Window washing
schoolhouse_gw
8 years ago
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graywings123
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Window Washing
Comments (3)Mendo View is a fully licensed window cleaning service located on the beautiful Mendocino Coast in California. We clean tracks as well as windows and screens. Most window cleaners will not clean the tracks but only brush them out i.e. vacuum them out. This generally applies if interior window cleaning is requested also. A wipe down of the track might get completed as well by your window cleaner but do not count on it. Honestly, if you are not up for the challenge yourself (See Below For Help ) you might be better off contacting a house cleaning service. Shop around though. Look for a window cleaning company that offers window cleaning packages. Pay attention to the package and you might discover that tracks are included. Do expect to pay more. TIP: Fast track clean up - Environmentally Friendly - Non-Toxic - Pleasant Odor I'm going to help you get those window tracks clean. Okay before we get on track, let's start with what you are going to need. Cleaning window tracks can be such a gross and dirty job so we are going to want to make sure we have the complete package to tackle this job. Here is what you'll need ... 1) Non-scratch Bristle Brush (Throw a tooth brush in there too) 2) Vacuum Cleaner with crevice tool adapter - Designed & Dedicated adapter for small narrow channels and corners that a traditional hand vac just cannot reach. 3) Magic Erasers - Effective at removing the muck and yuck of stubborn stains such as mildew. 4) Absorbent Wipe Cloths - For wiping, use terry cloths. You can pick them up at an auto parts store by the bundle real cheap. 5) Dish Detergent/Soap - Seventh Generation works great and is non-toxic 6) A 5 gallon bucket - Pick one up at Home Depot for a couple bucks 7) Drop Cloths/Bath Towels - Make sure they are worn and used. Not the good ones. 8) Vinegar - Distilled White Vinegar with 5% Acidity ( Sold at super markets ) 9) Baking Soda - Sold in bags or boxes in a orange color. Find at super market 10) Tea Tree Oil - Found at health stores and sometimes Super Markets. 11) Protective Clothing - Apron, gloves, breathing respirator (In case of mold or mildew) We're not going out to eat here folks so let's keep our nice attire away from this job. Getting spots on that nice top can turn a cleaning event into a crime scene. Let's find something to wear that is a bit more undesirable to the eyes. 12) Fresh Air - Preferably Spring Time Air Instructions: Step 1) Go around to each window and open every one that will be cleaned. We are going to let those windows air out. If windows have any moisture, pour baking soda into the tracks. Let sit long enough for baking soda to absorb any moisture. Remove screens, if necessary. *We're not set up here to clean the screens too, so lets stay on track! Step 2) Begin vacuuming out all the window tracks. Make sure you get the most out of those tracks so it is easier for the cleaning solution to saturate and bond to the yuck and muck. Step 3) Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with warm to hot water. Not too hot to touch. Please, we don't want to burn ourselves here. Add about 10-20 drops of Tea Tree Oil into bucket along with a few drops of Dish Soap, depending on how dirty surfaces are. Mix 1/2 gallon distilled white vinegar (5% Acidity) into the 5 gallon bucket. If tracks are heavily saturated, more is better. Step 4) Put protective wear and clothing on. Step 5) Place a drop cloth on floor beneath window and other surfaces that could get wet. Window sills may need to be covered as well to protect any wood or coatings. Step 6) Put 1/2 the amount of terry cloths into bucket and leave other 1/2 dry. Make sure cloths are thoroughly soaked. Pull one out and very lightly rinse. Place cloth along track. Work the cloths into the tracks. Be sure to really move and push it around. Repeat with cloths until entire length of window track is covered with cloths. Now allow cloths to sit for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Step 7) Remove the towels and place them in the 5 gallon bucket to soak. Squeeze and rinse as needed. Step 8) Starting from left side of track using a bristle brush, agitate the dirt and grime back and forth. Brush one area at a time and in sweeping motion, push all loosened deposits from the left, to the right side of track. Use magic eraser sponge for more stubborn areas. Periodically pick up that nasty stuff with one of the cloths in the bucket. Rotate cloth as needed, then shake away deposits into trash bag. Keep sponge and cloths soaked and rinsed at all times. Step 9) Switch to a clean cloth and now place the head of a tooth brush into the terry cloth. Dip into cleaning solution. Brush the cleaning solution into the corners and crevices of the window tracks and frames. Alternate to Magic Eraser sponge for more stubborn stains. Wipe with clean dry cloth as needed until tracks are fully cleaned and wiped out. Step 10) Leave windows open to allow for any moisture to dry out. That's It - You're Done!! Now we just need to clean up and put our nice clothes back on. Oh, and call that PRO Window Cleaner to come out to clean up the glass and screens....See MoreWashing Windows Before or After Painting?
Comments (1)If the windows are really dirty, I'd wash them first. If not you are simply painting over dirt which will reduce the longevity of the paint....See MoreWhat IGU specs do you recommend for storm windows in Wash. State?
Comments (11)Thanks Oberon, I didn't know one could specify a coating on the "outside" of an IG unit. That's a good idea for storm windows. My idea of using the big box to order replacement glass now won't work----they won't sell it unless I am specifically using it for one of their manufacturer's windows. I'm not---I'm making storm windows. So, now the price of glass has doubled and tripled based on quotes from the mom & pop shops I've talked to (none of which seem to know much about coatings and IG). So, I may be forced to use single-pane 1/4" glass. But, before I give up on IG, I want to poke around a bit more. EfficientWindows.org (if I'm reading it correctly) says clear, single panes get 1.04 U-factor and double-pane clear is 0.50 That seems a big difference and that's without any coating. What they don't say is the thickness of the glass panes in either example. Is that likely to be 1/8"? http://www.efficientwindows.org/glazing_.cfm?id=1 Their stated 0.50 U-factor is based on double-pane, clear with a 1/2" airspace. But again, they don't say the thickness of the glass. http://www.efficientwindows.org/glazing_.cfm?id=3 My winter temps average 20's nighttime & 30's daytime. Since my old drafty home never gets warm in winter or hot in summer, what are the best thickness choices for an IG unit? I was thinking 5/8" overall (two 1/8" lites with 3/8" airspace) but maybe another configuration is much better given performance & prices. Maybe 1/2" overall is good enough and much less expensive. What do you recommend? I am gearing up for winter! I'm new to this area (I'm from Los Angeles where I also had an old, drafty home but never really noticed). Thanks very much for all the great advice Oberon. You are a real asset to this forum. -Chris...See MoreOlder window very difficult to open--help!
Comments (4)Yes--that is exactly right--surgically applied force Going over there later this AM to try to get it to open Is there any way if we do get it to open to lubricate the mechanism to make it easier to open in future? We have some spray lubricant we got for garage door--NOT WD40-- And these windows do have some water condensate dried around them from the years of having sprinklers run in garden beds around the front of the house...I thought maybe I should run a sharp knife edge along the frame where the window's edges are to break any dried crud that might be sticking......See More
grandmamary_ga
8 years agoschoolhouse_gw
8 years agonanny98
8 years agochisue
8 years agograndmamary_ga
8 years ago
phoggie
8 years agograinlady_ks
8 years agograywings123
8 years agojoyfulguy
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years ago
socks
8 years agoschoolhouse_gw
8 years agosocks
8 years agoschoolhouse_gw
8 years agojoyfulguy
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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jim_1 (Zone 5B)