abcomatic
Well-known member
I just finished washing 42 windows in my house, and ready for winter. I use Sparkle and those absorbent cloths that can be washed in the washer. What do you all do with your windows? I am just curious? Gary
Window washing
- Thread starter abcomatic
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iheartmaytag
Well-known member
What do I do?
All but the storm door, I pull the drapes and ignore the windows. I have 28, the upstairs room has eight all by itself.
All but the storm door, I pull the drapes and ignore the windows. I have 28, the upstairs room has eight all by itself.
dustin92
Well-known member
Windex outdoor sprayer on the outside windows, followed by a scrub brush and squegee, Sparkle and paper towels inside. I just did most of them today, only two left.
Agree on the Outdoor Windex for washing high outside windows. It works amazingly well.
I use something called Perfect Glass inside, or just vinegar and water. Can't beat the price.
BTW, Bon Ami now has a warning not to use it for window washing. They say glass has changed -- I wonder if that's true? I used to use it for polishing car windows.
I use something called Perfect Glass inside, or just vinegar and water. Can't beat the price.
BTW, Bon Ami now has a warning not to use it for window washing. They say glass has changed -- I wonder if that's true? I used to use it for polishing car windows.
whirlcool
Well-known member
We grab a bucket and put in 3 gallons hot water, 2 cups ammonia and two cups vinegar and mix. Then we use the garden hose to spray the windows to get them wet. Next we wash the windows with a large natural sponge that has been soaking in the pail. Then we rinse the windows and dry them using a squeegee. We use a microfiber cloth to wipe the squeegee off periodically.
The windows come out streak free and shiny and clear. And think of the paper towels we save, and the time.
The windows come out streak free and shiny and clear. And think of the paper towels we save, and the time.
Twice a year...
Mine all come apart and tip inside the house so other than patio door, there's no outside work. 50's ranch homes - ahh! Double hung sashes and storm/screen windows, there are 4 panes (8 sides) and a screen per window. Wash & dry each screen and vacuum and wipe the sills then add the doors and it takes the better part of the day. A lot of work for sure, but clean, sparkling windows are so gratifying.
I use Dawn dish washing liquid and microfiber washcloths, dried with flour sack towels. Always a load of wash on window washing day.
Mine all come apart and tip inside the house so other than patio door, there's no outside work. 50's ranch homes - ahh! Double hung sashes and storm/screen windows, there are 4 panes (8 sides) and a screen per window. Wash & dry each screen and vacuum and wipe the sills then add the doors and it takes the better part of the day. A lot of work for sure, but clean, sparkling windows are so gratifying.
I use Dawn dish washing liquid and microfiber washcloths, dried with flour sack towels. Always a load of wash on window washing day.
Oh please.
<span style="font-size: medium;">Before we got new windows a few years back, the kind that swing inward for cleaning, I was hanging nearly half way outside the windows with a spray bottle filled with clear ammonia and a squeegee...19 floors up. </span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Screens then as now, just snap off, they're washed in the tub with dish washing liquid and a brush. Windows are done 4 to 6 times a year.
</span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Before we got new windows a few years back, the kind that swing inward for cleaning, I was hanging nearly half way outside the windows with a spray bottle filled with clear ammonia and a squeegee...19 floors up. </span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Screens then as now, just snap off, they're washed in the tub with dish washing liquid and a brush. Windows are done 4 to 6 times a year.
</span>
I've got 30 double hung windows to clean and do them twice a year. I use a bucket with a drop or two of Dawn and some clear ammonia. I use a sponge or cloth and a squeegee. An old bath towel wipes the squeegee dry between swipes. Does not take too long, I usually split it over a day or two and I only do the storms in the fall. 2/3 of my windows have storms so 20 x 8 is 160 + 10 x 4 = 200 panes of glass to wash.....
wow, sounds overwhelming when you look at it like that....
wow, sounds overwhelming when you look at it like that....
abcomatic
Well-known member
Louie
19 floors up?! OH my gosh, I would be petrified. I have used newspaper too to wash windows. Seems to polish them and then you just throw them away. The only down side there is when using newspapers it that your hands are black with ink and takes awhile for that all to wash away.
19 floors up?! OH my gosh, I would be petrified. I have used newspaper too to wash windows. Seems to polish them and then you just throw them away. The only down side there is when using newspapers it that your hands are black with ink and takes awhile for that all to wash away.
<span style="font-size: medium;">Not too scared of heights Gary. Well, not so much.
Close the blinds, draw the drapes ... LOL. I do once in a while clean the sills inside.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
I do the inside sometimes with a squeegee
no one smokes here nor is there wood burning so the inside doesn't seem to get that dirty........I notice that when we have these really huge thunderstorms in the summer, where it's like a hurricane with intense rain going in all directions seems to really wash the windows off well. There was dried bird droppings on my storm door, the next day we had one of those storms and it was completely clean.
no one smokes here nor is there wood burning so the inside doesn't seem to get that dirty........I notice that when we have these really huge thunderstorms in the summer, where it's like a hurricane with intense rain going in all directions seems to really wash the windows off well. There was dried bird droppings on my storm door, the next day we had one of those storms and it was completely clean.
mrb627
Well-known member
19 floors up.
Picture of your view, please?
Malcolm
Picture of your view, please?
Malcolm
polkanut
Well-known member
I fill a scrub pail about 1/2 full of warm water and add 1-2 tsp. cream of tartar ( depends on how dirty they are), and wash with old rags. Dry with newspapers. Works like a charm every time.
I learned this method from one of my Grandma Wilde's Ladies Aid friends.
[this post was last edited: 11/6/2013-17:52]
I learned this method from one of my Grandma Wilde's Ladies Aid friends.
[this post was last edited: 11/6/2013-17:52]
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Tim:
"Works like a charm every time."
Sounds like it would also build some impressive biceps!
"Works like a charm every time."
Sounds like it would also build some impressive biceps!
Two Bon Ami Formulations
@ Supersuds-
I assume the Bon Ami Powder you were referring is the currnet formulation. However, Bon Ami still sells the orginal formula - which they market as the Bon Ami Original 1886 Formula. You can find it at Ace Hardware and on-line directly from Bon Ami.
Find the original formulation and go nuts - re-formulated glass, or not.
@ Supersuds-
I assume the Bon Ami Powder you were referring is the currnet formulation. However, Bon Ami still sells the orginal formula - which they market as the Bon Ami Original 1886 Formula. You can find it at Ace Hardware and on-line directly from Bon Ami.
Find the original formulation and go nuts - re-formulated glass, or not.
Thanks, nanook
My local Ace hardware doesn't have the original formula (or the successor to Glass Wax, either, which they're supposed to carry in many locations) but I checked the Bon Ami website and see I misremembered. It says:
"Not to be confused with the mainstream and widely distributed Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, Bon Ami still makes its 1886 formula, originally sold in a bar, but now in powder form... Use to defog windows and mirrors. This is the only Bon Ami powder that is recommended for use on glass. Because car makers now use some non-glass materials, Bon Ami no longer recommends the use of Cleaning Powder on auto glass."
So the proscription only applies to cars. I'm still unclear whether they're talking about a change in the glass itself or possibly just concerned that some people will confuse glass with the plastic lenses on headlamps and such.
Anyway, thanks for the pointer!
http://www.bonami.net/Bon-Ami-1886-Formula-Cleaning-Powder-12-oz-p/04036.htm
My local Ace hardware doesn't have the original formula (or the successor to Glass Wax, either, which they're supposed to carry in many locations) but I checked the Bon Ami website and see I misremembered. It says:
"Not to be confused with the mainstream and widely distributed Bon Ami Powder Cleanser, Bon Ami still makes its 1886 formula, originally sold in a bar, but now in powder form... Use to defog windows and mirrors. This is the only Bon Ami powder that is recommended for use on glass. Because car makers now use some non-glass materials, Bon Ami no longer recommends the use of Cleaning Powder on auto glass."
So the proscription only applies to cars. I'm still unclear whether they're talking about a change in the glass itself or possibly just concerned that some people will confuse glass with the plastic lenses on headlamps and such.
Anyway, thanks for the pointer!
http://www.bonami.net/Bon-Ami-1886-Formula-Cleaning-Powder-12-oz-p/04036.htm
Malcom...
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the pictures as requested, of the views from my home. I took these about 90 minutes ago. Enjoy!</span>
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?49357
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the pictures as requested, of the views from my home. I took these about 90 minutes ago. Enjoy!</span>
http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?49357
