The windows in our homes are our eyes to the world. Unfortunately, they tend to be overlooked when it’s time to clean. To avoid having to close the blinds and draw the drapes when company’s coming, it’s a good idea to make window cleaning one of those chores you do on a regular basis, like vacuuming or dusting. In fact, local window-cleaning experts recommend professional window cleanings every six to 18 months.

Miracle methods
“There are two reasons to clean windows twice a year,” says Rich Mickle, co-owner with his wife, Anna, of Fish Window Cleaning in Conyers. “People tend to like to have clean windows during the spring after the pollen, and again right before the holidays so the house
looks nice.”

There are two basic types of window cleaning. Using the spray method, cleaners hook a window-spraying pole to a garden hose and add soap, then allow the water to dry naturally after the windows are sprayed. This method, however, leaves your windows more susceptible to streaks or spots and doesn’t address any ingrained dirt in your sills or screens. The hand-washing method—with a scrubber, squeegee and lint-free cloth—allows the professional to get more dirt and stains out of
the crevices.

One new way window washers are combating streaks and water spots is through the additional use of deionized water, which has no minerals that can leave telltale spots or streaks if left to air dry. Keep in mind that this technique doesn’t necessarily work for windows installed at newly constructed sites with heavy dirt and grime or on windows that haven’t been cleaned in several years.

Tricks of the trade
Sometimes nontraditional cleaning methods end up being the most effective. One way to get your windows streak-free and dry quickly after a thorough cleaning is to fill a pump-up garden sprayer with water and a few drops of Jet Dry. Spray your windows with the mix, then rinse it off. The Jet Dry makes the water flow off with no streaks.

Instead of using old rags or paper towels to clean your windows, try using bunches of newspapers along with a glass cleaner. They won’t leave behind lint or excess spray. Wear gloves if you want to protect your fingers from newsprint. If you are sensitive to chemical cleaners, try using a 50/50 vinegar and water solution instead.

If you feel like your home gets as much traffic as a hotel, try using the cleaning product they use. For everyday cleaning, Junior Lacayo, housekeeping manager for the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel, uses Zep 40, which is powerful yet has a pleasant smell. But, he says, you also can just use lots of hot water if your windows are very dirty and muddy. It’s a good idea to wash your windows on a cloudy day. Otherwise, cleaning solutions may dry too quickly in the sun and leave streaks.

When to wash
While you may prefer to wash your own windows, one of the most important times to get your windows professionally cleaned is just after construction or after a fresh coat of paint.

“With the initial cleaning after construction, you’re dealing with overs-pread paint, caulk or stucco, so you don’t have the same kind of debris you would in an older home,” says Greg Harris, owner of Proview Cleaning Service, which specializes in cleaning windows for newly constructed homes. “You’re dealing with more construction debris.”

Whether you decide to clean your windows yourself or hire a professional, John Stembel, co-owner of Total Home Care, says getting them clean is an important part of home maintenance. “The longer your windows are dirty, the longer they get stained, and some of those stains never come out,” he says. “Window cleaning is a maintenance issue, not a luxury.”