We had a beautiful day yesterday with a temperature of 58 degrees and sunshine! Wow! I decided it was time to give the front room's windows and doors a good washing-up. Between kids and dogs and weather and barn grime, the windows were really disgusting. I decided to go back to the Good Old Days when I learned how to use newspaper and vinegar for washing windows. I call it The First Paper Towels and Windex. And do you know how effective these tools are? Very! No streaks. Just clean and shiny. I always make sure I'm drying the windows with a dry piece of newspaper for a streak-free shine. The only downside to this method is that your hands will have some of the inky residue from the paper, but it washes off. I don't know why the ink doesn't come off on the windows, but it doesn't. Newspapers are also great for cleaning the glass on the wood-burning stove and car windows. Growing up at home, we used newspaper and brown paper bags for draining fried foods and for cooling cookies.
Here we are -- clean and shiny windows! I feel like I just cut my bangs! I can see! Do you have any tips for washing windows or for any other cleaning chore? What are some of your favorite cleaning tools or cleaners?
I just wish someone would come and wash all my windows. Glad you had a nice sunny day to enjoy your clean views!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was twelve or so, I used to do some housecleaning for people in my little farm town. More than one of them wanted me to clean their windows this way. I always use the method on my woodstove's glass door, but I hadn't thought of doing it on the house windows... Is your vinegar undiluted?
ReplyDeleteI've been wishing for a window washer, too.
ReplyDeleteOh washing windows are one of my favorite things to do. Do you have Smart and Final there? They sell this stuff that is blue and I pour a little bit in a gallon of the hottest water I can stand. I use a squeegy. Or if I don't feel like that I use my dish rags and Visaglass. It comes from the automotive department. I have used newspapers too but I don't get them anymore. I love cleaning windows!
ReplyDeleteNewspaper is my tool of choice for dirty windows too -- although, since we don't take the paper, it's increasingly hard to come by. I should have done my windows this weekend too -- like you, we had some gorgeous weather1
ReplyDeleteThats a winner for sure! Been doing this for years.
ReplyDelete~M~
I showed the kids and teachers how to recycle our newspapers this way for our morning cleanups. I am amazed how so few people know this secret. I think they work ten times better than paper towels.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely view!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to use newspapers but Dave thought it scratched the windows. Another tip I read recently...clean windows on a cloudy day to prevent streaking. Your day looks sunny and it didn't streak so maybe that's an old tale. Nice job, windows are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI should take a page out of your newspaper... :-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo