Tips and Tricks to Clean Your Windows and Glass Without Streaks

Don’t give up if your first attempt at cleaning your windows doesn’t come out perfect. Try a small tweak to your cleaning solution.  These tips and tricks are from our Tidy Up Angels.  And by the way ask us about our whole house cleaning services Overland Park Special!

Fill a squirt bottle with a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water (or undiluted vinegar for very resistant spots) to remove white spots caused by hard water build-up. Spray the spots and remove with a microfiber cloth or soft bristle cleaning brush. Rinse with clean water and squeegee dry or follow up with the no-squeegee method.

When using microfiber cleaning cloths, either dip the cloth in the solution and wring it out or spray the glass surface. Begin to wipe in a circular motion and as the spots disappear, follow-up with vertical strokes and finish with horizontal strokes (or vice versa). Use your finger tips/fingernails for extra scrubbing power or scrunch up the cloth on stubborn spots.

Finish one side of the window with horizontal strokes and the other side with vertical strokes so if streaks appear, you know which side they are on.

Lemon juice and baking soda (mixed with water to form a paste) are also effective at removing spots from windows or mirrors. Allow the baking soda paste to sit a few minutes on stubborn stains like toothpaste or hold a cloth soaked in cleaning solution against the spot to loosen its hold. Add lemon juice to any homemade cleaner for a refreshing scent. Whenever possible, use distilled water to help eliminate streaks.

Shaving cream removes soap scum from glass shower doors, cleans cloudy mirrors and will prevent foggy windows and mirrors in the bathroom after hot showers. Apply the cream with your fingertips and smear it all over the surface. Remove it with a clean, dry cloth and reapply every 2-3 weeks.

When Cleaning windows with squeechee’s

When using a squeegee, use one continuous motion from top to bottom. Wipe the solution off of the squeegee with a damp cloth before making your next pass on the window. Overlap the clean area slightly so you don’t leave a line of solution between each squeegee pass.

Buff away streaks left from squeegeeing with a dry microfiber cloth or crumbled up newspaper.

If you prefer using newspaper or a coffee filter, apply the solution with a spray bottle. Wipe the solution away using horizontal or vertical strokes for a streak-free finish.

Clean your windows on an overcast day or when the sun isn’t shining directly on the window. The sun dries the cleaning solution before you can remove it, leaving behind streaks and marks.

Always wet the glass or use a damp cloth to remove spots on the window. Scraping at a spot on a dry window might scratch the glass. Rubbing dry dirt can also cause small scratches on the glass surface.

Never use abrasives on the windows. You might scratch the glass.

Avoid using paper towels as they leave bits of lint and paper remnants.

If you use a commercial window cleaner, choose one with an ammonia base like Windex. This lets the solution dry faster and reduces the chances of chemicals being left behind. Never use an ammonia-based cleaner on tinted windows.

Take special care when cleaning stained glass. Dust the surface frequently and use only filtered or distilled water to avoid discoloring the glass.

Try different combinations of cleaning solutions and cleaning tools to find the one that works best for you.

If you are to your wits end and do not want to mess with it and want to leave it to the pro’s – call us for all your house cleaning Overland Park KS needs; and we will get with you on our special and discounted pricing.

Tidy Up Angels – call us today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/

Make your own refillable cleaning wipes!

Homemade cleaning wipes are easy to make, economical, and contain only those cleaning agents you select. Use them in the kitchen, the bathroom, or for cleaning windows.  These little things will help get you through until the Tidy Up Angels can come back for your monthly cleaning.  And if you don’t have us helping with your cleaning and want to leave it to the Angels – we can help with all your house cleaning services in Leawood KS and Overland Park KS needs.  No job in the KC Metro area is to big for us Angels.

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Here are some great tips and tricks when it comes to making your own refillable cleaning wipes – and put homemade cleaning wipes to work for you with our easy instructions and cleaning recipes.

Homemade Cleaning Wipes

Materials and Equipment Needed:

  • cylindrical or tall square plastic food storage container, 10-cup capacity
  • extra-large roll of paper towels
  • cleaning agents of your choice (recipes follow)
  • electric drill with 1/2-inch drill bit
  • electric knife
  • liquid measuring cups

Instructions:

In the garage, place a small block of wood beneath the plastic food storage container lid. Use electric drill to drill a 1/2-inch diameter hole in the center of the container lid.

For best results, select an extra-large roll of good quality paper towels for this project. Less-expensive towels fray or shred when pulled through the holder; thicker quilted towels have greater cleaning strength and withstand more scrubbing.

Without removing the paper towel wrapper, use the electric knife to cut the paper towel roll into two shorter rolls. Be patient! It may take up to two minutes to cut through the towel roll and cardboard tube inside.

Remove the wrapper, and place one short paper towel roll inside plastic food storage container. Save the second roll for a refill later.

Using a liquid measuring cup, gently pour one of the following cleaning solution recipes over the top of the paper towel roll.

Place the lid on the plastic food storage container, and allow paper towels to absorb cleaning solution for overnight.

Open the food storage container. Gently pull the wet cardboard tube from the center of the paper towel roll and discard.

Carefully pull the end of the paper towels from the inside, where the cardboard roll had been. Thread the end of the towels through the hole in the lid, and replace the lid.

Pull gently on the exposed end to separate the cleaning wipe.

You can make your own concoction – but here are some Cleaning Wipes Recipes

You will need between 2 and 4 cups of cleaning solution to fill your homemade cleaning wipes container, depending on the size and absorbency of the paper towel product selected. These cleaning recipes make about three cups of solution; increase or decrease amounts if needed.

General Surface Cleaning Recipe:

  • 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Disinfectant Cleaning:
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup pine cleaning solution such as Pine-Sol brand
  • 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cup water
  • Window and Glass Cleaning:
  • 1/2 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
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Tired of scrubbing and cleaning and want to be done with it – call the Tidy Up Angels and we will do your entire house cleaning.  Call the Tidy Up Angels today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/ And ask us about our whole house cleaning services in Leawood KS specials.