Friday, January 22, 2010

Slacker Window Washing Woman...


It is a uncharacteristically gorgeous day over here at the Vintage Dutch Girl homestead. Beautiful sun shining through my smudged, speckled and fingerprinted windows.

Speaking of windows, I need some help.

I have ginormous windows. So ginormous, in fact, that I have (choose) to custom make all my curtains because this lady isn't shelling out $200+ PER PANEL for extra long and extra wide curtains. Especially when this lady knows how to make her own for a significantly lower amount.

These ginormous windows of ours get dirty...FAST. Smudges, speckles, fingerprints and the leftover residue from using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to scrub sharpie off the window. I am NOT like my neighbor lady who washes her windows on a weekly basis. Her OUTSIDE GARAGE windows.

Yeah, I know. WEEKLY. I wonder if she's bored? Or maybe she has some serious obsessive compulsive tendencies with cleaning. If so, maybe I should invite her over. We could have some serious cleaning therapy going on over here. And ya know what? I wouldn't even charge for her therapy because I'm nice like that.

I've heard that using vinegar is the best (and cheapest! You know me, I like a good deal. What can I say? I'm a penny-pinching dutch girl. ) window cleaning method. I've also seen some window washing "recipes" that also advise using a drop or two of liquid detergent in your vinegar/water mixture.

So interpeeps, what do you recommend? Do you follow a specific ratio mix for your window washing? Do you use a spray bottle with your mixture? A bucket full of the mix and use one wet rag to clean and one ray to dry?

Seriously, help a girl out...

A

13 comments :

  1. I've used vinegar, but ammonia works better. I am a penny-pinching, umm, Swedish girl, but thrifty just the same! I can never remember what the dilution should be, but I know some things are a capful per gallon, and some are half and half, so I usually glug enough in to be somewhere in the middle and I call it good enough.

    I do the outsides by filling a five gallon bucket with some ammonia and water, and hitting the windows with a car-wash brush. Rinse with a hose, no need to squeegie, it dries clean and clear!

    Seriously, though. Ammonia. It's fabulous.

    :)

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  2. Well...I am the same. Cannot remember the last time I washed the windows, lol.

    However, I *do* have a recipe that my Grandma (similar to your neighbor) swears by...WHEN I DO the windows, lol.

    1/2 c. rubbing alcohol
    1 tsp. vinegar
    1 drop liquid dish soap
    Per 1 gal water

    I use a squeege because I'm short (it's telescoping), and because, well...it's more fun that way! :)

    Have fun! :)

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  3. Oops...might be common knowledge, but forgot to mention that the water is hot water. ;-)

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  4. i want to see pictures of these ginormous windows:)

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  5. I use Shaklee's Basic H. One bottle of their cleaner could last possibly . . . a year. Depending on what you use it for. I use it for everything. Floors, counters, cleaning my carpets, spot cleaning my laundry (my kids WHITE laundry)and of course windows/mirrors. I think the ratio for windows is like one or two drops per 12-16oz of water. And it doesn't have the strong odor like some of the harsher chemicals. I ♥ it!

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  6. I use vinegar for all my cleaning...what little of it I actually accomplish! I bought a spray bottle in the garden section at Wal-Mart. I think it holds 28 oz. So I put in 14 oz. of water, 14 oz. of vinegar, and 12-15 drops lavender oil (it's anti-bacterial). I use it for sinks, tub, toilet, floors (de-oderizing, for potty-training mishaps) and, on rare occasions, windows. It has always worked great for me.

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  7. P.S. I combine my all-purpose cleaner with baking soda for the tub, sink, and toilet.

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  8. I was washing my dainty windows the beginning of WINTER (for adoption photos,lol) and only made it around one side of my house, but oh well. I used a bucket and one wet and one dry rag. I hear vinegar water is amazing, but I honestly don't remember what I was using. I've had a weeeeee bit going on in this head of mine! =) Best of luck, I would NOT want to be in your shoes right now! =)

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  9. I think you should scrap the idea of cleaners, and just invite your neighbor over. If that doesn't work out, I've always had good luck with half vinegar half water too.

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  10. I've tried it all,but now I get the professional window cleaner at "Northwest Professional's" ? Whatever that place is on the Lyn/Birch Bay road next to Wiser Lake Furniture. Got my squeegee's there too. Love them. Worth the investment. I live in the county, near fields and have/should wash my windows a lot!!!! Works great!

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  11. You mean you are supposed to clean your windows? Oops.

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  12. I use (almost daily b/c my kids like to lick the sliding glass door) the Basic H2 cleaner from Shaklee. I use about 2 drops per pint in a spray bottle. http://www.shaklee.net/sarahmaffet/product/GetCleanHousehold
    It comes in a 16 oz or 64 oz (!) bottle. I use it to clean the whole house!

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  13. Using a squeegee is the only way to go. My solution is about 3 gallons of water, 2 or 3 tsp's of Dawn liquid dish shop and about 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol. Use a big sponge or window washing mop to soap up the glass, then use a clean towel on your finger tip to wipe a dry line on the sides and top of the glass and then squeegee that window clean from top to bottom. Good luck!

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C'mon, let's chat a bit...

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