5 Useful Tips on How to Clean Your Windows During Winter

Your windows can be the dirtiest during winter, as well. It’s that season where melting ice or snow will tag debris and dirt onto your windows. Worse is you can’t entirely get rid of them or give your windows a good clean due to the freezing atmosphere. But, fret not! In this article, we’ve rounded up a few useful tips to clean the window in cold season.  

Don’t use cold water to clean your windows during winter. If you’re going to pour hot water on a cold or frozen window, the window’s surface will more likely crack due to the rapid change of temperature.

Coldwater isn’t recommended, too. First, you’ll feel uncomfortable using cold water during freezing conditions. You might end up suffering from frostbite by doing so. Another reason is that cold water will possibly get frozen almost immediately while you’re attempting to clean your windows.

It’s ideal, therefore, to use warm water. If you don’t want to get your hands wet and feel numb due to the icy cold air, you can use waterproof or rubber gloves. Alternatively, if you’re busy or quite dubious about doing the cleaning, many cleaning companies can do it for you. For instance, Scottsdale window cleaners are one of the bests around Arizona.

It’s best to use a cleaning solution with vinegar or rubbing alcohol. A mixture of either of the two or both will not only break up any winter grime but also fend off water spots and ice on your windows. Surely, an alcohol-based cleaning solution guarantees a spotless finish on your windows.

For instance, you can use this simple do-it-yourself cleaning solution with the following supplies:

• 16oz of vinegar or rubbing alcohol
• 16oz of water
• A dash of any dishwashing or cleaning liquid

After mixing these three, your homemade window cleaning solution is ready to use. You can either put this solution in a spray bottle or simply place it in a container.

Other homeowners would use antifreeze in their solutions like those of what we put in our cars. However, it is harmful to you and the environment. It’s much cheaper and safer to use a homemade cleaning solution, instead.

Let’s say, you’ve already purchased an alcohol-based cleaning solution or made a DIY one. To use it, you’re probably going to pair it with a sponge, microfiber towel, or a squeegee. But, it’s freezing cold outside, and you don’t want to clean the exterior side of your windows outdoors.

Are you going to clean your windows indoors and leave the exterior as is? How about using a magnetic window cleaner? It’s a two in one window cleaning tool, which typically combines a squeegee and sponge or cloth.

The best feature of it is that you can clean your window simultaneously from both sides. Meaning, you don’t have to go outside during cold weather just to clean the exterior sides of your windows. Is there anyone who does this, anyway?

This can be a bit far off, but keeping your windows from freezing is one way to clean them easily. Cold days can freeze shut your house windows, which can end up as a safety hazard. When the frost melts, it would usually transfer moisture to whatever is next to it. For example, if it’s next to a wooden window, frost can discolor and damage it.

Another example is that frost can melt off single-paned windows. What will happen next is that it would seep down into a wall, and eventually, mold will begin to grow. Double-paned windows, on the other hand, can slow down the transfer of cold temperature—thanks to the barrier of dead air between the panes.

Others would typically install storm windows to avoid this situation from happening. However, for areas with short winter days and few ice-producing storms, doing so might not be cost-effective.

Another is to reduce window condensation by maintaining consistent cool temperatures and low humidity inside your house. For instance, you can install a plastic shrink film on the inside of your windows or run bathroom vents. Wearing long-sleeved clothing to keep your interior thermostat as low can be helpful, as well.

Take a look at your panes. Did you routinely clean them? If not, they’re probably covered with grimes and dust, are they? Everything will turn into one big mess when this semi-frozen layer melts—we’ve already explained what might happen if frost with dirt will melt. We’re pretty sure you don’t want this to take place, so it’s best to dust your windows.

But let’s say you haven’t touched your windows in weeks. It’s never too late to clean it! Just make sure to give yourself a tad of patience since you’re going to deal with a challenging chore. 

Start by using a damp cloth or paper towels. Let them soak in all the spills and streaks, then gently wipe away the topmost layer of grime.

Don’t let drops of water to land on your sills or frames. You don’t want them to expand upon freezing and potentially end up cracking the glass. Keep doing this until the windows will turn dry. Finally, wipe every inch of your windows to deal with leftover smudges.

It’s best to consider the right time of the day when cleaning your windows during winter. According to experts, the sun’s reflection may conceal water spots on your windows, so it’s best to clean your windows on an overcast day.