Cleaning windows with newspaper
How to clean windows with newspaper. Cleaning a glass shower. Commercial cleaning cost.
How To Clean Windows With Newspaper
Mr. Clean MagicReach is made up of three key features: a flexible, shaped head; sturdy, detachable pole; and disposable cleaning pads. Flexible, Shaped Head: The flexible head can work as a hand tool, or can be attached to the Mr Clean MagicReach pole. The head features pointed ends to easily scrub corners, and flexible sides to hug the angles around the bottom of your toilet and curves in your bathtub. Pole: Strong, yet lightweight, this detachable pole extends up to nearly 4 feet. It gives you the extra reach you need to clean up high in your shower stall, around the bottom of your tub, and behind your toilet. The pole also features a hook on one end for easy storage when not in use. Disposable Cleaning Pads: There are two types of pads — Scrubbing Tub/Shower and Mopping Floor/Multipurpose. The Scrubbing pads foam when submerged in water and clean tough soap scum in your tub and shower. The Mopping pads are premoistened to easily clean floors, sinks, countertops, and more. Starter Kit contains 1 MagicReach flexible head, 1 detachable telescoping pole, 2 scrubbing tub/shower pads, 2 mopping floor/multipurpose pads.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper is the 14th largest in the country, with a daily circulation of 375,000 in the Bay Area alone. It provides comprehensive coverage of local, regional and international news, entertainment and sports, and is one of the only papers in the United States with a regular column devoted to the architecture industry.
The Kindle Edition of The San Francisco Chronicle contains most articles found in the print edition, but will not include some images and tables. Also, some features such as the crossword puzzle, box scores and classifieds are not currently available. For your convenience, issues are automatically delivered wirelessly to your Kindle starting at 5:00 AM San Francisco local time.
Why Does Newspaper Clean Windows?
Posted: 06/22/17 6:40 PM — Category: Windows
Most people grew up using newspaper to clean windows. Conventional wisdom said that the best way to clean windows around the house was to use vinegar and newspaper. But does that really work? Or is using newspaper to clean windows just an old myth that people kept repeating?
In our experience as a professional window cleaning company, using cleaning windows with newspaper does work. But it isn’t always the best or most efficient way to clean modern windows. Newspaper is better for cleaning windows than using rags or paper towels, it’s true. Remember, mirrors are just glass as well, so this all applies to cleaning mirrors throughout your home whether it’s a bathroom mirror or a full-length mirror.
But wet newspaper can leave black smudges of ink all over window frames. That ink can be difficult to clean and may even require repainting. Therefore, while newspaper will work better than some other methods it is not a foolproof way to get great looking windows.
Here’s how newspaper became the homemaker’s answer for how to clean windows:
Newspaper Used To Be the Best Way to Clean Windows
Rags were never good for cleaning windows because they leave streaks and smudges. They also then have to be washed which can make window cleaning even more work. But for years that was all that was available. Newspaper is a very dense material. It is made from soft fibers that are very tightly packed together; it is not abrasive and will not scratch or pit glass.
In the past newspapers were a part of daily life and everyone got the newspaper daily. So using soft newspaper was a cheap and easy way to get cleaner windows without the hassle of rags.
What About Paper Towels?
When paper towels became common household items people tried using paper towels to clean windows. But paper towels were more expensive than newspaper. And paper towels have jagged fibers that are great for catching liquid but also can cause small scratches or pits on glass. So using newspaper remained the favored method of cleaning windows.
Sometimes the ink would run when the newspaper got wet but that was a small problem compared to the risks of using rags or the cost of paper towels. In the 80s and 90s some small newspapers or local weekly papers would sell sheets of newsprint paper that hadn’t been printed on specifically for cleaning windows and packing delicate items.
But these days most households don’t regularly get print newspapers. Print newspapers have become obsolete thanks to the Internet. In the year 2000 most print newspapers switched to a different kind of ink that doesn’t run but by then homeowners had already stopped paying for newspaper subscriptions.
The homeowners that still got the newspaper on a regular basis had to pay higher prices for subscriptions. The higher cost of subscriptions made it not very cost effective to use newspaper to clean windows.
How Do You Do It?
Washing windows with newspaper is also pretty labor intensive. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Spray the window with cleaner
- Rub in circular motions with newspaper
- Make sure all liquid is absorbed
Spraying window cleaner on the window is the first step to leave them sparkling with no smudges or streaks. Then use newspaper and rub in a circular motion to loosen the dirt. After that, you have to wipe horizontally and then vertically to make sure there are no streaks and the entire liquid cleaner is absorbed.
You have to do that for each section of the window. When you have a lot of windows in the home to clean that can be exhausting and take hours to complete. That’s one of the reasons why people cite cleaning windows as their least favorite household chore.
It is tedious, it takes a long time, and you have to pay close attention to every window or you will end up with streaky dull windows even if you are using newspaper to clean them.
A Better Method
These days homeowners who want to make their windows look great without a high cost use a squeegee to clean windows. Squeegees have a thin piece of rubber like a blade on the end. That dull blade is perfect for washing windows because it’s abrasive enough to loosen tough dirt and grime but not so hard that it will damage the glass. Squeegees also cover a bigger area so that it takes less time to get the windows sparkling clean. That’s why professional window cleaners use industrial strength cleaner and squeegees to get windows clean.
Using a Squeegee
When using a squeegee to clean windows you should use a rag to wipe off the squeegee after every stroke. That will prevent streaks and leave your windows shining clean. But even with a squeegee you might still end up with dirty windows, depending on the type of cleaner that you’re using.
Regular household cleaners or vinegar and water combinations do an ok job on indoor windows. But on outdoor windows you’ll get a much better shine if you use a commercial window cleaner. These professional strength cleaners are made to cut through all the dirt, debris, pollen, and other gunk that can end up being stuck on your windows. However, in many cases you can also make do with some water and a bit of dish soap.
Dirty Windows (or Mirrors) Can Be Troublesome
If you have not cleaned your windows in a while, you may have a deep layer of crud on your windows. Driving winds can blow dirt and other debris onto the window. If you’re looking to clean your car windows this is even more of a problem. Hot summer weather can bake pollen and dust right onto the windows. There could also be leaves or larger debris on the windows.
A regular household cleaner from the grocery store or big box store isn’t going to cut through that kind of buildup. If you are cleaning outdoor windows it’s a better idea to hire a window cleaner.
A professional window cleaner has the right cleaners and equipment to get all the accumulated debris off your outdoor windows quickly and easily. Commercial cleaners are also trained in different washing techniques so that they can efficiently move from window to window without wasting time. And they also have the right ladders and other equipment to reach high windows that it would be dangerous for you to attempt to wash.
Use the Right Tools to Get Ideal Results
Invest in a squeegee and a high quality glass cleaner if you prefer to wash the indoor windows yourself. But when it comes to making sure that your outdoor windows look great call a professional. The cost is minimal compared to the cost of the time and supplies you would need to make your outdoor windows sparkle. But if in a pinch, you can always reach for the newspaper to get your windows clean enough.
7 common home cleaning mistakes you’ve probably been making — and what to do instead
Wash pots and pans in the dishwasher? Clean windows with newspaper? Here’s how to tidy up your act.
WHEN IT COMES to keeping our homes clean, most of us want to get the job done quickly – but we might not realise that our cleaning methods leave a lot to be desired.
Since cleaning wasn’t a leaving cert subject we all learned in school, it’s easy to miss a few of the basics and take up your own routines. But whether we’re using the wrong tools and cleaning solution, or checking a task off the list in the wrong weather, we can often make mistakes that cost us time and energy.
If you’ve been scrubbing your windows only to have them still streaky, or wondering what you should be using to clean hardwood floors, rectifying these six common home cleaning mistakes could save you time as well as money, and give you a cleaner home in the end.
1. Using the vacuum cleaner first
It’s often tempting to give a space a cosmetic clean before we roll up our sleeves, and vacuuming is one task that can help with that. But, it turns out that reaching for the nozzle first isn’t the best idea.
Think about the dust you’ll unearth as you go on to shake out cushions, wipe down surfaces and move around objects.
The solution: Leave the vacuuming until last. It’ll save you vacuuming twice and add an extra freshness by picking up any dust particles that may be floating about after the deep clean. Adding a fresh diffuser, like one of these from Max Benjamin, is a nice finishing touch after you’ve vacuumed, too.
Source: Shutterstock/Africa Studio
2. Overusing your dishwasher
It’s an easy trap to fall into: don’t want to wash a gunky pan? Stick it in the dishwasher, right? Not so fast. You could be ruining kitchen tools that shouldn’t be put into the dishwasher at all, like knives and non-stick pots and pans.
Unless your pots and pans specifically note that they’re dishwasher safe (usually on the packaging or bottom of the pan), putting them in the dishwasher could take off their non-stick coating, rendering them close to useless. Sharp chopping and cutting knives shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher, either, as it can dull the blades.
The solution: Wash non-stick pots and pans, and knives, by hand. Use a mild soap and a soft cloth, so as not to rub off the non-stick coating over time, and rinse with warm water; hot water can damage that non-stick coating as well.
3. Using dirty cleaning tools
It seems obvious, but cleaning tools can often be forgotten about. Sponges, cloths and rags shoulder a lot of the hard work and need to be looked after as well. For a cleaning tool to work its best, it needs to be in tip top condition – and a dirty utensil or cleaning tool is more likely to spread bacteria and dirt around.
The solution: Invest in good washcloths that you can pop into the washing machine regularly. If you don’t fancy the laundry then look for biodegradable, disposable kitchen towels instead.
Seeing as sponges are stomping grounds for bacteria, look into alternatives like these copper scouring pads from Obeo Living.
4. Cleaning windows on a hot day – and with newspaper
A bright, sunny day might seem like the perfect time to tackle the grime on the windows, but it’s time to think again. Sunshine and heat can actually make cleaners evaporate as soon as they hit the window panes, and can leave streaks and residue behind. Not ideal.
Additionally, cleaning windows with newspaper might not be the most effective route. Newspaper ink can actually leave windows streaky and smudged, which is exactly what you don’t want after the effort of cleaning them.
The solution: Pick a day that’s a bit cooler and overcast, and use butcher paper to clean windows. You should end up with streak-free windows and you can save that day in the sunshine for a non-cleaning related activity.
5. Taking the term all-purpose too literally
A truly “all purpose” cleaner does not exist. Buying a spray bottle that claims to be the jack-of-all-trades will more than likely be a master of none. Not all surfaces and materials are made equal and the last thing you want to do is damage your newly installed marble countertop or strip your just varnished wooden chair by using the wrong cleaning solution.
The solution: Do your research and invest in cleaning products intended for particular surfaces. Vinegar might be grand for the bathroom, but it could be too harsh on wood, for example. Finding out what type of cleaner should be used on the particular type of flooring you have in your home, for example, can help your floors last longer as well.
6. Spraying cleaner directly onto surfaces
We see it on the ads and have instinctively been doing it for years, but spraying cleaner straight onto tables and countertops isn’t necessarily the way to go. Much like shampoo and other personal hygiene products, residue can be quick to build up, which leaves surfaces far from clean. Plus, we could be using way more cleaner than we need to – and spending more on these products in the process.
The solution: Spray cleaner onto the cloth before wiping down surfaces. Not only will your bottle of cleaner last longer, but you will avoid leaving any residue behind that comes with the build-up of cleaning product.
7. Using a feather duster
Using a feather duster that makes it seem like you’re doing something right when you clean your home. It feels like a legitimate cleaning tool, but in reality, it’s just brushing dust around your home.
The solution: Instead of a feather duster, use a slightly damp microfibre cloth, onto which the dust will stick and stay put (until you wash it), so that the dust doesn’t just fly around your house and land elsewhere. For cobwebs up near the ceiling or dusty air vents, you can use your hoover instead of a duster.