Give Your Home Clean Teeth
Clean windows won’t add to the value of a home, but they certainly add to its appeal. If you are putting your home on the market for sale, or preparing for an open house show of your home, cleaning your windows – inside and out – should be on your to-do list.
Clean windows are like clean teeth – it’s one of the first things potential buyers are going to see. You want to leave a good impression.
Screens
Plenty of homeowners have a love-hate relationship with their window screens; they let fresh air in while keeping the bugs out. But they also get dusty easy and they are easily torn or bent if not handled properly. It’s best to wash screens after they are removed from the window.
Use a soft bristle brush and a bucket of soapy water to clean the screen mesh and frame. Label them in an inconspicuous corner if you have trouble remembering which screen went where. Lean them against a fence, wall or garage door to air dry once they have been thoroughly rinsed.
If you have a bent, torn, or sagging screen, set it aside for later repair or replacement.
Outside windows
It’s best to wash the outside of the windows first because you will be better able to determine where you need to follow up on smudges or streaks when you do the inside.
A hose, a squeegee, and a bucket of soapy water is all you need to do a thorough cleaning. However, I have found you can save time and still get a streak-free result by using the Windex washing pads that attach to a handle. There is no drying or use of a squeegee needed.
Before washing the outside windows, you may need to trim away shrubs or tree branches so that once the windows are clean there is an unobstructed view.
Inside windows
Inside windows don’t contend with the elements like the outside, so a bucket of soapy water isn’t necessary. Regular glass cleaner works well; it’s the method of drying that seems to create a lot streaks or residue. Paper towels often leave behind fibers, as do cotton towels that have been treated with fabric softener. If these are your methods for cleaning and drying interior windows it’s time to invest in a microfiber towel that can help wipe out left over streaks or fibers.
Lastly, check the spray from your sprinklers. You don’t want your hard work ruined by a wayward sprinkler spraying on or near a freshly cleaned window.
Your immaculately cleaned windows will now enhance the light and open feel of your home, giving it that model home appeal.