Post by Tumbleweed on Oct 13, 2007 14:07:29 GMT -6
Yikes, it is that time of the year (cooler weather) and probably the perfect time to clean your windows and do any screen repair.
But before you start taking off those screens be sure to label them. Painters masking tape works great to mark, with permanant ink, which window the screen came from. Why?.... you may ask. Well because even though each window may visually look the same size they may not be. To look at my home it looks as if all 22 of them are the exact same size but in fact are 3 different sizes. The other remaining 11 window are obviously different sizes.
What you'll need:
A pail of soapy water (any soapy cleaner)
A soft bristled brush
Access to the water hose
Fist line all your screens up along a wall. Brush off all screens to get off loose debris with your dry brush. Now take each one and soap them up, wet your brush and gently scrub, rinse with the garden hose (on a fine spray) and line them back up to air dry.
While your screens are drying you can tackle washing the windows. First use a broom to brush off all the loose debris and spider webs. Always wash the outside first as they are the dirtiest. No point washing the inside first if the outside is really dirty - you won't be able to tell if you are actually getting them clean. If the windows are really dirty I start out with soapy water and a scrub brush. Then I rinse with plain water and either squeegee them clean or I use a window cleaner. (I know people say you can dry with newspaper but I found it does leave streaks and is a messy job and really not very absorbent.) I find paper towels work best if you really get them clean to start. Oh, and if my windows aren't overly dirty I just use plain water, squeegee them and follow up with a paper towel.
If you have windows you can't reach you can do them from the inside. You'll just have to do a little reaching. Just raise the lower window to reach the top and lower the top to reach the bottom. I do, however have two top windows that I just can't get open. For these I taped an extension that I picked up at my hardware store. It was originally meant for another tool but I use it on the sqeeze mop to wash and the squeegee to dry. Guess I should have two of those extensions.
I also have storm windows on the sides of the house that are the old fashioned kind. They are all in one piece. Unfortunately, dragging out the ladder is the only option I have if I want to get the outside window and inside storm glass clean. O.K., O.K., I admit, I still haven't washed those.
But before you start taking off those screens be sure to label them. Painters masking tape works great to mark, with permanant ink, which window the screen came from. Why?.... you may ask. Well because even though each window may visually look the same size they may not be. To look at my home it looks as if all 22 of them are the exact same size but in fact are 3 different sizes. The other remaining 11 window are obviously different sizes.
What you'll need:
A pail of soapy water (any soapy cleaner)
A soft bristled brush
Access to the water hose
Fist line all your screens up along a wall. Brush off all screens to get off loose debris with your dry brush. Now take each one and soap them up, wet your brush and gently scrub, rinse with the garden hose (on a fine spray) and line them back up to air dry.
While your screens are drying you can tackle washing the windows. First use a broom to brush off all the loose debris and spider webs. Always wash the outside first as they are the dirtiest. No point washing the inside first if the outside is really dirty - you won't be able to tell if you are actually getting them clean. If the windows are really dirty I start out with soapy water and a scrub brush. Then I rinse with plain water and either squeegee them clean or I use a window cleaner. (I know people say you can dry with newspaper but I found it does leave streaks and is a messy job and really not very absorbent.) I find paper towels work best if you really get them clean to start. Oh, and if my windows aren't overly dirty I just use plain water, squeegee them and follow up with a paper towel.
If you have windows you can't reach you can do them from the inside. You'll just have to do a little reaching. Just raise the lower window to reach the top and lower the top to reach the bottom. I do, however have two top windows that I just can't get open. For these I taped an extension that I picked up at my hardware store. It was originally meant for another tool but I use it on the sqeeze mop to wash and the squeegee to dry. Guess I should have two of those extensions.
I also have storm windows on the sides of the house that are the old fashioned kind. They are all in one piece. Unfortunately, dragging out the ladder is the only option I have if I want to get the outside window and inside storm glass clean. O.K., O.K., I admit, I still haven't washed those.