Home Window Cleaning Some folks may think that this article contains only a motivational message, but no... this article is a call for action. And a lot of it. Also defined as "Massive action". I certainly don't want to scare anyone away with the word "massive", but sometimes it's necessary to provide a reality check. If you think you're going to see success in the cleaning by sticking a yellow page ad search in the phone book for a good company, good luck with that. Well Kirkland Window Cleaning and removing hard water stains or spots takes a special product you wont find everyday in your local hardware or grocery store. The glass restoration products I use can be ordered online at a variety of supply stores. In this article I will list some reputable places where you can order hard water stain removal products and give you some general information on how to remove hard water spots with a mini do it yourself hard water stain removal tutorial. Water Spot Removal Project Just a quick tip before you get started on your water spot removal project. In most cases hard water stains are formed due to poorly adjusted sprinklers. So before you start, make sure that all sprinklers are adjusted properly so they do not spray the windows. The first thing you will need is a quality hard water stain remover. I am NOT talking about Limeaway or CLR. These products simply do not work. You can find a list of high quality water stain removal products here water stain removers. Now it may take a couple of days to receive your spot removal product but it is well worth the wait. Also all supplies and services have been tested and used by me on actual jobs so I know they work and trust the sources to purchase them from. My favorite Hard water Stain Remover is Bio-Clean, so make sure you look for it when making a hard water stain product purchase. Once you have your hard water stain remover in hand, you will need either a white and I specify WHITE scub pad not green!! and or a cloth towel or rag to apply the solution. The idea here is to not scratch the glass while you are removing the hard water stain. Next make sure you have a window washing wand or sponge and a squeegee to clean the glass. In order to clean the window correctly use a bucket and apply a quick squirt of Dawn dishwash detergent into apprx. 2-3 gallons of water. When you start to clean the hard water stains dip your wand into the cleaning solution and apply it to the glass where the water spots are. The next step is to apply the stain remover to your rag or scrubber(an amount the size of a fifty cent piece is enough at first). Apply this to the glass rubbing in a circular fashion until it starts to feel more smooth to the touch. The next step is to apply the soap and water solution again to the window. After the window is soaped up, use your squeegee to remove soap and water. It may take a couple of attempts to completely remove the stain. Just repeat the process until the hard water stain is completely removed.
Products And Tools Needed Now that you know what solution to use to clean your windows streak free you will need a few tools to do the job right. You could order equipment that is very fair priced from a store that professional window cleaners use and I have provided that site here. That is one way you can order tools online and receive them in about a week. You can also just get the basic supplies from a hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowes. Here is a list of a few basic items you will want to make your job go smoother and faster for the best results. If used properly you should be able to clean your glass without leaving any streaks at all. Squeegee Usually a 6 inch to 12 inch is best for home window and an 18 inch to 22 inch is best for commercial and storefront washing. Best bet is to grab a couple of different sizes to be safe. Wand You can purchase a wand at a hardware store. Get a size comparable with your squeegee. This will make soaping up your glass and cleaning screens much faster. Towels The best towels to use to dry edges of your windows are called "huck towels" or "surgical towels". They are 100% cotton, absorbent, and lint free. You can order them at J Racenstein or get them at your local janitorial supply store. These are also commonly used by maid. Don't fret if you cannot find this type of towel. A regular tightly woven cotton rag will do just fine but have a few on hand so you can always be using a window washing towel which is dry. Window Washing Bucket This is any container or bucket that is 2 to 5 gallons. Just about anything you can carry and move easily will work just fine. Stepladder Self explanatory: Can be found at any hardware store depending on size needed. For a 1 story
home and most storefront jobs a 6 foot step ladder will be enough. These are generally used on homes to assist in cleaning the outside windows which tend to be a little higher on the exterior, also used for cleaning over the door entry way windows. Screwdriver Just have a flat head screwdriver and sometimes a Phillips head handy to remove screens and dig any excess material out of corners of window tracks and frames. Professional Window Cleaners Finding a professional window cleaner to wash your windows at home or at the office is a simple task. You will get a list of local businesses just by typing in your city or town name and then adding "window cleaning service". If you are using Google a map will likely appear with listings in your local area. You can also scroll down and look for reviews on particular window cleaners from Yahoo reviews and city search information. "Angies List" is also a great place to find information on reputable companies and customer testimonials. Don't hesitate to ask your neighbors either. You will be surprised just how many people use services and word of mouth is always the best reference. Washing Prices If you are trying to determine how much it will cost to have your windows cleaned by a professional this information should be helpful Most window washing companies count windows to determine a price point for their estimate. Here are some very basic guidelines you can use to make sure the price is fair and to help determine whether it is cost effective to use a professional cleaning service or do it yourself. A quick note: If your home is more then 1 story using a pro is highly recommended. Count windows based on frame. Each frame is considered one window (upper and lower glass) Some average cost per window in the southern US. Rates may fluctuate depending on location and climate. Most cleaners will include screen washing in the bid. If not make sure you ask for it. A professional window cleaner will or should always be able to provide you with streak free cleaning. 1 Story Standard windows: $7.00 in/out $4.00 outside only---Colonial style windows: $9.00 in/out $5.00 outside only---Jalousie windows: $9.00 in/out 2nd Story Glass Standard Windows: $9.00 in/out $6.00 outside only--Colonial style windows: $11.00 in/out $8.00 outside only---Jalousie windows $12.00
Home Window Cleaning Tips If you plan on washing your own glass at you residence then use this as a rough guideline about procedure. Get your bucket and fill it with water then squirt in your dishwash liquid. Place next to outside hose on concrete or towel to avoid tracking in dirt when you bring the bucket inside your home. Remove all screens first using the screwdriver if necessary. Place all screens in order outside and wash them with a hose and soap from your bucket. You can dip your wand in the bucket and gently apply to screen this should only take about ten seconds then rinse. When you are done cleaning screens wipe the bottom of your bucket and move it inside to a centralized position and place on a towel. Choose a corner to start washing glass and move in order through your home to avoiding confusion and possibly missing a window. Once you have chosen your starting position dip your wand in the solution and use your hand to squeeze excess water from wand to avoid dripping. Apply the window washing wand to glass and scrub gently back and forth for approximately 5-10 seconds. Place wand back into bucket and grab your squeegee. Have your towel or towels hand in a pocket then start by placing the squeegee straight up and down against the edge and corner of the window. Move the squeegee blade straight across glass without stopping until you reach the other side. Take your towel and wipe both ends of the squeegee blade dry. Now place the squeegee in the same position as before but where glass has not been cleaned yet and repeat. Once you have finished the window, place squeegee in the bucket and grab your towel, with one or two fingers apply pressure to all edges of the glass to dry off the window. Do not use towel to wipe the middle of the glass window unless it is needed. This will help you have streak free windows that look good rain or shine. You may want to keep one rag just to wipe out tracks and frames. Use a screwdriver with towel over it to reach difficult corners and such. After you have completed washing all the windows in your home its time to put the screens back in place. This is why it was important when you began to make sure and keep them in order.