Not everything your granny swears by is backed by science!
There are a lot of old wives tales relating to window cleaning. Ready to have your mind blown? We’ve busted three of the most common window cleaning myths below.
Rain Make Windows Dirty…
This oldie-but-a-goodie is one of our favourite myths – mainly because it’s so ridiculous, yet remains so widely believed!
Rain has unfairly been getting the blame for dirtying up windows for decades… but the short answer is – NO – rain does notmake your windows dirty. Rain is pretty much just water, and water is basically clean, meaning it simply can’t make windows dirty. The three key culprits when it comes to window grubbiness are…
- Pollen and dust
- Insect droppings
- Finger prints
So why have we all been pointing the finger at rain for all of these years? Well, when it rains, rain water tends to splash on window glass – moving around the dirt, pollen, dust and grime that has been collecting up, and making this far more noticeable.
The proof is in the pudding. If your windows have recently been cleaned, the rain will simply run off the clean glass and the windows continue to remain clean.
Using Newspaper is the Best Way to Clean Windows…
This one is a little controversial. Most people grew up with parents or grandparents who insisted that using newspaper was the best way to clean their windows – and while there are certainly benefits to using newsprint, it’s certainly not the bestmethod available today.
Back in the day, newspaper was a popular choice for window cleaning because it was dense, absorbent and cheap. It didn’t leave smudges or streaks like rags did, and some have even suggested the old inks previously used in newspaper printing assisted in the cleaning process.
The main drawbacks of cleaning your windows with newspaper is that it will begin to fall to pieces when wet, and the ink can rub off on surrounding wood work, aluminium and brick – making these surfaces appear dirtier than when you started.
Today, a good quality, eco-friendly glass cleaner and a squeegee will do a far better job, with half the hassle. A professional window cleaner will do an even better job, in less time (thanks to all that practice), with zero effort on your part. We think that’s a winning combination!
Hot Water Works Best When Cleaning Windows…
Many of us have grown up with the myth that water must be hot in order to be effective when cleaning. In fact, when it comes to cleaning your windows, hot water can actually make life a lot more difficult!
Why? Because hot water evaporates much more quickly than warm or cool water – and when water evaporates too quickly on your windows, it results in streaks and smears that are tough to buff out. The same common sense applies to cleaning your windows on cloudy days, since full sun and hot glass will evaporate the water on your windows too quickly, resulting in those same pesky streaks.
If you’re going to clean or spot clean your windows between professional window cleans, use lukewarm or tepid water only.