Keeping your home clean can seem like an ongoing battle. In many cases, within hours of carpet cleaning, dusting your furniture, cleaning your windows and more, your home can look dirty again. However, by following a few key steps, you can enjoy the benefits of a cleaner home with longer-lasting results.

 Professionally Cleaned Windows
Cleaning your home’s windows does not seem to be a major chore that you would typically outsource to a third party. However, you can enjoy improved and longer-lasting results when your windows are professionally cleaned from time to time. The fact is that traditional window cleaning solutions available at local stores will remove much of the grease, dirt and other debris that can accumulate on your window, but most do not provide you with a means of repelling dirt. Furthermore, cleaning the outside of your windows can be more challenging. Because of this, many people only clean the inside of their windows. With a professional cleaning service, the interior and exterior of windows can be cleaned, and many services use a special cleansing agent that helps to repel dirt and grease accumulation. When you use this type of service periodically, your own regular window cleaning efforts will yield improved results.    
                                                          To set up a FREE estimate call Innovative Glass 865.455.9871

    The fact is that windows and carpeting are among the most prevalent and noticeable features in most homes. Many homes have carpet that spreads across many rooms of the home, and windows can be found in most rooms as well as seen from the exterior of the home. Through your own regular cleaning efforts used in conjunction with periodical professional cleaning services, you can improve the cleanliness of your home. Cleaning your home can be time-consuming and exhausting. There is nothing worse than spending your time cleaning your house and being less than thrilled with the results of your efforts. With periodical professional window cleaning and carpet steam cleaning services such as Knoxville window cleaners , you can enjoy the benefits of a cleaner home.

  Sure, some cleaning methods can be used on all types of blinds, but there are in fact different ways to clean blinds depending on their construction. Following are some general cleaning tips as well as techniques for cleaning blinds of made of various materials:
  General Cleaning

• Regular dusting with a microfiber duster, feather duster, or soft cloth is a benefit to all blinds. For best results, make sure the blinds are fully extended and that all of the slats are closed and facing the same way. Dust lightly, moving in the same direction as the slats, then turn 90 degrees and dust again. Tilt the slats in the opposite direction, then repeat.

• For heavier dust, use the small brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner to go over the blinds, working in the direction of the slats. When using the vacuum, make sure that the suction is on its lightest setting to avoid twisting or warping the slats.

• Blinds will need a more thorough cleaning once or twice a year. Take a microfiber cloth, terry towel, clean sock or cotton gloves and gently rub each slat from end to end, making sure to clean top and bottom. To remove heavier dirt and stains, you can lightly moisten the cleaning cloth with plain water or with a mixture of 25% white vinegar and 75% water.

• Specialized dusting tools are available; most feature “fingers” that enable simultaneous cleaning of multiple slats. These dusters (also known as “trickets”) are typically constructed of microfiber, soft cloth, or sponges, and they are found in many hardware stores and home improvement chains.
   
Metal and Vinyl Blinds

• These types of blinds can be cleaned with warm, soapy water; liquid dish soap works well. Remove the entire blind from the mounting hardware and place it in a bathtub or similar vessel (a kiddy pool in the yard, perhaps).

• Use a soft brush, sponge, or soft mop to go over both sides of the slats with warm, soapy water before rinsing thoroughly. A hand-held shower attachment or spray nozzle on the hose is ideal for rinsing. Make sure to rinse away all of the soap suds to avoid spotting.

• Dry the blinds with towels and re-hang. Make sure the blinds are open so that air can circulate between the slats.

• After drying, wipe each slat with a fabric softener sheet to help repel dust.

• For exceptionally dirty blinds, especially those in kitchens, use a degreaser, such as Fantastik, Simple Green, or 409.
  

Wood Blinds

• Most wood blinds are treated with a special finish to repel dirt and stains. Wood blinds can be cleaned with a good quality furniture polish and a soft cloth or clean sock. Spray the furniture polish on the cloth and wipe each slat individually. Avoid touching the cords.

• For heavier cleaning, you can use plain water, but be careful not to saturate the wood. Wipe excess water immediately to prevent spotting, discoloration, or warping.

Fabric Blinds

• Fabric blinds can be tricky to clean. For regular dust and dirt, use a vacuum cleaner, compressed air sprayer, or hair dryer.

• For heavier dust, wipe each slat gently with a dry sponge.

• If there are stains on the fabric, you can try sponging on warm water or mild liquid soap. Blot, don’t rub, because rubbing can damage the fabric. (Always test any cleaning product in an inconspicuous area before proceeding.)

• Extremely soiled fabric blinds may need professional cleaning.

A few things to watch out for when cleaning blinds:

- Be careful not to press too hard on metal blinds to avoid bending or damaging the slats.
- Don’t let water pool on blinds—this can cause spotting.
- Avoid using furniture oil on blinds; it can leave streaks and actually attract dust.
- Protect blinds when cleaning windows by spraying the glass cleaner onto a cloth rather than onto the glass.
- Never use abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals on blinds, because these products can scratch, discolor, or warp the slats.
- Do not use alcohol, baby wipes, or alkaline cleansers, as these contain harsh compounds that can stain or destroy the finish on the blinds.

Remember, regular dusting is key—taking a proactive approach to cleaning blinds will keep your window fashions looking fabulous!

For more on cleaning, consider:         Innovative Glass
                    Window Cleaning  & Pressure Washing
                                             865-455-9871      

1. “My windows always streak after washing”
Use a window-washing squeegee with a smooth, soft rubber edge. Washing windows is a tiresome chore, but it’s even worse when your labors leave streaks on the windows. Here’s how the pros avoid streaking when they wipe off their windows:Use a window-washing squeegee with a smooth, soft rubber edge. (Or use crumpled-up black-and-white newspaper—avoid the color sections.) Dry a 1-inch (2.5 centimeter) strip at the top or side of each window and always start your squeegee there—starting on dry glass is one key to avoiding streaks. Don’t wash windows in direct sunlight, because quickly dried glass is more susceptible to streaking. Evenings or cloudy day sare the times for window washing.

2. “My blinds are dust magnets!”
Use an antiseptic spray. To keep dust from piling up quickly, use an antistatic spray, such as Static Guard, on the window blinds right after you clean them.

3. “There’s mildew on my window frames”
Wash with a bleach-detergent solution. Black or gray mildew spots on wooden frames can be cleaned for good with a solution of 2 ounces (60 milliliters) of household bleach and 1 ounce (30 milliliters)of laundry detergent in a quart of water. Wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands, sponge the solution on the spots, let it sit for ten minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

4. “My outside windowsills get dirty so quickly”
Apply a coat of floor wax. Because your exterior windows are exposed to the elements, they are subject to collecting a lot of dirt. But there is a simple way to keep your sills clean: Wipe on a coat of clear floor wax to protect them.

5. “My shades are filthy”
Dust or wash the shades. Dust shades regularly with a soft cloth, a duster such as the Swiffer, or the dusting brush on your vacuum. (Be sure to dust both sides of the shades.) If they’re stained or spotted, it’s time for a real cleaning. Though you can wash them in place (with a drop cloth over the floor and furniture), it’s best to remove the shades. Place one shade at a time across a worktable covered with a plastic sheet or shower curtain. Wash vinyl shades using a sponge and a solution of 1⁄4 cup white vinegar in 1 quart (1 liter) of warm water. Washing them in the bathtub is even easier. Run some warm water in the tub, add a squirt of dishwashing liquid, and wipe each side with a large sponge. To rise, dunk them in clean water or hold them under the shower. Then wipe with a clean, soft cloth.Many fabric shades can also be washed, but take a close look at the care instructions before washing them. It’s best not to leave them in the water for more than a minute or so.

6. “My windows get dirty too fast”
Change your heating and cooling system’s filter. If the interior glass surface of your windows gets dirty unusually fast, you may need to change the filters on your furnace or air conditioner. Modern airtight homes trap more dust, pollen, dander, and other particles inside than ever before. Furnace and air-conditioner filters help trap that dirt and also extend the life of your appliances. Filters should be changed every month or two or anytime you can’t see light through the filter when you hold it up to a light.

7. “Secondhand smoke is killing my windows”
Wash it with ammonia solution. To remove nicotine film or other grime from windows, you need ammonia. Mix 1 cup of lemon scented ammonia in 21⁄2 gallons (9.5 liters) of water and use this solution to clean the windows. The ammonia will cut through the grime, and the lemon scent will leave your house habitable.

8. “My screens are filthy”
Remove and wash. The best way to clean window screens is to remove them from the window and wash them outside. Using abroad, soft-bristled brush, scrub both sides of the screens with warm to hot water and lemon-scented dishwashing detergent. Pick up the screen by its edges, hold it at an angle so most of the screen surface is facing the ground, and rap one edge lightly against a firm surface. This will shake loose any dirt. Rinse with a hose and air-dry thoroughly before reinstalling.
To Schedule a Free Estimate, Call Innovative Glass 865-455-9871

When a customer asks Innovative Glass how often it needs our commercial window cleaning services, we always answer the same way: “It depends.”  And it depends on a number of factors, the biggest of which is the type of business you run. Because your facility is customers’ and prospects’ first impression, all businesses should make an effort to keep their windows clean. Some, however, get dirtier more easily and more often, requiring greater frequency of professional cleaning. 

There are no fast-and-hard rules about how often to clean your windows, and many things influence how often you call in the commercial window cleaning professionals, including:

• Location. Windows on facilities close to highways and on busy streets get dirty much faster than those in quiet suburban areas with only moderate traffic.
  
  
• Landscaping. If your building has trees that drip sap, mulched areas up against the building, or is alongside a parking lot, you may need more frequent cleaning because of the debris in the air.
  
  
• Weather. If the spring season is rainier than usual, you may need a commercial window cleaning company to wash the windows more often to remove the mineral deposits left by water.
  
  

Now that you know what can affect a commercial window cleaning schedule, here’s a basic guideline to help you determine how often your type of facility needs its “eyes on the world” professionally cleaned: 

Restaurants, because of the moisture and grease circulating in the air, need their windows cleaned about every 2 weeks, if not more. These windows need to be done inside and out. Dirty, grimy, fingerprinted windows are pretty unappetizing and detract from the image of quality you’re trying to project. 

Healthcare facilities – physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, etc. – must present a spotless, well-maintained appearance. Windows, particularly on the ground floor and on floors with patient exam or treatment rooms, should be cleaned monthly. A well-cared-for appearance gives patients confidence that they, too, will be well cared for! 

Retail stores and other businesses with lots of foot traffic typically need to be cleaned at least once a month. With as much competition you have, the impression you make is critical to a positive image and repeat traffic. 

Office buildings don’t need windows cleaned quite as often. These types of facilities should have a full cleaning (inside and out) about twice a year; the lobbies, however, should be cleaned monthly or every other month because of how important this area is to visitors’ impressions of the company. Touch-ups on the inside may need to be done more often, depending on the type of business environment. 

Have you ever driven past a commercial building with untidy landscaping, a debris-filled parking lot and dirty, dusty windows? It gives passersby the impression that the business isn’t doing well and that they “just don’t care.” Don’t let that happen to your business. Call Innovative Glass to talk about a window washing services schedule that fits your budget and your business needs . We’re happy to help you make a positive first impression on customers and prospects!