Balcony windows are not easy to keep clean, especially from the outside. There is constantly accumulating dust and dirt from the street, stains after the rain. The washing process itself is difficult, since it is very dangerous to wash balcony windows outside on high floors without special devices. Therefore, for effective work, housewives need to stock up on tools and detergents, as well as wash windows in a certain sequence.
Content
General tips
To quickly clean the balcony glazing and improve the washing result, it is important to follow simple rules:
- To maintain cleanliness, a mixture of glycerol and alcohol is added to the washing water for a long time. These substances prevent fogging of the glasses.
- For cleaning plastic frames, do not use powder products. Small particles leave invisible scratches on the PVC surface. Soap solution launders pollution much more carefully.
- Do not use hot water to clean plastic windows. It provokes the appearance of a yellow tint, which is very difficult to remove later.
- Do not wash window frames with solvents. They can greatly spoil the appearance of windows, but they cope poorly with dirt.
- No need to clean dried up stains with a knife or blade. This spoils the protective coating and leaves scratches on the glass.
- Windows need to be washed outside. Since there are more pollution on the outside.
To simplify the work, do not postpone washing the glasses for a long time. Systematic cleaning makes it possible to keep windows clean for a long time. It is recommended to clean every 2 months. If clearly visible spots appear, they are wiped off immediately.
Tools for work
Before cleaning, carefully choose materials and tools that will not damage the appearance of the glass. Do not think that all the work can be done with one rag. There are several tools included in the standard kit. They will help to do the job quickly and efficiently so that you do not have to wash the glass twice.
Soft sponge
This tool should not contain hard particles. They can leave scratches and ruin the surface forever. For convenience, choose a large sponge. It allows you to make work faster. Melamine sponges, which perfectly remove any type of dirt, have recently gained particular popularity.
Water tank
It will take two basins. In one of them, a solution with a detergent is prepared. In the second, the water is left clean to use to wash off the suds. Moreover, during operation, the water is gradually polluted. Therefore, you have to change it several times.
Brush mop
This simple tool will simplify washing glass in hard-to-reach parts of the window. To facilitate the task using a special magnetic brush. With it, the glass is washed simultaneously on both sides. It consists of two halves in which magnets are inserted. Thanks to them, the brush parts hold firmly to each other. On the working surface of such a device there are felt pads. They facilitate the washing of dirt.
Rag
It is better to cook several rags at once.One of them, soaked in soapy water, wipes off contaminants. To eliminate stains on the glass using a dry rag. A napkin made of faux suede behaves best in work. Due to the porous structure, it absorbs water effectively and does not leave a fiber on the surface of the glass.
Ladder
If it is not possible to reach high areas of glass, a sliding staircase is useful. For safety, wash the windows on a stepladder together, so that the second person insures against falling.
Rubber scraper
This important tool will help to cope with complex spots. Thanks to a soft and elastic nozzle, it wipes off dried dirt and does not spoil the glass surface. This tool is especially useful for eliminating the consequences of repairs. Using a soft scraper, you can quickly get rid of dried cement and whitewash particles.
Quickly and cleanly wash glass napkins for washing office equipment. It is convenient to wash plastic windows with dishwashing sponges. They wipe away dirt and do not scratch the material.
Gloves
Work on washing windows is best done with gloves in order to protect the skin of the hands from the harmful effects of chemistry. It is important to choose a product by size to make it convenient to work. Rubber or latex products are better protected.
Vacuum cleaner with washing function
To wash the windows on the balcony outside on a high floor and not endanger yourself, it is better to use a washing vacuum cleaner. This appliance will gently wash the glass surface and at the same time collect the remaining drops of water.
How to choose a detergent
To wash the glass and the metal profile, it is better to use special detergents designed specifically for these materials. They should not include abrasive particles, acidic or alkaline components.
For washing do not use solvents with drying oil, undiluted alcohol or stain removers with a gasoline base. Baking soda or dry powder is also not recommended for cleaning these surfaces.
Special household chemicals for metal-plastic constructions are best suited as a detergent. They are excellent laundering and have an affordable price.
How to make a detergent yourself
Fans of natural detergents can prepare a suitable tool for washing window panes on their own. Such preparations consist entirely of natural ingredients and are not harmful to health.
In a liter of warm water, one of the following substances is bred:
- 100 ml of medical alcohol;
- 1 tbsp. l table vinegar;
- 1 tbsp. l dishwashing detergents;
- 2 tbsp. l corn starch.
The proposed methods are safe and have long been tested. With the help of folk recipes, you can achieve clean glass without streaks and freshen the air in the room with a pleasant aroma.
So that the balcony glass in the winter does not overgrow ice and does not fog, they are wiped with a rag soaked in one of the special tools:
- 20 g of chalk crumbs are dissolved in boiling water, then 2 tbsp. l vinegar
- stir in 1 cup of water 2 tbsp. l salt;
- in 1 liter of water stir 2 tbsp. l dishwashing detergent and add the same amount of alcohol;
- in 500 ml of water mixed 1 tbsp. l glycerin and as much medical alcohol.
How to wash the windows of the balcony inside the apartment and outside
After preparing all the necessary tools and detergents, they begin to clean the glass and metal-plastic construction. To start, the frames are washed with water and detergent. Wipe them with a dry cloth so that there are no stains. Then, using a polish, the existing scratches on the plastic are masked.
After that, they start cleaning the glasses. First, the dust is washed with warm clean water. Then use a washing solution. Remove its remains, again rubbing the glass with clean water and diluted ammonia. It is more effective to do this with a microfiber cloth. That there were no stains, when washing glass moves from top to bottom.To shine the glasses, wipe them with clean water and ammonia for the last time. Although the soap solution washes glasses well, it does not need to be used in large quantities. Getting rid of excess foam is then very difficult.
After the inside of the balcony windows is washed, proceed to clean the windows and frames from the street. Here they act in a similar way and first they wash the metal-plastic structure from dirt and wipe it dry with a microfiber cloth. If it is difficult to reach the far corners, use a mop with a retractable handle or a special scraper as an auxiliary tool. With their help it is convenient to wash inaccessible places. Additionally, you can stand on the stepladder. So that there are no stains, it is recommended to use different nozzles for a mop: for applying a washing solution, collecting moisture and polishing.
To wash the windows outside, especially on the high floor, you need insurance. Do not hold on to the open window sash. She can come off at any moment. If the danger is great anyway, it is better to call a cleaning service for this work.
To wash the sliding frames on the loggia or balcony, you will need the same tools and detergents as for the care of ordinary opening windows. The procedure for washing is similar. The only difficulty in this case is the removal of the sliding sash. If there is no practice in the analysis of such metal-plastic structures, it is better to entrust this work to a professional.
Safety precautions
When washing windows, it is important not to lean on the frame, glass or window sill. Do not try to lean out of the window further to wash the dirt in the far corners. During the washing of windows on the balcony, the work is carried out with soapy water. Therefore, you cannot use electrical appliances at the same time or keep them turned on nearby.
If during washing you need to use a stepladder or retractable ladder, it is installed only on a flat, solid floor. When using household chemicals, they must protect their hands with rubber gloves, and the respiratory system with a mask or respirator. Means, which include aggressive substances, it is better not to use for washing. They negatively affect the health of people around.
Window washing in winter
Usually in the winter months, glazed frames on the balcony do not wash. This procedure is delayed until warm. Nevertheless, the inside is regularly wiped. If ice has formed on the window from the inside, it is removed in a timely manner.
To dissolve ice on frames, you need to prepare a solution of 1 liter of water and 2 tbsp. l table salt. Iced areas are wetted with this solution and the ice is melting. After it has completely melted, the frames and glass are wiped dry with a clean rag.
Do not use wipers to dissolve ice.
How to wash windows on the top floor safely
For residents of high floors, it is not advisable to wash balcony windows on their own from the outside. It is very life threatening. Therefore, a reasonable solution to the problem would be to call a specialized cleaning service that performs such work at altitude. But most often, the owners of such apartments refuse this method because of the high cost of climbers' services.
Additional costs arise from the need to often wash balcony windows. Indeed, in large cities, glass is quickly contaminated with dust from construction works, automobiles and operating enterprises. In this case, particles of pollution can rise to the height of the twentieth floor.
If, nevertheless, the owners prefer to wash the double-glazed windows on their own, it is recommended that all possible security measures be taken first. The work is best done using modern tools that greatly simplify window cleaning. For example, wash the glass immediately on both sides with a magnetic brush or get rid of dirt with a washing vacuum cleaner.
Reviews
Marina, 27 years old:
Always wash the windows outside with a mop with a cloth wound around it.Of course, in the far corners it is not very clean. But you do not need to lean out of the window with the risk of falling.
Elena, 35 years old:
We put double-glazed windows in the new apartment on the loggia with several opening sashes. It turned out expensive, but convenient to wash. All the doors open inward, you can easily wash the window from all sides.
Conclusion
It is better to wash the window glazing on the balcony regularly. Then this work takes less time and the windows always look clean. When starting work, it is important to consider safety rules. This will protect against accidents. The rest of the washing process is no different from washing ordinary double-glazed windows.
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