Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen
Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen are folk-remedy experts and home tipsters based in New York City. They have spent decades collecting “cures from the cupboard” and are authors of several books, including Secret Food Cures.
Windows get dirty despite us looking through them constantly because we seldom look directly at our windows. This allows water spots, dirt, pollen, fingerprints, pet nose smudges, and quite a lot else to build up on the window’s surface until we deign to notice how filthy our windows have become. Cleaning windows will banish this build up, and nicely brighten up your home.
In this excerpt from the book Household Magic authors Joan and Lydia Wilen explain easy window cleaners, and how cleaning windows can help brighten your home.
Our mother used to say to us it was a sin to have dirty windows and not let the sunshine come in. So all you sinners, atone—and here’s how…
If you have curtains, here is a way to prevent them from getting messed up while your windows are getting clean.
Without taking them off the rod, drape each panel on a hanger, then hang the hanger on the curtain rod—the panels on the right side of the window should, of course, be hung on the right side of the curtain rod. The panels on the left side of the window should be hung on the left side of the curtain rod. (We’re sure you would figure that out for yourself.)
Easy Window Cleaner
Combine one cup of distilled white vinegar with three cups of warm water. (If your windows seem extra grimy or greasy, add either two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or two tablespoons of pulp-free lemon juice.)
Then, dip a scrunched-up piece of plain newspaper (no colored ink) into the mixture, squeeze it until it stops dripping, then use it to clean the window. (Be sure to wear rubber gloves so that the newsprint doesn’t get on your hands.) Then dry the window with some dry pieces of scrunched-up plain newspaper.
Better Window Washing
The key to getting clear windows is to use either a squeegee, pieces of scrunched-up plain newspaper (no colored ink), dry coffee filters, a clean blackboard eraser or any of the new microfiber cleaning cloths—they are available at supermarkets and hardware stores.
Mix 1 ⁄2 cup of cornstarch into one gallon of warm water. Dip a coarse washcloth into the solution, wring it out and use it to clean the window. Then dry the window with paper towel or plain newspaper.
After doing this a few times, the window should be primed, and all you’ll need to clean it in the future is a dry cloth.
Up, Down and Side to Side
When you wipe your windows, clean up and down on the inside, and from side to side on the outside. That way, if you do see a streak that you want to wipe away, you will know which side it’s on.
Window Caulking Needed? A Test
If your air conditioner and heater don’t seem as effective as they should be, your windows may be to blame.
To test for air leaks, go outside and stand in front of the window in question with a plugged-in hair dryer. (You’ll need an extension cord or a battery-operated dryer.) Meanwhile, have someone standing inside the house hold a lit candle in front of the window. Turn on the hair dryer and hold it near the window, opposite the candle on the in – side. If the flame flickers because of the air coming from the dryer, then you’ll know that the window needs caulking.
If windows that need cleaning are too high for you to reach, get a high-powered water gun and a long-handled squeegee. Fill the water gun with a cleaning solution and spray it on the window pane, then squeegee it off. It’s safer than climbing up on a stool or ladder…and it’s more fun, too.
Cloudy Means Clean
If you clean your windows on a bright, sunny day, they will dry quickly, leaving those dreaded streaks. The answer? Clean windows on an overcast day so that they will dry more slowly, giving you more time to wipe them.
When freezing temperatures are in the forecast, dot the inside of your window with glycerin (available at drugstores), then use a cloth to spread the dots into a thin layer that covers the entire window
Glycerin’s moisture-binding ability helps prevent warm, moist air from seeping out and forming moisture on the outside window pane, which then freezes, causing the window to become frosted.
A Breath of Fresh Air
If you can’t open your window because of the freezing cold weather, use a hair dryer to defrost it open along the edges. (But why do you even want to open your window if it’s freezing cold outside?)
Combine equal amounts of rubbing alcohol and water, then wet a soft cloth with the solution. Use it to wipe the sill clean.
Be sure to test a small area of the sill to make sure it’s safe. DO NOT use this remedy on bare metal.
Keep Sills Dust-Free
To prevent dirt, paint the windowsill with high-gloss paint or clear polyurethane. Both will help prevent dust from sticking and are easy to clean.
Before you wash the screen, vacuum up the dirt that’s sitting there. Then you can get any leftover dirt by pressing a sticky lint roller over the screen’s surface.
After vacuuming or lint-rollering, you may not need to wash the screen after all.
◆ Dust the slats with your hands—just cover them with either cotton socks or gloves.
◆ If the blinds need more than dusting, you can disassemble them, then wash them in the bathtub or hose them down outside on your porch.
◆ Keep the slats cleaner longer by giving them the once-over with fabric-softener sheets to help repel dust.
To discover more tips for cleaning your home get your own copy of Household Magic from Bottomlineinc.com
