Washing your windows often is about more than just an aesthetic look.
Infrequent cleaning can have serious consequences and, in time, cause irreparable damage to the window surface, bringing forth all types of problems, which all end up costing you money.
Still, window washing doesn’t have to be hard, and with all the benefits of good maintenance, it makes it a necessary and worthwhile effort.
Let’s find out all about it below!
It makes your home look good
The first and most obvious benefit is that regularly cleaning your windows makes where you live to look good, inside and out.
Good maintenance ensures that your windows will be in pristine condition and that no costly replacements will have to be installed anytime soon.
It can make a great impression on your family and friends and provide comfort and peace of mind.
If you rent your home, your landlord will probably have a clause in your lease that stipulates whether and how often he desires window cleaning to occur.
So, by performing that task well, you ensure that you will pass any rental inspections during your tenancy.
It also ensures that you will get your security deposit back should decide to move out, as landlords are usually looking for any excuse to keep your money for themselves.
Increases your windows’ lifespan
Most people wouldn’t think leaving their windows dirty will cost them money.
Sadly, it does.
Infrequent cleaning reduces your windows’ lifespan, increases the likelihood of permanent surface damage, and makes them more prone to cracks and breaking.
All this costs money, effort, and time to fix.
After all, you can’t expect something to serve you forever if you don’t take proper care of it.
That’s why regular cleaning of your windows is so important, as it not only benefits their appearance but also has a great impact on their overall condition.
Besides, regular maintenance also ensures that the frames will be in good condition longer and won’t be prone to mould, cracks and other unpredictable things.
To make the process much more seamless, you can make use of the many pro tools which are available online or in stores. That way, you will not only have a much better time cleaning them, but it will be much easier.
Still, window cleaning isn’t easy, especially when you have to wash the outdoor sides and there’s no one there to help. That’s why sometimes it makes much more sense to hire window cleaning professionals to take care of that for you.
Not only will that save you the hassle of doing everything yourself, but it will free up time to allocate to more important things, like family.
Prevents permanent stains
One of the most common defects in windows is caused by hard water.
That’s all thanks to the calcium carbonate, which is present in the liquid and causes the issue when water evaporates.
The hard truth about hard water stains is that glass is porous, and they must be removed as quickly as possible. If not, and the longer they’re present, the more likely it is that the glass will etch.
And once a window is etched, it becomes more difficult and costly to repair.
The sad truth is that, usually, by the time people notice the problem, it has progressed beyond the common home remedies people can apply to solve it.
That’s why an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If your windows are already stained, here’s how you could try to clean them:
- Use white vinegar and water solution to clean them;
- Use lemon halves and rub the windows with a fair amount of pressure, followed by your regular cleaning method;
- Use soda bicarbonate paste and a cloth to scrub your windows, after which you proceed with regular cleaning;
- Use a commercial cleaner specifically designed to remove hard water spots.
To prevent permanent stains from forming, there are various things you can do in order to minimise the likelihood of that happening.
Here are some additional tips that can help:
- If you own sprinklers, ask the company that maintains them to adjust the heads so water doesn’t hit your windows directly;
- If your windows don’t come with factory-applied treatments to prevent hard water stains, you can use a glass sealant, carnauba paste wax, or rain repellent.
- You can opt for distilled water when cleaning your windows if you live in an area with hard water.
It means fewer allergens and health risks
Dirty glass can be why asthma or allergies suddenly flare up, or other health-related complications occur.
That’s because windows attract quite a bit of dust and provide access to various types of bacteria, mould, and pet hair, all of which are allergens.
Infrequent cleaning can easily cause all those things to grow in number, which can easily trigger allergies and pose an increased health risk.
Not only that but when your windows are dirty, one of the best tools for disinfection, ultraviolet light, has a much harder time doing its job. A dirty glass can reduce the amount of light entering your home by up to 40%.
And when you factor in that during winter, daylight is even less, it’s no wonder why so many people experience discomfort or ailments.
Ultraviolet light is also important so it can kill off mould spores. And nothing allows them to grow exponentially as much as a dirty window.
Especially problematic is black mould, which is a serious health risk that can cause various types of respiratory problems. Once it appears, it can easily spread across paint, wallpaper, and plaster.
The reason for it to occur on windows is either due to condensation or leaks.
It’s important to determine the reason and act swiftly, as black mould can spread quickly.
If you are cleaning black mould, always wear goggles, rubber gloves, and a mask to avoid ingesting any. You can use white vinegar or washing up liquid solutions to remove it, but remember to dry well and then throw away all rags after you’ve used them.
To reduce the likelihood of developing allergies, you could also place an air purifier with a HEPA filter by your window. That will catch about 99% of dust particles that are bigger than 0.3 microns.
You should also check the caulking around the windows, as even tiny cracks let in dust or fungi spores. As a rule of thumb, if your caulk is older than 6-7 years, it’s just best to replace it.
To eliminate dust mites, another common cause of allergies, you must avoid hanging heavy dry-clean-only drapes and small slatted blinds, as they’re virtually dust magnets.
The best options are easy-to-wash, synthetic curtains, which should be washed at least once a month in hot water to eliminate the dreaded dust mites.
It saves you money
Last but not least, well-maintained windows will save you quite a bit of cash over the years.
Infrequent cleaning can cause the glass to damage and deteriorate over time and either crack, break or thin out.
That will require costly replacements, which, in the current economic situation, isn’t a good situation to be in.
Thinner glass also means less effective insulation and more money spent on heating.
And when you factor in that windows account for up to 35% of heat loss in your home, you can imagine how much poor maintenance costs.
So, by ensuring your windows are cleaned regularly, you actually end up saving quite a bit of money over the years.
Many people think that if they clean their windows regularly, they will have to spend lots of money on cleaning detergents every year.
However, the truth is that when you clean your windows rarely, you have to apply much more cleaning solution than normally, and you sometimes have to buy special products which offer stronger cleaning and disinfecting simply because the regular ones can’t deal with the dried stains.
And when you sum all this up, you end up spending twice as much money if you clean your windows only from time to time.
That’s why cleaning your windows regularly is the best thing you can do to save money.
Conclusion
Cleaning your windows at least a couple of times a year will not only make them look great for years to come, but it will also ensure they remain structurally intact longer, with all the benefits that that provides.
So, now that you know how important that is, why not make washing your windows regularly a priority in your schedule?
