The first step in getting your home ready on the outside for the coming spring and summer months is your roof. Once you’ve inspected and tidied the roof, you’re ready to move on to your windows. With clean, fresh windows, you will be able to enjoy the sunlight that will be streaming into your home in he next few months, and also improve the curb appeal of your property. Here are some tips to help make scrubbing up those windows a little easier.

Gather the Right Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have the right materials. Use the commercial window cleaner of your choice, but instead of rags, get some newspaper to crumple up. This will create the streak-free shine you want, and it’s a great way to recycle at the same time. You will also want an old, soft toothbrush to do the corners. Finally, you will need at least one rag to dust ledges and other areas where you can’t use cleaner.

Clean in the Right Order

Nothing is as frustrating as spraying down your window and starting to scrub, only to find that the cobwebs and dust in the corers are making your job much more difficult. Grab that toothbrush and tackle the corners first, as this is where debris loves to hide.

Once the corners are clean, move to the ledges and window sills. Sills on the inside of the window can be cleaned with the appropriate product for the surface type. On the outside, don’t use cleaner, because it might damage your wood. Instead, use a soft, dry rag to remove the dust and debris.

Next, move to the blinds. Yes, they are on the interior of your home, not the exterior, but if you’re taking the time to clean the windows, you might as well clean the blinds. Dust your blinds with a cotton rag or even dryer sheets.

Now, you are finally ready to do the glass. Spray a small amount of cleaner directly on the glass, avoiding the wood. Rub it dry with the newspaper. If any cleaner drips on the wood, clean it immediately to avoid damage. When you are done with one side of the window, move to the other. Inspect as you go to ensure that there are no spots or streaks, especially if you are up on a ladder to do the job. The last thing you want is to find out you missed a spot after you are all done.

Cleaning your windows isn’t hard, but it is time consuming. So set aside a weekend and wish for sunny weather so you can get out there and do it. When you’re done, then you’re ready to tackle your siding next, which we will talk about in the next installment.