. But if the desire exceeds the arguments of reason, we advise you to become attached to the battery. The rope or cable must support the weight of a person with a large margin. You need to fasten it around your waist and crosswise over your shoulders so as not to accidentally slip out of the belay.
How to clean sliding windows
Sliding windows are cleaned from the inside and outside in the same way as hinged windows. Moreover, in most cases they can be removed from the guides, which simplifies the cleaning process as much as possible.
How to wash windows on the balcony
Difficulties in cleaning balcony windows arise when there is side glazing and there is no opening sash. In this case, it will not be possible to get to the outside of the glass from the balcony. But the existing sash does not always solve the problem. After all, the side window is still difficult to access. You can try washing with magnetic brushes. Only here you need to try, firstly, to deliver the tool to the place of work, and secondly, not to break the glass when the magnets collapse. After all, strict control over the halves of the device is extremely difficult to ensure.
Industrial climbers will help resolve the issue.
It’s a little simpler with a loggia - there is no side glazing. A mop with a telescopic handle will help out here. You can use magnetic brushes, but the problem arises when moving from one double-glazed window to another. The brush cannot penetrate the profile holding the glass.
How to prevent divorces
It is not always possible to wash windows in an apartment without streaks. There are several reasons:
- the glass is poorly washed. There was dirt left on them that the detergent could not wash off the first time. In this case, the procedure must be repeated. If the problem is not resolved after repeated washing, change the cleaning solution. After all, there could be dirt on the glass that the used glass cleaner is not able to wash off;
- window care work is carried out in sunny or windy weather, as a result of which the water quickly evaporates, leaving a thin film of chemical elements on the glass;
- the washed glazing was wiped with a poorly wrung out or dirty rag;
- removal of the cleaning solution was carried out using pendulum or circular movements, but from bottom to top (not to be confused with washing - it’s the other way around);
- The water turned out to be hard, as a result of which a limescale deposit settled on the glass, which is difficult to remove with a rag.
Knowing the problem areas, you can give advice on preventing divorces.
- Wash plastic windows in cloudy, windless weather.
- Do not wash the entire window at once, but wash each glass unit separately. This will allow you to quickly carry out the work without allowing the cleaning solution to dry out.
- You need to wipe the glass dry with smooth circular movements, from top to bottom.
- At the final stage, polish the glass using newspapers, a suede cloth or nylon tights. These handy products can remove remaining stains without repeated washing with clean water.
- A solution of glycerin and water will help to consolidate the results of your work. It wipes the window glass, as a result of which it will not sweat.
In addition, stains can also appear from a dirty window block profile. Therefore, it is recommended to wash it first.
What are the nuances of washing windows after renovation?
Some difficulties arise if windows have to be washed after repair work. Experts advise covering the window opening in such cases with plastic film, but in practice workers do not always follow the recommendations of more experienced comrades. It happens that the owners, relying on their neatness, stain the double-glazed windows with building materials. There are no difficulties in removing stains if you know which product to use in each specific situation. Let's put them all in a table.
Table 1. Products for removing stains from building materials.
Type of pollution | Stain remover |
Polyurethane foam on a double-glazed window | "Solvent 646" |
Nitroenamel | Acetone |
Enamel | |
Adhesive from masking tape | Vegetable oil, turpentine, drying oil or isopropyl alcohol |
Cement | Orthophosphoric acid |
Acrylic paint | White alcohol, gasoline |
Chalk and lime whitewash | Cif for shiny surfaces |
When removing stains from building materials, there are two things to keep in mind.
- When working with solvents, good ventilation of the room must be ensured.
- Phosphoric acid instantly corrodes plastic. Therefore, all precautions must be taken to prevent acid from coming into contact with the PVC frame or window sill.
Why do stains remain on windows?
Sometimes, despite care, window cleaning in the office and at home ends in disgusting stains. How to avoid trouble, what is the reason for the patterns that appear? To ensure that clean glass does not have streaks, cleaning from dust and dirt must be carried out according to a certain routine. If the sequence of work is violated or the detergent is incorrectly selected, blurred stripes appear. Weather has an impact on windows, speeding up drying when cleaning on hot days. Haste in putting things in order also affects quality. Washing balcony windows requires care.
Preparing to wash windows
In order to get the job done efficiently, you need to take care in advance and prepare all the tools required for this:
- wiper;
- soft, non-scratch sponge;
- a bowl or basin with warm water;
- cotton rag;
- detergent;
- comfortable rubber gloves.
If the windows are located in a high-rise building, it is also advisable to acquire a special mop with a variety of attachments to avoid possible falls from a height.
Initially, before you start cleaning the windows, you should remove the flowers and other objects on the windowsill so that they do not interfere with the process. It is better to remove curtains, curtains and blinds, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid dirt getting on them. It is recommended to lay some old rag on the floor to prevent dirt and water from spreading throughout the apartment.
Using Karcher to clean windows
If you don't have such a rag, you can replace it with old magazines or newspapers. The paper will absorb moisture, preventing dirt from spreading all over the floor.
It is best to place the prepared tools on the windowsill. It is also recommended to wear comfortable clothes with large pockets in which you can put a cloth or windshield wiper, so that you do not have to bend down to get them every time if necessary.
How to wash plastic windows: procedure
The frame must be cleaned from time to time and accumulated dirt and dust must be removed. Washing plastic windows should begin with cleaning the profile. In this case, it is necessary to use only a soft cloth or sponge, since smooth plastic is very capricious; it absolutely does not tolerate scratching washcloths or harsh handling.
Initially, the frame is washed from the inside, then from the outside. First, you should simply remove all accumulated dust, and then begin a thorough cleaning. To ensure long and reliable service of the profile, it is necessary to pay considerable attention to the rubber seal. It should be wiped at least twice, and preferably three times a year, and then coated with silicone oil.
With laminated profiles, there is often concern that the colored surface may be damaged when exposed to rain or snow. Due to the special structure of materials and process technology, colored laminate does not require any special or complex methods or additional actions to preserve the color.
Having cleaned the profile, you can move on to washing the main component - the glass. Due to the special design, double-glazed windows must be washed from the outside and inside; dirt and dust do not penetrate between the glasses due to the tightness. Glass must be washed with extreme caution, as it is extremely easy to damage it: just press it with a sharp object or even just rub it with a hard sponge.
Reasons for fogging of plastic windows and ways to get rid of this problem
It should be remembered that the bulk of dirt and dust is found at the joints of windows, so you need to wash them especially carefully and start from the joints. Afterwards, the glass itself is cleaned. It is very important that all movements are horizontal.
Cleaning glass from the outside seems much more difficult than it actually is. When using a special mop, there will be no fear of falling from a height. All mop movements should be vertical so that all dirt flows down, where it can later be easily removed.
It is also important not to forget about the drainage system: it is necessary to clean it periodically, as over time it can become clogged with fluff, leaves and other debris.
How to clean windows with a steam cleaner or magnetic brushes
There are special devices that allow you to quickly and efficiently wash windows. One of these is a magnetic brush. It allows you to simultaneously process the inside and outside of the window, which significantly saves time.
Today there are quite a lot of window cleaning devices.
The device consists of several brushes that hold each other with a magnet. The disadvantage of this equipment is that it will not be able to cut corners. Therefore, you will have to wash them yourself.
Even regular scrapers can make window cleaning easier.
The next useful device is a steam cleaner. The principle of its operation is similar to an iron equipped with a steam function.
A steam cleaner is an expensive but effective device for cleaning windows.
Water is poured into a special section of the device. When it heats up, steam will begin to flow from the equipment, which cleans the window surface. In addition to water, you can even pour glass cleaner into the designated container of the device.
Window washing is a set of measures to clean glass surfaces from contamination.