Summertime should be full of outdoor fun, but if you can’t even see the outdoors it may be time to give your windows a good cleaning. Ideally, windows should be washed twice a year, but how many of us really do it? Cleaning the windows on the inside of the house is easy; cleaning the outside is a little trickier. Part of the problem is safely being able to reach the outside of the windows. The thought of dangling precariously from a ladder in the hot, summer sun is not an appealing one. It’s actually easier to clean like the pros than you think. The techniques aren’t complicated and the results will amaze you. Here is the proper method: What you will need: One large bucket A combi (squeegee + scrubber in one) or separate scrubber and squeegee* A telescopic pole for windows above 6 feet* A lint-free or microfiber cloth Liquid glass soap (grease cutting dish soap works well too) Warm water Instructions: 1. Fill the bucket with warm soapy water- just a squirt of liquid soap in a bucket of warm water – the fewer suds, the better. 2. Get a combi (squeegee + scrubber tool) or separate window scrubber and squeegee. Ten inch combis and scrubbers are small enough for multi-pane windows and big enough for picture windows alike. 3. Dunk the combi or scrubber in the bucket and soak up a lot of soapy water, wring out and apply to window working dirt loose without scratching the glass. If you’re working with high windows, attach the tool to the telescopic pole and extend it to the desired height. Start on one side of the window and work your way back and forth until the window is completely wet. 4. Flip the combi over to the squeegee side or move from scrubber to squeegee. Starting at the top of the window and working to the bottom in long, even strokes. At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee’s blade clean with a lint-free rag like microfiber. The window should always be wet, to avoid scratching (if the squeegee squeaks a lot, add a bit more soap to the water). If you are working with high outdoor windows, just tap the end of the blade on the window sill to shake off the water and then continue moving across the window from one side to the other instead of lowering the squeegee each time to wipe the blade. 5. Remove any water remaining on the edges of the glass with the same microfiber cloth, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the window sill also. For high windows, fold the microfiber cloth over the top of the squeegee to finish drying the window.

I have a love-hate relationship with my air conditioner; I hate living with it, and I can’t live without it. I, like many who dwell in old apartment buildings and houses, muddle through the summer heat and humidity with window units that not only obstruct views and restrict access to natural light but also give off a sound that makes you feel as though you are camping out on an airport tarmac. The noise is not surprising; the compressor sits right in your window with little more than some plastic and a few bits of metal encasing it. For these reasons, I hold off installing my units for as long as possible and remove them as quickly as possible. But over the years, I’ve figured out a few ways to make them work and look a bit better. Installing your unit Wash your windows. Make sure you clean your windows before installing your air-conditioning units — once the unit is in, there’s no way to clean both sides of the glass (unless you live on the ground floor and can access the windows from outside, and even then you wouldn’t be able to clean the area where double-hung windows overlap). Level it off. Install your unit so it is level. If the unit tips downward, it could keep the condensation from draining properly out of the back or bottom. Go clear. Years ago, I replaced the accordion-style insulation panels that came with my air conditioners with clear plexiglass. This made a world of difference. I was able to reclaim about two feet of natural light in each window. You can buy plexiglass sheets at most hardware stores. Just measure the open gaps, score the dimensions on both sides of the plexiglass (leave the protective cover on while you do this) with a glass cutter or the dull side of a box cutter and then just snap the pieces off. Remove the protective cover and secure the plexiglass pieces with screws to the window sash and bottom rail. Fill the gaps. No matter how efficient your air conditioner is, the cool air will leak out of your house if you don’t have it properly sealed, and you will end up with higher electricity bills. Make sure you fill the gaps between the frame of the lower sash and the window and the upper sash, as well as all the cracks around the side panels. Duck Brand makes a number of products — Air Conditioner Insulating Seal, All Weather Repair Tape and Heavy-Duty Weatherstrip Seals — that you can cut to size and use to seal gaps. Filling gaps can also cut down on noise; a gap between the air conditioner’s frame and the sash or between the glass and the frame can cause annoying vibrating or rattling sounds. Maintaining your unit Clean the filters. Cleaning your unit’s filter is easy to do but easy to forget to do. I try to clean mine every Sunday. Most people say you can do it every other week, but I find pollen, dust and dirt buildup, and that can’t be good for anyone. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to open the front of your unit and remove the filter. I vacuum away as much of the grime as I can, then rinse the filter in warm, soapy water. Once the filter is dry, place it back in the unit. One tip: I put a small red Sharpie dot in the top corner of the filter, just so I always know which side of the filter should face out. Clean the coils. Your unit’s coils are what move the hot air out and the cool air in, and they, too, attract dirt and dust. I use an old toothbrush to gently clear away as much dirt as possible. I then use an old cloth dipped in warm, soapy water to remove excess dirt. Make sure you let all parts dry completely before you turn the unit on. Help keep it cool. It may seem obvious, but keep your curtains drawn, your shades down and your windows closed during hot summer days so that the cool air stays in and the hot air stays out.

1 × Wash with a strip applicator (Picture Window) Step One // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro Wash with a strip applicator (Picture Window) Picture windows call for large tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up a lot of soapy water and knocks dirt loose without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, Weingard uses just a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water—the less suds, the better. 2 × Wipe clean with a squeegee (Picture Window) Step Two // How to Clean Windows Like a Pro Wipe clean with a squeegee (Picture Window) Starting at the top left, pull the squeegee over the soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (left-handers would start at the top right)...

There is a lot of reasons why making your own household cleaners is a good idea. I have read a lot of information on the dangers of common store bought cleaners. The list of dangers seems to encompass everything from breathing toxic fumes, the harmful effects of the cleaners on your skin to some cleaners being carcinogenic. Aside from the health concerns there is also a financial consideration. Cleaners can be quite an expense on the budget. If you purchase a separate cleaner for everything from wiping down counters to cleaning floors, polishing and dusting, tub cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and the list goes on, this is a fairly large slice of the family’s budget...

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They let in light, keep out the weather and (if we’re lucky) provide us with beautiful views of the outside world, but when our windows are dirty, they can really detract from the overall look of our homes, inside and out. While many homeowners have tackled the task of window cleaning on their own, the benefits of professional window cleaning are more significant than most would expect. Professional window washing is not always the cheapest option, but when you consider the advantages of hiring a pro for this job many will find that professional window cleaning is well worth paying for...

Steps Part 1 Making Carpet Cleaner Recipes Make a carpet cleaner and conditioner. This carpet cleaner and conditioner is the most similar to a commercial cleaner, and it will leave your carpet clean, fresh, soft, and smelling great. To make this cleaner, combine in a bucket: 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of liquid laundry detergent ¼ cup (59 ml) of liquid all-purpose cleaner 1 scoop of OxiClean 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of fabric softener 1 gallon (3.8 L) of hot water Create an aromatic non-toxic cleaner. For families with kids and pets, non-toxic cleaners are often high on the priority list, especially for things that get used every day like your carpets...

Below are two recipes for homemade window cleaner to get your windows, glass and mirrors sparkling clean for less. There are many alternative ways to make window washing solution, generally with certain common household ingredients, such as ammonia, vinegar, dishwashing liquid, and alcohol. The ammonia in the recipes below helps remove fat and grease. The dishwashing liquid in the recipes below also helps with cutting grease. The alcohol in one of the recipes below is a solvent which dissolves lots of other types of things which can get on your window...

A window cleaner is a person whose career is dedicated to keeping the exterior glass and windows of commercial buildings clean and presentable. While the popular perceptions of window cleaners may envision them working on the exteriors of skyscrapers, the reality is that most window cleaners do plenty of work on single-story structures. Window cleaners typically work for dedicated providers of this service, as most businesses will contract out window cleaning work as part of their scheduled lands and facilities maintenance...

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