Spring is Coming! Get those windows sparkling!

If there’s one spring cleaning ritual that should never be skipped, it’s cleaning the windows.

All the elements from a long winter — snow, rain, wind — create a grimy film on your windows that actually make a room look darker because less natural light can pass through. On the inside, everything from kitchen grease to dust sticks to your windows.

And think about those spring breezes blowing through dusty window screens – letting dust pollute the air in your home. Windows won’t stay clean for long if your window screens are covered in dirt.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES
Dish detergent
A squeegee
An old towel
Vacuum cleaner
Paper towels
Non-linting microfiber cloths and a spray bottle

INSTRUCTIONS
Pick a cloudy day to wash your windows- sunlight makes the windows dry too quickly, leaving streaks. You actually don’t need to buy a special window or glass cleaner. The best solution is simply a couple of drops of a mild dish detergent, like Dawn, mixed with warm water. Dish detergent is effective at cutting grease, which makes it perfect for window cleaning. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and you’ll be ready to clean with your own homemade formula.

1. Open up your window, slide the screen and storm window out, and place them on an old towel.

2. Spray one side of your storm window with your cleaner. Wash the window with your microfiber cloth.

3. After washing, wipe down using a squeegee. Keep your squeegee clean between strokes by wiping off with a paper towel or rag. Repeat on the other side of the storm window.

4. Use the same process on the inside of your window – spray, wash, and squeegee. It’s best to alternate the direction of your strokes with the squeegee to reduce streaking. For example, move the squeegee vertically on the inside of the window and horizontally on the outside.

5. Next, you want to clean your window sill, which is likely quite dirty. Spray the sill with your cleaner and use paper towels or microfiber cloths to wipe clean.

6. Use your vacuum to suck up all the dirt and dust embedded in your window screen. Alternately, you can hose off your window screens in the yard, and let them air-dry in the sun.

7. Head outside to clean the outside of the window glass using the same method. You may need to add an extension pole to your squeegee.

8. Replace the screen and storm window.

Once you’ve freshly washed your windows, enjoy the big reward: windows that sparkle.

For more information on this topic, please visit the source of this article at http://www.diylife.com/2010/03/27/spring-maintenance-cleaning-windows