Aliwood’s Dos And Don’ts Of Cleaning Your Windows

Cleaning windows seems like a deceptively simple task and yet many people go straight to it like a bull in a china shop, and end up with smudged and smeared panes as a result.

Whilst our timber roof lanterns require very little cleaning, they will require the odd bit of attention every now and then. We’ve put together a little checklist of what to do, and more importantly, what not to do when you’re cleaning your windows (roof lights or otherwise).

The Dos

So, let’s first of all look at what’s considered good practice when you’re wanting to clean your windows. When cleaning a window, make sure you clean the whole of it and be thorough. Many people find their windows get dirt and grime accumulating in the harder to reach parts and the sides and corners of their windows. This is because they only give a relatively superficial clean, cleaning the ‘majority’ of the pane without getting into every area.

Do use a good quality cleaning detergent because, whilst there are so many different brands out there, there are most definitely better and worse ones to choose. You don’t want to be using something cheap and of poor quality on high-quality glass such as that used for the panes of our roof lanterns. For advice on which detergent or soap solution to use, get in touch or, if you’d prefer, look online as there are countless industry articles on which the best brands are!

Don’t take liberties when it comes to safety. When you’re cleaning your windows externally, have someone around to help you should you fall or injure yourself. Wear sturdy footwear and take extra care when working at any sort of heights.

Finally, make sure you look at your window pane from several different angles once you think you’ve finished. A cursory glance from one position may leave you thinking you’ve cleaned it nicely, but from the other side of the room, you may see that there are still a few spots of grime trying to sneak under the radar.

The Don’ts

Whilst every window is different, there are a few rules of thumb you should be using every time you clean your window, and this includes what you should categorically avoid doing. For a start, try not to use a towel to clean the pane because they will leave various particles behind and your window may actually end up dirtier than before.

Moreover, never dry your glass with newspaper. This ‘traditional’ method – still favoured by many – can do damage to the glass due to the chemicals inside the paper. So, instead, use a microfiber cloth should or, if you’re really serious about your clean, use a squeegee to clean your bespoke roof lantern.

In addition, try to avoid cleaning your windows on very hot, sunny days. Whilst the windows may dry more quickly, this can actually prove a hindrance because they’ll often dry out

before you’ve had a chance to properly wipe off your soap solution, and streaks and marks will be left as a result. Linked to this, don’t use too much soap. More doesn’t always equal better when cleaning your windows, and chucking as much soap at your panes as possible doesn’t always equate to the cleanest windows.

Windows should always be a point of pride in a home, or in any building for that matter, and so the attention given to them should be correspondingly high. It doesn’t have to be regular, but make sure that when you do clean them, you do it properly.

So, if you’d like to find out more about our timber roof lanterns (with their nice, squeaky clean panes!), then get in touch. Contact Aliwood today on 01245 967107.