Using Traditional Methods
It’s no secret that using traditional methods to clean your windows requires more elbow grease, but the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done your part for the planet and saved some money while doing so can be enough to make us willing to put in the effort. Here’s how to get your windows clean the old-fashioned way:
1. Combine two tablespoons of white vinegar with 450ml of water, and pour into a clean spray bottle.
2. Spray onto the window to cover the whole surface area, and wipe over with your cloth of choice (we like paper towels or kitchen roll to reduce the amount of fibres left on the window). Make sure you get into all the corners, and don’t forget the elbow grease.
3. Use newspaper to buff up the windows until they’re gleaming – streak free! It’s the newspaper at the end that really does the trick, which is surprising considering it comes coated in ink. Nevertheless, it really works.
Using Modern Products
If you prefer more modern methods and aren’t worried about splashing out a little extra on some decent equipment, you can get your windows clean with much less effort.
1. Purchase a good quality squeegee and a scrubber. A squeegee is a T-shaped device with a rubber blade fitted onto a short handle, and the scrubber is a similar item with an absorbent fabric strip in place of the rubber blade. You’ll also need to pick up a decent sized bucket
2. Make sure the squeegee is fitted with a sharp, clean rubber blade with no nicks in it. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid to the bucket and fill with warm water.
3. Dunk the scrubber into the soapy water, and scrub it all over the offending window. Make sure you press particularly hard on any areas with obvious blemishes on.
4. Use the squeegee to wipe the soapy water from the windows, starting from the top and working your way across and down. Tilt the blade at a slight angle as you progress to make sure no spots are missed.
Which is Better?
Either of these methods will get your windows squeaky clean and blemish-free, so it’s really down to your personal preference. Would you rather save money and avoid chemicals? Go the traditional vinegar-and-newspaper route. On the other hand, if budget’s not an issue and you’re happy to spend a little more for the promise of an easier job, then opt for the squeegee and washing-up liquid approach.
Thanks to our friends at LDG estate agents for this guest post. They are the West End experts with a range of quality property to buy in Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, Soho and Marylebone.
