According to their report, windows should be washed twice a year, while screens need only to be cleaned annually. For many home owners and even renters, window cleaning usually is a once-a-year chore.
If you're a homeowner, clean your windows regularly, twice or thrice a year, and once every month for commercial properties like restaurants. However, take into account factors that may require you to clean exterior windows more often. You can do it yourself or call in a professional.
Dirt particles will enter the glass' pores, contaminating and corroding the windows. The first things you may notice will be some light scratches or cracks. Eventually, an unmaintained window can be altered on a structural level and will need a full replacement.
The frequency that you should clean the windows will depend on the weather and of course your personal preference. But as a general rule of thumb, aim to give them a cleaning at least once a month for the home. Sometimes, it may require more frequent cleaning depending on your location.
It may be tempting to spritz the glass cleaners all over the place, but you don't want to apply too much. Start at the top of the dirty window, spray once or twice to start, then take the microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe in Z-shaped motions to dry. Work your way down to the windowsill.
Interior windows should always be cleaned using a professional squeegee and scrubber tool for a streak-free clean. Exterior windows can be cleaned the same way but can also be cleaned using a water-fed pole for clean results without streaks.
No matter what the season is, it is generally best to wash your windows on an overcast day or early in the morning.
The best time of year to wash windows is the fall and spring months. These times are optimal because, in most locations, they offer the best temperature to wash outside windows. Most pros agree that temperatures between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (10-24C) are best for effectively cleaning windows.
For the most part, a home can generally get away with a thorough cleaning twice a year. For windows that look great all year round, two to four professional washing a year is optimal.
Perhaps your windows haven't even had the dirt removed properly. This can happen if you keep reusing a sponge that isn't being washed frequently. Or if the technique used is sloppy and not thorough. And some squeegees give a really patchy finish, especially poorer quality models not designed for professional use.
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.
The easiest way to maintain your blinds is to prevent them from getting too dirty in the first place. Clean your blinds regularly—every week or two is best—and the dust won't have a chance to build up, says Sara San Angelo, a professional housecleaner and founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady.
Hot water cleans windows faster
Removes dirt more easily – hot water is more successful in removing dirt. This is because hot temperatures make dirt particles vibrate faster, which makes it a lot easier to wipe them away.
Once all the dirt is off the windows, it's time to dry them. Working from the top down to prevent drips, dry the glass with a squeegee or clean, dry, lint-free towel. Use a dry part of the same cloth to wipe away cleaner that's pooled around the edges where the glass meets the frame.
Schmitz says that cleaning your baseboards once every two to three months should be sufficient, though that will depend on the room of your home and how much traffic it gets. If your baseboards have collected a layer of dirt, dust, and pet hair, they're due for a cleaning, regardless of when you last wiped them down.
The best time to schedule window cleanings depends on where you live and how susceptible your windows are to getting dirty. Generally, window cleaning should be done at minimum once or twice per year, plus on an as-needed basis, including at least one cleaning of any window screens.
Best time of day to clean the house -- 4 p.m.
If anyone in the house has allergies or asthma, avoid insomnia-hour and morning cleaning sprees (nasal-allergy symptoms are most severe between 6 a.m. and noon, asthma attacks more likely between midnight and 6 a.m.), and finish well before that person walks in the door.
The Best Day To Clean: Saturday
“If you are doing your own cleaning, I vote for Saturday morning so you can get it out of the way and enjoy the rest of your weekend,” says Bruce Vance, president of Town & Country Cleaning Services in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Wipe the window glass dry with a rubber squeegee. Hold the edge of the squeegee at approximately 30 degrees to the glass, then make a horizontal pass across the window. 6. Use a terrycloth rag to wipe the squeegee dry after every pass.
If the weather dips below freezing, consider rescheduling your window cleaning to avoid the hassle of frozen cleaning chemicals. Otherwise, cooler temps have little impact on cleaning windows. The main thing to remember is to use cold water in cold weather and avoid washing in freezing temperatures.
Both a washing and a cleaning should leave you with streak-free glass, but a washing is a quick service that isn't as thorough. Window washing usually involves spraying on the solution and wiping it away with a squeegee to remove loose surface debris only. This isn't what's involved in window cleaning.
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn. Sweep away dirt: Using a broom, sweep away the cobwebs and debris from the windows and sills.