If you see fingerprints, smudges, dirt, and cobwebs instead of a beautiful outdoor view, you don’t have clean office windows. Thankfully, you can stock your supply closets with cleaning supplies to solve this very problem.
But even with supplies in hand, you might not know what the best approach is for cleaning your office windows. In today’s blog, we’re walking you through the steps.
Cleaning Frequency
You want to have clean office windows, right? But how often should you clean them? The answer is typically twice a year unless your windows are subjected to an unusually high amount of hard water runoff, dirt, or grime. In that case, you might want to wash them every few months.
Don’t remember how long it’s been since you cleaned office windows? It’s probably time to clean them!
Weather Conditions
You can clean the inside of your windows whenever you want to, but it makes the most sense to clean the insides and outsides on the same day, you know?
The #1 piece of advice we can give you is not to clean your windows on a sunny day! If it’s hot outside, the cleaner will dry on the window before you have a chance to wipe it clean.
A cloudy day is your best bet. The sun won’t dry your cleaner, and you won’t bake in the heat. If there are no cloudy days and the windows need cleaning, we recommend strategically cleaning when there’s shade and when the temperature isn’t too hot.
Cleaning Supplies
You’ll need the following supplies to clean your office windows:
- Cleaning solution
- Large towel
- Clean cloth
- Absorbent microfiber cloth
- Sponge or squeegee
- Rubber squeegee
- Bucket
You have several options for your cleaning solution. You can use one pre-made cleaning solution available for purchase at any store. Or, you can make your own.
If you make your own, we recommend the following recipe:
- Mix 2 gallons of water with 1 tsp of dishwashing liquid
- Add in 2 gallons of white vinegar
Then,
- Mix ¼ cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and
- ¼ cup vinegar, and
- 1 tbsp cornstarch, and
- 2 cups water
Once you’ve combined all of the ingredients, you’ll have your cleaning solution.
Remove Dirt and Dust First
Now, we know you’re anxious to clean your windows, but you’ll want to hold off applying your cleaning solution until you’ve had a chance to remove the dirt and grime.
You won’t want to use your cleaning solution on the dirt and grime. That will create a dirty, muddy mess. Instead, we recommend the dust attachment that comes with most vacuum cleaners.
Once you’ve removed all the dirt and dust, you’ll be ready to clean your windows.
Clean Without Streaks
Perhaps the most challenging part of cleaning office windows is getting them clean without leaving streaks from the cleaning solution. Here’s how we recommend cleaning your windows for a streak-free shine.
- Do your windows have small panes? Use a sponge.
- Do your windows have large panes? Use a squeegee.
- Whether you use a sponge or squeegee, submerge it into your cleaning solution and then wring it out. Wipe down the entire window.
- Add more soap to your cleaning solution if you notice a squeaking sound. This usually means you don’t have enough water to clean the window entirely.
You can use a ladder or attach your squeegee to an extension pole if your windows are high up. Just be careful!
Clean Tough Stains
You’ll likely have a more challenging time cleaning the outside of your windows than the inside. This is because the outside windows are subject to hard water runoff, minerals, animal droppings, dirt, and grime. Of course, the inside of your windows can also collect dirt and grime, but being inside protects them from the rest.
So, how do you scrub off stubborn stains? Your regular cleaning solution won’t cut it for these types of stains. You’ll want to use a cleaner that removes mineral deposits. Apply the cleaning solution to your sponge or squeegee, and scrub the stain until it goes away.
Another option is to spray pure vinegar onto the spot and let it soak for five minutes before scrubbing at the stains.
Once your stain has been removed, clean the area as outlined above.
Removing Stickers and Decals
As you probably already know, picking at the edge of a sticker or decal is not an effective way to remove it. It will leave unwanted residue behind. So, what’s the right way to remove a sticker?
- Spray the sticker/decal with water. Let the water soak into it for a couple of minutes.
- Use a scraper to apply gentle pressure to the sticker until it peels off.
- Wipe the area dry.
Dry The Windows
After you’ve cleaned the windows, wipe them down until they’re dry, using horizontal strokes. You shouldn’t use a cotton rag to dry your windows off. Cotton rags are go-to’s for cleaning and drying lots of different surface types. But in this instance, you’ll want to try a microfiber cloth or heavy-duty paper towels.
After drying the windows, be sure to clean up any leftover wet spots, including on the window sill and frame. When cleaning these parts of the window, use a fresh cloth or paper towel since your other cloth will be damp from drying off the other parts of the window.
Town & Country Office Cleaning in San Jose, CA
Now you know how to achieve clean office windows. But do you want to clean your own windows? If you’re busy with the million other things you have to do, you might want to leave window cleaning to the professionals.
Town & Country Office Cleaning in San Jose, CA, would be happy to clean your windows for you. That’s one of the services we offer. We also clean carpets, floors, and lighting. We can provide day porters and handyman services, should your business need them.
Town & Country Office Cleaning has been serving the San Jose area since 1987. We’re equipped to take care of your professional cleaning needs. Have questions or want to schedule a time for a cleaner to come to your business? Contact us today.