If you are going through the trouble of installing new windows in your home, then you might want to also take the time to consider the way you wash and care for your windows. Keeping your windows clean can brighten your home and improve your mood. However, maybe you want some ways to clean your windows besides the usual chemical window cleaners. When you make a plan for keeping your new windows clean, take some ideas from these four global trends.
Photocatalysts from Japan
The Japanese are well-known for their innovative technologies, and photocatalytic paint is one of their recent additions to the world of construction. This paint is activated by light, and is able to create a surface that dirt and grime are unable to stick to. In other words, surfaces coated with this substances are virtually self-cleaning.
While photocatalytic paint was originally made for buildings in 2002, the Japanese railway company is experimenting with coating the windows on their high speed trains. If this specialized coating can withstand speeds of 160 mph while still keeping the windows gorgeous, it can probably keep your home windows from gathering grime as well.
Homemade Alcohol from Eastern Europe
For a less high-tech approach to window cleaning, you can get back to the basics with homemade alcohol treatments that are commonly used in Eastern Europe. Whether it is vodka in Russia, palinka from Hungary, or rakia from the Balkans, it all comes down to highly concentrated, homemade alcohol that is used for much more than drinking.
In Bulgaria, the first batch of rakia is usually between 70-80 percent alcohol. This is stored separately and used to wash windows, disinfect cuts, and even clean greasy hair during the cold winters. Women simply dab a little of the highly concentrated alcohol on a cloth and wipe down their surfaces for a streak-free clean.
Vinegar from the United States
As many Americans seek out more natural cleaning agents, vinegar has become a popular choice. It not only cuts through grease, but also disinfects and deodorizes. However, many Americans who made the switch to vinegar for their windows have been unhappy with the streaky results they get.
The solution is simple. The first time you switch from a commercial window cleaner to vinegar, you should add a few drops of dish soap to your mixture. This will remove the waxy buildup that regular cleansers have left behind. After that initial cleaning, you should be fine with a 1:1 vinegar and water mix. However, if you want to get your windows from a place like New Jersey Siding & Windows Inc to really sparkly, dry them immediately after spraying with black and white newspaper.
Water-fed Cleaning from the United Kingdom
Water-fed poles, also known as pure water cleaning systems, are popular in the UK. They filter and ionize water to make it more effective at breaking down dirt on your exterior windows. The water is then fed through tubes with hard-bristled brushes at the end. These tubes make it easy to reach windows on the second or third floor of your home without using dangerous ladders. In the end you have clean windows with no chemicals and no residues.
Whichever method you use to clean your windows, you should make sure that you keep up with it regularly. Depending on where you live, you should clean the interior of your windows at least once a month and the exterior between two and four times a year, unless you can get your hands on a photocatalytic self-cleaning film. This will not only improve the appearance of your home, but will also lengthen the lifespan of your new investment.
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