How to Wash Your Windows the Non-Allergenic Way

B'SD

28 Adar, 5775

Whew! I've trimmed overgrowth in the garden, pulled weeds (those 5 weeks away from home were evidently good for them!) and house-broken a friend's puppy this week. Yes, paper-training can be fun when you are consistent with it.

That gave me energy to wash the sliding glass doors and windows today. Now I'm enjoying gorgeous sunshine indoors, instead of looking at several week's worth of dirt when I look outside.

Here's the non-allergenic low-down on how to wash windows painlessly:

The OUTSIDE

Grab a broom, that clampy sponja stick I described the other day, some fresh smartut cloths (torn towels will do) and a container of soapy water (I use dish soap). If you use a sponge-mop instead of the sponja stuff, that's fine. Set them near the sliding glass doors. I'm going to teach you how to wash windows the way you wash floors: Within easy reach.

Put on a disposable face mask and disposable gloves

that you can buy from local grocers or pharmacies.

Slide the glass doors together, exposing the screen. Be sure that the wind is blowing AWAY from the house before you do the next thing: Sweep the screen gently from top to bottom and side-to-side. 

You'll see billows of dirty dust (with teensy tinsy dust mites too small to see) flying away. Your mask will protect your mouth and nose from inhaling the sneezy wheezy mess.

Now clamp your fabric to the sponja stick or grab your sponge-top floor mop. Soak them with the soapy water, then wipe the glass top down and side-to-side. Scrub stubborn spots as necessary. If metal grates are in the way, insert your cleaning tool between the bars, then wash the glass with a limited range of motion. Move on to to other spaces until the job is done.

Rinse the fabrics or toss them aside. Squeeze out the sponge if that's what you're using.

Rest a bit. When you're feeling ready, soak fresh fabric or the sponge mop in clear water, then rinse off the soapy residue.

Voila, the sunshine and fresh air will dry the outside of the windows for you.

The INSIDE

You can do the same thing indoors, but be very careful not to splash water or soap. How? Skip the buckets. I recommend saving two spray bottles from some household product - or buy them. 

Fill one bottle with soapy water. Fill the other with plain water and use them sensibly to clean, then to rinse the glass.

• The trick is that the long sponja or sponge-mop sticks allow you to reach high and far areas of glass surfaces. 

• The controlled amount of water and soap prevent excessive drips and a need to repeat what you've already done. 

• The face mask plus gloves prevent sneezing from dust, and they protect your skin from the soapy water.

I hope that you'll let me know if my non-allergenic house-cleaning hints helped you or someone you know.







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