Your home or business, just like every other Lake Oswego property, has windows. These windows play an incredibly important role—they provide sunlight to your property’s interior, and they give you a clear view of the outside world. However, windows won’t be able to do this work without your help. In fact, over time, your windows will accumulate debris, and if you don’t know how to wash windows, you won’t have a reliable method of restoring their shine.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of window cleaning, how to wash windows, and our professional window washing service, too! We are Alpha Exterior Cleaning Services, and we look forward to teaching you more about this topic.
Why Do Windows Need to Be Washed?
Before learning how to wash windows, it’s important to understand why they need to be cleaned in the first place. Windows don’t stay clean on their own—they gradually gather debris, including dirt, pollen, dead insects, bird droppings, etc. This debris negatively affects your windows, robbing them of their beauty and preventing sunlight from entering your property. This results in a worse-looking home or business and increased dependence on electric lights.
Dirty windows are also at greater risk of damage. This is because debris that gathers on windows can rub against the glass, etching or scratching it. By reducing their lifespans, debris forces you to replace windows more frequently, effectively wasting your money. By learning how to wash windows, you can keep them clean, enhance your property’s beauty, and avoid the need for expensive repairs.
Do My Windows Need to Be Cleaned?
If you’re not sure if your windows need to be cleaned, don’t worry. There are several ways to determine if they’re ready for washing. In most cases, a simple visual inspection will tell you everything you need to know. Are your windows visibly covered with debris? Are they noticeably darker and duller than they used to be? If so, don’t hesitate to plan a DIY window washing project. Or, schedule an appointment with our professionals.
As a general rule, your windows need to be washed once per year. So, if it’s already been a year since your windows were last cleaned, they are overdue for service. Take action sooner rather than later!
Our Window Washing Equipment
What tools will you need to wash your windows? At Alpha Exterior Cleaning Services, we use a specific set of equipment to restore glass panes for our clients. We’ve included a list of these tools for your convenience:
- Water-Fed Pole System. Water-fed poles connect to a water source and spray water directly onto windows, facilitating the window washing process.
- Specialized Brush Heads. Brush heads attach to the end of water-fed poles and deliver purified water directly onto the glass while scrubbing away grime.
- Reverse Osmosis Filtration System. An RO filtration system removes impurities from washing water to ensure the best possible clean for windows.
For your DIY window washing project, you may opt for less expensive equipment, such as sponges, a bucket of a gentle cleaning solution (such as warm water and dish soap), and a ladder.
Washing Windows to Restore Their Beauty
Whether you are using water-fed poles or sponges, the end goal is the same: removing all debris from windows so they can look their best again. We recommend working in a top-to-bottom pattern when cleaning windows, allowing purified water to weaken and rinse away debris. If using water-fed poles, even strokes are the key to restoring cleanliness; if using sponges, careful wiping will remove grime without scratching your windows.
We also recommend drying your windows with a squeegee. By doing so, you’ll ensure a streak-free finish! Squeegees pull excess water off the windows, drastically reducing the chance of smears or stains. Using squeegees is also faster and easier than cloth-drying.
Remember Ladder Safety When Cleaning Windows
If you want to learn how to wash windows on your own, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to use a ladder. Because of this, we want to review some important ladder safety guidelines. Commit these tips to memory and use them to avoid self-injury during your project!
- Place your ladder in a flat, level area. Your ladder needs a stable place to stand or else it will be at higher risk of toppling over. Find a flat surface and ensure that the ladder doesn’t rock or tilt before climbing it.
- Remember the rule of three points of contact. You should have two arms and one leg or one arm and two legs on the ladder at all times. This drastically reduces the risk of you accidentally falling.
- Avoid power lines. This is common sense. Touching power lines with your body or your equipment puts you at risk of shock or electrocution. Steer clear of those dangerous wires and enjoy an injury-free window washing project.
DIY or Professional Window Cleaning?
Learning how to wash windows can be challenging. In fact, there are several “barriers to entry” that you’ll need to overcome if you want to do the work on your own. You’ll need to find time, which can be difficult if you already have a busy schedule. You’ll need to be prepared for manual labor, which requires you to be rested and energized. And finally, you’ll need to purchase all the necessary equipment for the work.
If this is more work than you’re willing to do, why not consider professional window cleaning? By reaching out to a company like Alpha Exterior Cleaning Services, you can avoid the DIY process and spend your time and energy in other ways!
Get a Free Cost Estimate
No need to learn how to wash windows when our professionals do the work for you. If you are interested in what we have to offer, contact us online with information about your project. We will get back to you as soon as possible with a free estimate. (There are never hidden fees.) If you like our asking price, choose a time and date for your appointment, and we will be there to serve you in the near future!
