7 Tips For Preventing Streaks On Energy Efficient Windows | Southlake, TX

7 Tips For Preventing Streaks On Energy Efficient Windows | Southlake, TX

Photo By Milan Krasula at istock

Once you’ve purchased energy efficient windows for your home, the next thing that you need to do is to learn how to care for the windows. This includes how to maintain them, how to inspect them for leaks and how to keep them clean. When it comes to cleaning the windows, many homeowners have difficulties getting a truly sparkling finish. No matter what they do, they always seem to get some streaks or residual accumulates on the windows.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 easy tips on how you can prevent streaks from forming on your windows. Most of these tips are fairly easy to implement, and you do not need to implement more than one of these tips to get the results that you desire.

#1. Choose the Right Temperature

To prevent streaks from forming on your windows, clean them on the right day. If you try to clean your windows on a warm, sunny day, the cleaning solution will evaporate too quickly; thus, leaving behind streaky residue. Instead, wait for a cool, cloudy day to clean your windows. You’ll see a huge difference in the number of streaks that are left behind.

#2. Don’t Use Too Many Suds

Many people are under the impression that the cleaning solution will be able to better get rid of grime and dust if there is a lot of suds in it; however, this could not be further from the truth. In fact, if you notice a lot of streaks left on your energy efficient windows in Southlake, TX, it might be because your cleaning solution has too many suds. A little bit of soap goes a long way in getting rid of dirt, dust, and grime. If there are too many suds in the cleaning solution, there’s a good chance that it’s too thick. As a result, it’ll be difficult to wash off all of the soap and some residue will be left on the glass.

One of the things that you can consider doing is diluting the cleaning solution with even more water. You might even notice that it’s even easier to wash away unwanted accumulates.

#3. Don’t Use Paper Towels

Paper towels are some of the worst materials that you can use to wipe and clean your energy efficient windows; however, they are some of the first things that most people reach for. Ditch the paper towels. Although they’re convenient, they tend to leave lint streaks all over the glass panes. Instead, opt for a microfiber cloth or even a newspaper to get a truly sparkling finish. You’ll need to be careful if you decide to go with a newspaper. Although this is a very practical and useful solution, dark newsprint can leave marks on your clothing and hands.

#4. Work on One Small Area at a Time

Another way to make sure that you get that sparkling finish is to work on a small area at a time. Ideally, you should try to clean one pane at a time instead of spraying the entire surface of the window. If you try to work on the entire window at once, some parts may dry too quickly, leaving behind streaks. By working in small sections, you’ll be able to avoid this problem. Sectioning off the cleaning into smaller areas will also make it a lot more manageable.

#5. Use a Squeegee

Specialized tools can help you get rid of unwanted streaks. In particular, if streaks on your energy efficient windows are giving you a headache, you should consider picking up a squeegee the next time that you’re out. When you rub on the glass panes, you can give them a static charge that attracts dirt and dust. However, if you use a squeegee, you’ll be able to prevent this from happening, and you’ll be able to get rid of any of the soap suds that may have been sitting on the glass panes.

#6. Vacuum the Surrounding Area Before You Start Cleaning

Another thing that you can consider doing is tightening up your cleaning process and procedure. In particular, you might want to consider vacuuming the area surrounding the window, like the window frames or the window sills before you start cleaning. By doing so, you’ll avoid getting any dirt, dust and other particles in the cleaning solution or onto the glass panes of the energy efficient windows.

#7. Use Distilled Water

Last but not least, consider using distilled water to wash your windows. The streaks left behind on your energy efficient windows could be minerals in the water. Depending on where you live, there may be different concentrations of minerals in the water. If you live in a hard water location, there are lots of minerals in your water, and these minerals can easily cling onto the surface of the glass panes.

By using distilled water instead when cleaning energy efficient windows, you can rest assured that you’ll avoid this problem altogether.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you’re looking for energy efficient windows in Southlake, TX or would like to learn more about them, from the different styles that are available to how to take care of them, give Energy Window Solutions a call at 972-290-1848. We are one of the most experienced window installation companies in the area and have provided window installation services to those residing in Southlake, TX for decades.

We can give you a free estimate on a wide range of different window styles and types, and can also walk you through the pros and cons of different types of windows. For example, we’ll help you figure out whether double pane or triple pane windows would be most suitable for your home. We’ll also be able to help you figure out whether you should go with argon or krypton gas.

Our professionals not only help you choose and install the right energy efficient windows, but also will teach you how to properly maintain and clean them, so they last as long as possible!