It’s that time of year, again: spring cleaning. You’ve dusted your shelves, mopped your floors and scrubbed the bathroom tiles until they’ve sparkled. Now that you’re done those chores, you should draw your attention to your windows. They’re going to need maintenance and cleaning after a long winter.
Find out how you can spruce up your windows below.
Inspect Your Windows:
The first thing that you should do is inspect your windows to see whether they’re in good condition. Are they working just fine, or do they look like they’re in need of repairs or replacements? If those windows look like they need replacements, you should skip the spring cleaning process entirely. Instead, research local window companies that manufacture and install top-quality windows for homeowners in your position. They could help you upgrade your windows this spring.
What are some signs that your windows need replacing?
- They’re difficult to operate.
- They’re damaged.
- They let in a lot of neighbourhood noise.
- They let in a lot of condensation.
- They’re old (over two decades).
- Your energy bills are high. You could lower your bills with energy-efficient windows.
If your windows seem like they’re in fine condition and you don’t want to plan for upgrades, it’s time to move forward with spring maintenance and cleaning.
Seal Air Leaks:
Small gaps around your windows could be letting outdoor air inside. You might have noticed this problem during the winter months when you kept turning up your furnace to fight the cold creeping inside.
Now that it’s spring, it’s the perfect time to resolve this problem and block those window air leaks with caulking. It will help you shrink your energy costs and regulate your indoor temperatures during the summer when you’ll want to keep the sweltering heat outside your air-conditioned rooms.
If you have an old layer of caulking around your windows, don’t apply a new layer directly over it. Remove the old layer and wipe down the area until it’s clean. Then, apply a fresh bead of caulking around the gaps.
Do a Deep Clean:
Once the caulking has thoroughly dried, you can tackle the cleaning process. Start by removing your window screens. Soak them in a tub of warm water with dish soap, and then gently wash them with a sponge. Being too aggressive with your scrubbing could cause rips and tears. Then, rinse the screens with your hose on the lowest setting and let them dry.
Open up the windows and use a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove dust and dirt from the window tracks. Then, use a toothbrush and a solution of warm water and white vinegar to scrub every corner of the tracks. Wipe them dry with a clean cloth.
Wash the glass with a sponge and the same solution of warm water and white vinegar. Wipe it down with a clean cloth. To prevent any streaks, give the glass a once-over with a piece of newspaper while it’s still drying.
Don’t forget to wash the window treatments! Clean your drapes and curtains — you may need to bring them to a dry-cleaning service. If you have plastic blinds, gently wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth.
Once every element is washed and dried, put everything back together. Re-insert the window screens, close the windows and put the treatments back up. After that, your windows will look spotless.
