You can make your work easier with the help of a window washer - a simple and practical device.
Read about what types of window washers there are, how to choose them correctly, and how to wash windows with them.
Types and design features of the device
A window washer is a device that facilitates the process of washing double-glazed windows. These devices have different designs.
Main subspecies and their characteristics:
Tie with short handle, without attachment. It is used to remove water after washing a window using a regular rag or sponge.- Telescopic tie with a long handle and a microfiber or foam attachment.
It is retractable, which allows you not only to adjust its height, but also its tilt. This mop helps clean glass at high altitudes. There are models that extend up to 2 meters. - Window washers with a sprayer, which are equipped with a can for cleaning solution.
- Steam window washer that runs on electricity. It can be used not only for washing windows, but also for home cleaning, for example, for treating tiles, carpets, and floors. Such devices are equipped with a steam temperature control function. Steam mops not only remove dirt from surfaces, but also disinfect them.
- Magnetic window washer. It is represented by brushes that are fixed on both sides of the window, opposite each other. You can wash both the inside and outside of the glass unit in one go.
When is the best time to wash windows?
If you want to enjoy the result of your work, then try to choose daytime for washing windows, but without bright sun. Give preference to cloudy but not rainy days. If direct sunlight hits the window glass, the detergent applied to it will quickly dry out and streaks will remain, no matter how hard you try. Naturally, if it rains or snows, you won’t be able to wash the windows well either.
Windows should be washed twice a year, choosing the spring and autumn months. If the procedure is carried out rarely, then it will be quite difficult to wash the windows due to the presence of a large amount of dirt accumulated on them. In this case, the glass will need to not only be washed, but also dirt removed from it.
How to properly wash glass using a scraper?
To properly clean glass, you need to use a window washer correctly. Procedure:
- All dust and dirt are removed from the glass and frame - this is done with a dry brush or rag;
- if the windows are very dirty, you can wipe them with a damp soft cloth;
- Warm water is collected in a suitable container; if glass washing liquid is used, it is added to the basin;
- the second basin is filled with clean water - it is needed to rinse the nozzle;
- moisten a sponge or attachment with a microfiber cloth (this depends on the type of window washer) in the prepared solution and wipe the glass; there is no need to press hard on the mop;
- the window is wetted over the entire area; if there are heavily contaminated areas, they are additionally treated in a circular motion;
- rinse the nozzle in clean water, squeeze the water out of it;
- the scraper is installed in the upper corner of the window, pressed against it and led down - the rubber nozzle will collect dirty water, leaving behind a clean surface;
- when the scraper is at the bottom, wipe it and perform similar actions again, with the rubber band slightly touching the clean glass.
When the entire window has been washed, it is wiped down. If the scraper does not completely collect dirt in the corners, you can complete the cleaning using a regular rag or soft paper. If the procedure is performed correctly, the glass will shine clean.
What is a slip?
When purchasing a slime, a fur coat and a washing brush are included. These tools will help you wash windows of any shape and size without any problems. The brush has a tilt angle of 30 degrees, and its mechanism helps rotate the tool 180 degrees. Therefore, the housewife can easily wash the structure of even the most complex configuration. The microfiber nozzle will gently clean the glass unit without leaving lint on it.
In addition, there is an additional abrasive attachment that looks like a small brush. It will help clean complex contaminants in the joints between the glass and the frame.
Tips for choosing a tool
Important Recommendations:
When choosing a window washer, you need to focus on the following recommendations:- First you need to decide what size the window is to be washed.
If it is small, then you can use a classic brush with a rubber nozzle. It is not necessary to buy a device with a long handle. - When choosing a tie, you need to pay attention to the tightness of the rubber clamp. It should not wobble or move away. High-quality elastic band is elastic and tough. Only such a window washer can fully remove water and dirt.
- If the windows are large and panoramic, then you should opt for a window washer with a long telescopic handle. Often such devices are supplemented with a sponge. A retractable mop is an excellent solution for cleaning façade windows.
- When buying a retractable mop, you need to evaluate the tightness of the telescopic handle.
- When you decide to purchase a steam cleaner, you need to make sure that there will always be a source of electricity nearby. Without recharging, such devices do not work.
- Magnetic brushes are ideal for cleaning large windows in multi-story buildings. With their help, you can safely wash any double-glazed window. However, before purchasing, you need to clarify what thickness the magnets react to. On a multi-layer window they may not adhere well.
Price is another criterion that you need to focus on when choosing a window washer. The more constructive and modern the device, the more expensive it will cost. The most affordable are mops with a short fixed handle and without attachments.
Preparation
First, you must prepare all the necessary window cleaning products. There are two ways to wash windows: manually and using a window washer. For manual washing, use regular fabrics, newspapers or special microfiber cloths. In turn, the window washer includes a handle, at the end of which there is a holder, on one side of which there is a sponge, and on the other a special rubber scraper (they can be separate objects: a separate sponge and a separate scraper). We’ll tell you how to wash using one or another method a little later, but for now let’s talk about preparation.
To clean windows, we definitely need detergents. There are a lot of special cleaning products for windows, you can buy them in any supermarket, and we recommend giving preference to them. If you don’t have such a product on hand, you can prepare it at home: one drop of dishwashing detergent per liter of water, or make a regular soap solution. It is also popular to wash windows with ammonia, adding it to water in a ratio of 1:10, but there is no point in this, since special window cleaning products are much better.
Before washing windows, it is recommended to remove the curtains, as well as remove all appliances and furniture that are located near the window.
You can get more detailed advice from the video below.
Top 3 best models
Popular high-quality models of window washers:
Vileda 2 in 1 with telescopic handle
This model can be used with or without a telescopic handle . It is convenient to wash windows in the apartment and in the country.
The nozzle is made of microfiber, it is removable, it can be washed in a machine or by hand. The maximum length of the handle is 140 cm, the width of the elastic is 28.5 cm.
The price of the product is 1970 rubles. You will find reviews here and here.
Glass melter Master Fresh
This is a small compact mop that does its job well . The maximum length of the handle is 81 cm, the minimum is 52 cm. The nozzle is made of foam rubber.
The model is budget, its cost is 200 rubles. Reviews can be found here, here and here.
Home Queen
This is a window washer with a telescopic handle and a removable nozzle . The maximum length of the handle is 65 cm, and the minimum is 38 cm. The nozzle is 27 cm wide and is made of foam rubber.
The cost of the mop is 300 rubles. Read reviews here, here and here.
Telescopic window mops
The “window washer” mop is a simple design consisting of a washing platform and a telescopic handle. Reminiscent of a classic floor cleaner. Unlike a mop, a “scrubber” has a spring or hinged lock, which limits the “freedom” of movement of the cleaning platform and ensures a tight fit of the nozzle to the glass (to change the angle of inclination, force must be applied).
“Window Cleaner” cleans glass using removable absorbent microfiber nozzles, which are secured to the base with Velcro, rubber bands or other types of fasteners. Many models have additional drain nozzles (rubber scrapers) designed to remove dirty water. On the “ladder of evolution,” the design is one step above budget 2-in-1 models, which use permanent foam sponges instead of a flat working platform.
Window mop Leifheit. Image source petrozavodsk.price.ru
Advantages of the “window cleaning” mop
+ Telescopic handle provides access to any area of the external glazing
To wash the glass from the outside, you don’t have to stand on a windowsill/stepladder and lean out of the window. You can easily clean the transom and distant areas of wide blind sashes, since the length of the handle when extended/assembled reaches 1.4-2.1 meters. Some transforming models are equipped with an additional L-shaped handle, which allows you to wash the external glazing without stretching your hand outside the window.
+ High speed window cleaning
The length of the washing platform can be 30-40 cm, width - 15-20 cm. Thanks to the large contact area with the glass, the duration of window washing is significantly reduced.
+ Versatility
It is no coincidence that the “glass washer” mop resembles a flounder. With its help, you can really clean floors and walls efficiently, using the same universal microfiber attachments for these purposes.
Window mop with additional attachment. Image source - besco.ru.
Disadvantages of the window cleaning mop
— There may be smudges on the glass
Many window mops are equipped with removable or non-removable ties (rubber bands) that are designed to remove water from the surface of the glass. But these accessories are not always as effective as professional squeegees.
What’s wrong with complete water collection nozzles:
► Poor quality material - too hard or too soft, easily damaged (the edge becomes uneven, causing smudges and streaks to remain on the glass).
► Insufficient width (for some models) - the fold does not reach the frame, “ignoring” the areas around the perimeter.
► Inconvenient design - some models of “window washers” have a cleaning platform under the screed, onto which the water removed from the glass flows. According to the manufacturers' idea, the microfiber nozzle should remove remaining smudges, but in fact the napkin simply prevents water from flowing down the glass (creates an obstacle).
Window mop “White Cat”. Image source - whitecat.spb.ru
— The telescopic handle needs space for “maneuvering”
Using the telescopic handle, it is convenient to wash the upper areas of the windows, but not the side areas.
Example: it is necessary to wash a window 1470 mm wide, which has a blind sash 870 mm wide. The minimum length of the adjustable mop handle is 750 mm. If you wash the outer glass in a vertical direction (from side to side) and hold the squeegee parallel to the surface being cleaned, the handle will quickly rest against the window opening. In this case, the nozzle will only reach the level of 720 mm, leaving at least 150 mm of the sash unwashed. You will have to either wash the uncleaned area by hand or change the angle between the handle and the nozzle.
The quality of window cleaning depends not only on the equipment, but also on your actions. If you learn to hold the mop handle at the optimal angle and do not make sudden movements, everything will work out.
On some models, the drain pan is turned in the opposite direction from the washing platform. Image source - krasnojarskwhitecatsmart.ru
Pros and cons of using
Pros of using a window washer:
- making it easier to clean windows;
- the ability to safely clean even on high floors;
- ease of use;
- compact dimensions when assembled;
- reusable;
- ease of storage.
The main disadvantage of inexpensive models is that their attachments are made of foam rubber, which quickly breaks. Also, plastic handles and water wringing devices often break.
Higher quality types of glass washers are made of metal and microfiber. They are reliable, but more expensive.
Summary
Now, knowing what a scraper is, you can clean your windows yourself without any extra effort. To see how much easier the glass cleaning process is with this device, watch the video in this article. Well, it’s best to try it yourself and share your impressions in the comments.
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February 2, 2022
Tools and materials,Windows
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Helpful information
Tips for using window washers:
- A nozzle made of any material must be properly cared for. They must be washed from dirt and dried after each use.
- Do not dry rags or foam rubber on heating devices, as they will quickly deteriorate.
- The lighter the mop, the more convenient it is to use. Handling heavy devices can be difficult for women.
You will find a lot of important and useful information about fast and effective window cleaning in this section.
Window cleaners
The widest range of such products is presented in all stores. You need to understand that to wash windows you will need two different compositions: one for glass, the second for frames and window sills. In principle, you can use a general solution in the form of a soap solution, but the result will not be the best. It will be difficult to remove stains from glass, and you will have to spend a lot of effort on washing window sills and frames.
Photo: Instagram obraztsova1970
It is better to select two compositions. An alcohol-based composition, available in a spray bottle, is well suited for glass. It is easy to use, and there are practically no stains. For frames, we select the appropriate product based on the type of material. For plastic, for example, cleaning abrasives and aggressive agents are contraindicated. Painted wood cannot be washed with soda solutions.
