Effective methods and innovative devices for washing window structures, general recommendations

Dusty, cloudy, sloppy-looking windows can reduce the attractiveness of any, even the most spectacular, interior. Obviously, the window frames must be perfectly clean, and the glass must be transparent and shiny, without streaks or scratches. For everything to be exactly like this, you need to be able to properly wash and clean window structures, both from the street and from the room. And if washing the window structure indoors is not difficult, many people have a question about how to properly wash the windows outside, especially if they are located on a high floor?

General recommendations for window care

There are certain recommendations that, if followed, will make the process of washing windows, both outside and inside, as effective as possible:

Before starting work, the glass should be wiped with a dry cloth, thus clearing it of dust.
Warm water should be used to wash the frame. Using hot water may cause the PVC profile to yellow.
After washing the window, to avoid streaks, the surface is wiped dry.
To care for modern plastic windows, you cannot use solvents, compounds containing alcohol and other aggressive substances if you do not want to damage the plastic frame or seals.
Hard sponges are not suitable for cleaning windows, and sharp objects such as knives and blades should not be used to remove dried dirt.
Powder and baking soda can scratch glass, so they should not be used either.
Professionals recommend using only high-quality products, such as sprays or creamy pastes.

What is the best way to wash?

The correct detergent for balcony windows does not contain:

alkalis,
acids,
abrasive substances.

Do not wash frames with gasoline or drying oil-based solvents.

Adhering to these conditions, you can prepare a window cleaning solution yourself or buy a special product in the store.

Folk remedies

What may be useful to wash the window from the outside and inside:

Vinegar solution (2 tsp of table vinegar is enough for one liter of warm water).
Liquid dishwashing detergent (dissolve 1 tablespoon of detergent in 5 liters of water and thoroughly foam the composition).
Dry chalk powder (10 g) and vinegar essence (10 g) are dissolved in 500 ml of warm water (the product not only perfectly removes dirt, but also prevents glass from icing).
Ammonia (1 tablespoon) is dissolved in two liters of warm water.
Ammonia (50 ml), table salt (5 tbsp) are dissolved in 1 liter of water.

The compositions prepared by yourself are sprayed over the surface through a spray bottle or applied with a sponge.

Special formulations at affordable prices

The most popular and effective:

Glass cleaner with alcohol Mr. Muscle will professionally clean glass and plastic surfaces. Removes dirt, grease, soot, mineral oils. The average cost is 200 rubles. (volume 500 ml).
Clean Glass glass cleaner will quickly return glass, chrome, plastic and tile surfaces to their original appearance. Does not leave streaks. Simply spray the product and after ten seconds wipe the window with a soft microfiber cloth. The average cost is 70 rubles. (volume 600 ml).
Optic Shine glass cleaner does an excellent job of removing atmospheric, soil and organic contaminants on balcony windows. Effective for cleaning tinted and textured surfaces. After application, it creates a special antistatic layer that prevents the rapid settling of dust. The average cost is 135 rubles. (volume 500 ml).

Before purchasing, you must carefully study the composition of the chosen product and recommendations for its use.

Indoor window care sequence

We prepare all the necessary tools: a mop with a special sponge, a rubber scraper, microfiber cloths, glass and profile cleaners.

We start washing the window structure from the frame. To care for the window profile, it is recommended to use special non-abrasive products. We apply the cleaning agent to the frame of the entire structure, then rub it and wipe it until completely dry with microfiber. If there are scratches on your PVC window, they must be removed with polishing agents;

Let's start cleaning the glass. We wipe the glass with a dry cloth and apply a glass care product with a spray bottle. To avoid leaving streaks on the window, wash the product from top to bottom with a mop. Next, we bring the glass to a shine using a rag;

Seal care. To ensure window tightness, window seals must be cleaned and lubricated annually. Using a damp, well-wrung out sponge, dirt can be easily removed from their surface. However, after washing, you should definitely lubricate the sealing contours with a special lubricant, which will prolong their service life.

Popular manufacturers

Steam cleaner
Two types of cleaning wipes are used:

Impregnated with cleaning agent (Zero, Vileda and others).
Without the use of special compounds (Domingo Windozer, “Clean”).

In the first case, there is no need to use other detergents.

The most well-known manufacturers of good magnetic brushes are Tatla and Window Wizard.

High-quality models of steam cleaners include Karcher SC 1122 (manual), Smile ESC 922, DeFort DSC-1200.

Karcher WV-50, Thomas Twin t2, Hoover JWC60 B6 011, Endever Q-441, Polti Forzaspira AG130, Bort BSS 36 Li are the most famous brands of vacuum cleaners for cleaning windows.

There is a large selection of robots that clean glass. However, their designs have some quirks: Winbot W and Winbot 730 use vacuum suction cups for attachment, Windoro is attached to the glass with magnets, Hobot −168 has only one body, which uses two cleaning wipes. The latest model is considered the most professional and in demand.

How to wash windows outside: basic methods

After cleaning the window inside the room, we determine the degree of contamination outside. If all the sashes of your window open inside the room, then the principle of washing the outside of the window structure is no different from caring for its inside.

The easiest and most effective way is to use a mop with a special sponge and a rubber scraper. Today, such a device, with which you can wash window structures of any size, is presented in the widest range on the market. The telescopic handle and the ability to change the angle of the washing (cleaning) element will help you reach the most difficult to reach places with maximum convenience.
The ideal solution for windows in a private house and on the first floors of apartment buildings is to use a device with high water pressure. Such units are mainly used for washing cars, but they are also suitable for window structures. As the name implies, glass is cleaned using a jet of water supplied under high pressure.

For windows located on upper floors or with non-opening (fixed) sashes, the above washing methods are not suitable!

A newly developed system for effective glass care - magnetic brushes. This is a simple and effective tool for cleaning windows, with which you can easily clean the most difficult to reach places. The brushes consist of two elements: one part is applied to the outside of the window, the other is placed at the same level on the inside. Along the trajectory of movement of the inner part, due to the magnets, the outer part also moves, thus cleaning the glass from the outside.

A modern, relatively new method of effectively cleaning window structures is the use of robots for washing windows (we will discuss this in more detail later).

The safest way to clean windows from the outside is to turn to professionals - industrial climbers. For them, washing blind, panoramic, and hard-to-reach windows is not a problem. The cost of this service is justified, since you cannot risk your safety in pursuit of savings.

Criterias of choice

The choice of a suitable washing device depends on the tastes of the housewife, efficiency and ease of use.

It is important to consider the following:

The model used must cope well with washing external glass.
It must correspond to the parameters of the windows available in the apartment.
There is no need to skimp on quality.
If you need to wash large windows, you need to have a handle of sufficient length.
You need to choose the type of device, mechanical or electrical, that is more convenient to work with.

On a note! The selected option will make glass washing easier and more efficient.

Modern automated window cleaning devices

As mentioned earlier, the most effective and modern way of washing window structures is the use of robots.
Robot car washes can be used to clean not only glass windows, but also tiles, shopping center displays, shower partitions and other surfaces. These devices can be used to clean both horizontal and vertical surfaces. This innovative device comes in two types:

Vacuum car window washers

Excellent for cleaning any surface. They are held in a vertical position by a vacuum pump. The reliability of adhesion to the plane is determined by a built-in sensor - if the pressure decreases, the robot stops and signals a problem. The vacuum car window cleaner has a safety cord and can determine where the edges of the window are located, so it is absolutely safe for glass and cannot damage them, just as it cannot fall and be damaged from falling. The robot is easy to control using the remote control, and the built-in battery allows you to continue working even in the absence of electricity.

Magnetic car glass washer

The robot consists of two parts, which, thanks to magnets, are securely fixed on both sides of the glass. The navigation unit helps the device clean windows perfectly and navigate perfectly.

If you are not sure that you can handle the washing process yourself, you can simply call professionals who have all the necessary tools and equipment.

Do it yourself with a magnetic window cleaner

Work should begin with preparing the solution. Then both sponges are moistened in liquid. Next, a rope is put on the wrist and placed on the outside of the window in the place where it is most difficult to reach. The magnet of the device will attract 2 jaws to itself, fixing them on the glass.

The brush handle should be in a comfortable position in the palm of your hand

Attention! Pay attention to the power of the device. If it is selected correctly, the cleaning work will be successful.

The brush handle should be in a comfortable position in the palm of your hand so as not to impede movement when washing. The second half of the brush will repeat the movements of the first, and this will cut the work in half.

To separate the halves, you need to rotate one half relative to the other by 90°. The result will be better if you move the brush from the edge of the glass to the middle. The liquid will flow down and not leave streaks.

How to properly clean sliding window structures?

A sliding window and how to wash it is a separate topic, since this can be quite difficult to do.
The design of some of these windows suggests that when the sashes move, one of them completely overlaps the second. Thus, it is not possible to wash it, since moving parts alternate with fixed frames, and with a fairly large glazing area, this can create significant problems when washing the window structure. This issue can be solved by using a flat mop with a thin, long handle. This way you can reach dirty corners. Modern mops of this type are equipped with a special sprayer, which is very convenient. You do not need to systematically wet the nozzle. To clean your sliding window with maximum comfort, you need to:

securely fix the opening sash so that it does not move when washing;
Do not lean on the frame under any circumstances, even when the window seems to be securely closed;
ask for help (hold your devices or you), because we are talking about your safety;
if the sliding window system has only two sashes, and you are at a high altitude, call specialists who will wash the windows quickly and professionally, and you will not risk your life and health.

Often, after washing glass, stains and stains remain on them. To avoid this trouble, you need to use high-quality care products and, after wet washing, wipe the glass dry with a microfiber cloth, crumpled newspaper sheets or a special scraper.

Everyone wants to have beautiful, clean windows in their home, office or other premises. Whatever method you choose to clean outside windows, remember that your safety comes first!

Types of breakdowns

In most cases, breakdowns are due to wear and tear. For example, the attachments or handle for a telescopic mop may become unusable. In such cases, a replacement must be made. If the main mechanism breaks down, then in this case you need to either contact service or buy a new device.

Choosing the right type of glass cleaning equipment will make cleaning more efficient while saving time and effort. The device used must match the parameters of the windows for which it is used.

*Prices are current as of October 2022.