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| Crystal clear windows let in gorgeous natural light. |
Sparkling windows make a world of difference when it comes to your home's interior. After all, crystal clear windows let in that gorgeous natural light, filling your home with a cozy brightness. And when your windows are spotless, you want your window treatments to be just as spic and span. Here's how to do it like a pro.
Clear as Crystal
In a perfect world, your windows would receive a deep cleaning at least every six months or so. Of course, this is one task most home owners don't look forward to -- which is understandable, because it's not exactly fun to spend hours rubbing your windows with crumpled-up newspaper and breathing in harsh chemical residue from the window cleaner. Well, guess what? That's not the most effective way to do it, anyway!
Here's a better way to get those panes perfect. First, grab a squeegee, a couple of clean rags, a chamois, and a soft, lint-free cloth. Mix a few drops of liquid dish soap and warm water in a bucket; just a bit of suds is ideal, so don't go overboard on the soap.
Dip the clean rag in the soapy water and rub it across your window, using a circular motion. Starting at the top left of the pane -- if you're left-handed, start at the top right corner -- pull the squeegee across the glass in a reverse-S pattern. After each stroke, clean the squeegee with the lint-free cloth.
Now use the chamois to soak up any leftover water, paying attention to the bottom corners. Use a rag to dry your window sills and you’ve got a clean, streak-free window.
Blinds and Shutters
Let's face it: Cleaning blinds and shutters is somewhat of a pain. Vacuums don't get all of the dust, dust mops are too big to get into all of those crevices and cracks (plus they take too long), and wet cleaners just serve to create a muddy, mucky residue. Here's a blind-cleaning tip that'll save you time.
All you need is a can of air -- like the kind you use to clean your computer keyboard -- and a dust mask. Now pop on your dust mask and blow air on your blinds or shutters, working from top to bottom and left to right. Once you hit the bottom, simply grab the vacuum and suck up all the dust and icky stuff that blew off. You don't even have to remove the window treatments. Each can of air should treat from eight to 10 blinds or shutters.
Curtains
Start by checking the manufacturer's tag on your drapes. If they're washable, throw them in your washing machine on the gentle cycle with detergent designed for delicates. When the cycle ends, pop them in the dryer on low heat for five minutes, then re-hang them while they're still damp. The weight of the fabric will pull out wrinkles as they dry.
For non-washable drapes, remove debris and dust with a hand-held vacuum tool. Then go over the curtains with a lint roller to pick up stubborn pet hair and fuzzies. A shot of fabric refresher will add that nice, clean scent.
For more home tips please visit, homechanneltv.com.