2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
Page 23
Look at that great view through clean windows. Oh no, look at
that stack of patio blocks that need to be moved. They’re not go-
ing anywhere. Fish are calling.
You can buy window cleaning solu-
tions ready-made or as a concentrate
and add water. These can be as
cheap as $1 a bottle from a discount
store or a name brand that costs up
to $15 for a concentrate. Ready-
made is less muss and fuss.
Do you have a lot of windows, or are
you concerned for the environment?
You can make your own solution
and get more for less cost. At the
end of this article you will find some
good, simple homemade formulas.
Now here is the big secret that
shortens your time and gives you
the best results. Do one pane at a
time, and while it’s still wet, use a
rubber squeegee to quickly scrape
clean and dry.
You can use vertical or horizontal
swipes; it doesn’t matter. You could
go horizontally on the inside and
vertically on the outside; then if
there are any streaks, you will know
which side of the window they are
on.
Wipe squeegee blade with a rag
every one or two swipes. If you are
outside, just give it a short, sharp
shake; and if anyone is watching,
you will look so pro.
You can also try sweeping back and forth in one long S-curve to the bot-
tom of a big pane. This is called “fanning.” Don’t be too hard on yourself
if you can’t master this technique. This is how the professionals do it who
do it all day, every day. It takes practice, but who knows, maybe you like
a challenge.
If you have really dirty windows, you may need to repeat this process
one more time, but it’s quick and you’ll like the results. Or, maybe you
just want to work on your fanning technique.
When done with each pane, take a clean rag such as an old T-shirt, lint-
free towel, coffee filter or paper towel, and quickly wipe window edges
dry. The new microfiber cloths are highly absorbent and work great.
Done!
