We hate to say it, but winter is just around the corner. All the leaves are off the trees and Ski hills are getting ready to open. At Euroclad Windows and Doors, we know just about everything there is to know about windows, and that includes how difficult they are to keep clean over winter.
With the winter months, especially when the snow falls in the mountains, the views can be absolutely spectacular. Unfortunately, your windows can also get quite dirty, which kind of ruins the whole experience of a fresh winter morning.
Cleaning windows in winter is often something most people don’t want to do. It’s cold, wet, and it can be very slippery just about everywhere on the exterior of your home. If you decide to tackle it, here are a few tips that will help you out.
Do You Need Clean Windows?
The first questions you may ask yourself is if you even need to bother cleaning your windows in winter. After all, can’t cleaning windows just wait until spring? The answer really depends on a few factors, like how close the windows are to a roadway or driveway where dirt will get kicked up from road sanding during the winter.
If you’re in a climate where salt is used on roads, salt is extremely corrosive and you can actually expect quite a bit of damage to occur to your windows and siding over time. If your roads use salt to melt ice and snow, you’ll definitely want to clean them a few times over the winter.
In Winter, Cleaning With Water Won’t Work
In the coldest months, you’re likely going to face temperatures that fall below zero. As you know, water freezes below zero, and you’ll just create a film of ice on the window without actually cleaning anything. Or worse, the ice you create while using a cloth or towel to wipe the window could scratch it.
Most consumer window cleaners are water based, which means that using them below zero just won’t work. The easiest way to clean windows in frigid months is to use two parts windshield washer fluid (that’s rated for sub-zero temps) and one part water. The windshield washer fluid will prevent the water from freezing and help with the cleaning.
Use a Squeegee, Not a Towel For Drying
When you clean windows in the summer, you’re probably familiar with the technique of spray, clean, and drying with a clean paper towel to avoid streaks. When you’re using windshield washer fluid in winter, you’ll be much better off using a squeegee – just like your wipers on a car windshield.
To clean your windows, simply spray on your cleaning mixture, just enough so it drips a little, then use a squeegee to get the excess moisture off. If you’re careful, you’ll find this method delivers near perfect streak-free results. For really dirty windows, you may need to repeat.
Cleaning windows in winter may not be fun, but sometimes it’s necessary. You may want to double check and make sure your windows aren’t covered in a special film that may get damaged by using windshield washer fluid.