Cleaning Mirrors and Windows
by Lady Jess
Every now and then the mirrors and windows around the house need to be cleaned. Water spots and dusty windows are unsightly, especially when you have guests.
Outside Windows
2. Remove any screens that are on the windows. Too clean the screens you can: Lift them out of their tracks and rinse them under a running hose and then scrub them very gently with a rag or sponge.
3. Remove any cobwebs you see with an old broom or old cloth. You can buy a special duster for hard to reach windows that looks like this
4. Rinse off any extra dirt or dust from the outside windows with a hose. It would be best to rinse one window at a time, so that water spots don’t appear on the windows.
5. Clean the window frames well with a soaked sponge.
- Start on the upper-left side of the window and make an s-shape downwards until you reach the bottom-right corner of the window.
- Start cleaning the window from the upper-left corner and drag the sponge straight down. Use a chamois or a dry rag to remove any excess water from the squeegee and start cleaning the next line until you reach the right side of the window.
6. Lastly, dry the window frames. After cleaning the window panes, you can dry off the windows using a chamois or dry cloth.
Once you soak your sponge in the bucket filled with water, you can start cleaning the windows following one of these methods:
The insides of windows are right there next to the elements and is a big breeding ground for mold. If you don’t clean the windows out often enough the mold will grow there and allergies may develop. If you have been having allergy attacks recently, this could be contributing to your problem. If you clean the outsides of your windows first, be sure not to use the same dirty utensils on the inside. You may want to rinse them out first, or grab some clean ones.
Inside Windows
2. Wipe off the window frames using a duster or a damp cloth.
3. Clean the window frames thoroughly with your sponge/rag and the glass cleaner. You may also want to use an antibacterial spray around the glass of the window to help remove the tiny mold particles.
4. Spray the glass cleaner on the window. You may follow the same kind of methods 
that are on the outside windows
5. Dry the window frames.
Here are some extra tips for “just in case” situations:
- It is well worth investing in a good-quality, professional squeegee that won’t skip. A few extra dollars up front will save plenty of time and frustration. A good idea would be to measure your smallest window and purchase the widest blade that will fit in it.
- If there are little drops left around the edges after squeegeeing your window, lift them gently with a dry, lint-free cloth or a clean finger, but don’t rub them around over the freshly-cleaned area, just wipe straight down.
- Do not wet a window in direct sunlight, or it will dry quickly and leave unwanted streaks.
- Clean, unused newspapers can also be used for cleaning if you don’t want to dirty a bunch of rags and just have to wash them all later. Just wash the glass the with the steps mentioned above, then use a crumpled-up sheet of newspaper to wipe the glass until it’s dry. If the sheet of paper gets too wet, just use another sheet until the glass is dry. This is a good method if you are worried about leaving streaks. You can wear rubber gloves if you don’t want headlines on your hands.
- Remember that there is both a wet and a dry side to a squeegee. If water is streaking from the top of the squeegee, simply apply a little pressure to the side of the squeegee that is streaking. It may also be wise to wipe excess water off of the squeegee from time to time.
- Practice makes perfect.
- When cleaning windows inside a house, put down an old towel underneath the window if you are worried about drips.
As often as possible, use an extension handle to reach high windows with your feet firmly on the ground. Also, be sure to find out if the window panels lift out or fold in for cleaning. If you need to use a ladder, use it safely, have some one stand next to you to stabilize it, and take make sure that you don’t lean to far out, otherwise you might fall.
Mirrors
*These tips for mirrors are very similar to cleaning the insides of windows*
It happens all the time, you’ve just finished using hot water (like the shower, tub or sink) and the mirror is fogged up. You don’t want to wipe it with your hand, that leaves nasty fingerprints. You don’t want to wipe it with a your towel, that leaves little fuzzies. You may want to try these steps.
1. Choose the glass cleaner of your choice, and a paper towel, sponge or rag.
2. Spray down the mirror and the frame and wipe with your pt/sp/rg.
3. Enjoy!
-It would be better if you waited until the fogginess of your mirror goes away before doing this. Also, you may not want to do this right before you take a shower just to do it again after you are finished.
God bless!
Hi Jess!
You know what also works great for washing mirrors and windows? Newsprint and vinegar! We keep vinegar in a spray bottle; just spray, wipe with the newsprint (we get giant rolls of it for under a dollar at the ER.) and your done. The newsprint dosen't leave streaks, either!