Now that the pollen from the trees is gone it is time to wash your windows here in our Mountain Town of Canmore. It will make your house sparkle and let more light into your space. There are many ways to wash the windows here are some to choose from.
Hire somebody
Canmore has some good window washing companies such as Whytey's (403-609-8840), Clear-Vue (403-678-0152) , Men in Kilts (1-800-777-5458) , Bow Valley Views (403-760-7373) and Cascade (403-760-9005). Most of them will do both inside and out along with any cathedral windows you may have.
Vinegar
Mix one part hot water to one part distilled vinegar. Sponge cleaning: Moisten the window, using the solution, then clean. Squeegee cleaning: Always dampen the squeegee first and clean from the top down, wiping the edge of the squeegee after every stroke. Clean only when there is no direct sun on the windows.
Dish Soap
Mix dish soap in a bucket of hot water (I prefer Blue Dawn as it gets rid of grease). Using a squeegee start at the top left, pull the squeegee over the soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (left-handers would start at the top right). At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee's blade clean with a lint-free rag. Cloth diapers or old linen napkins are perfect for this task.
Pressure Wash
Add Soap Concentrate to Pressure Washer Reservoir. Pour multi-use soap that is formulated for pressure washers into your washer's reservoir. Most formulas will show on the packaging that the soap is safe for siding, windows and sidewalks. Install the soap tip to the end of your pressure washing wand.Use Pressure Washer to Apply Soap. Use the soapy spray to target the trim, keeping the tip of the wand at a 45-degree angle to the window and trim. Aiming the wand at an angle to its target will help to lift and remove dirt from the trim, windowsill and glass from beneath more effectively than blasting it straight on. It will also help to loosen any flaking paint, which helps with preparing your window trim for a new coat of paint. Turn off the pressure washer and switch the tip on the wand to a “general use” tip. A tip that delivers a 15- to 20-degree angle will provide a stronger pressure stream that will effectively remove soap that is on the surface and any dirt that has been loosened by the soap. Spray from the top of the window downwards to completely rinse the window clean.
How to get rid of stubbon spots
Over time, hard-water runoff from masonry or rain falling through metal window screens leaves stubborn mineral stains on glass that normal washing can't erase. So after a regular cleaning, wet the glass and gently "superclean" it either with fine 000 steel wool (if the panes are small) or with Barkeeper's Friend, which contains oxalic acid. (Other brands of powder may scratch the glass or fail to remove stains.) Mix the powder into a paste on a wet towel, to rub away the stains, then rinse and squeegee the glass twice to remove the residue. Old paint can be removed by scraping with a razor blade.
And lastly if you are having an argument with your partner wash the windows together. Keep in mind you both have to work on the same window at the same time and you are not allowed to break the glass. You may just laughing instead of being angry.
