Ahh windows. They are wonderful. They fill our homes with light and warmth, give us glimpses of wonderful vistas and let us spy on our neighbours. I love them, the more the better. Except for window cleaning time. Try out some of these hacks to make the chore less painful so we can enjoy windows for the magical beauties they truly are.

All About Vinegar
There are so many window/glass cleaners out there, it can be tough to decide which one to pick. If you’ve got little people or pets the decision is made harder by the potentially harmful chemicals disguised in them. There is no judgement here, I grew up with supermarket-strength cleaners, licked windows, and have lived to tell the tale. But with so many blogs about all the ways you are destroying your kids lives, a homemade cleaner with less additives has to sound attractive. My favourite for cleaning windows is a simple solution concocted of 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil (if I’m feeling fancy). If you have problems with streaking you can add a little cornstarch (half a teaspoon should do) and shake before using.

Window Wills and Door Tracks
They are impossible, am I right? The cloth doesn’t fit down there, and you end up writing them off as clean because the spray pools down there and therefore kills off anything. Or so well ourselves, because as an adult, even our pinky fingers are too chubby to squish in there. Problem solved...use a Q-Tip. Dip the swab into your chosen cleaning solution and wipe away the grime that has built up there (for several years if you’re anything like me) and then stand back and enjoy your handy work. It is incredibly satisfying to see such a small space so clean. I keep paper towels or an old rag next to me to stash the larger pieces of grime before disposal.

The Newspaper Myth
Many-a-article (and parent) will swear by the magical powers of the humble newspaper on windows. I’ve never had any luck with this, and have also discovered why. Newspaper’s aren’t made the same as in the ‘good old days’. So forget the subscription and invest in a decent microfibre cloth. With all the hype, it’s easy to pass them off as another fad, but they actually work to make your windows streak free and extra shiny.

Blinds Are The Death Of Me
I’m not a clean-freak. I do not enjoy cleaning. And blinds are lucky to get a quick dusting, unless the mother-in-law is coming to visit. But this ingenious hack as lessened that burden dramatically. Wrap a microfibre cloth around a pair of old tongs and secure with rubber bands. Spray the cloth, grip the blind and slide along to pick up the dust. Go over a couple of times to get rid of nasty fly spots.

Cleaning windows doesn’t have to be such a massive chore anymore, and trust me, you’ll feel better once they’re clean. Once you’re finished, sit back and relax with a good glass of red and watch the world go by while you admire your handywork.

Of course if cleaning windows is not your thing then why not get the professionals in?  In Christchurch we recommend Genie Clean Window Cleaning. Or in Auckland try Simply Cleaning Services.