Spring Cleaning Windows, Doors & Walls

Allison Weeks
1 day ago
6 min read

JUMP TO RESOURCES

VERTICAL SURFACES GET DIRTY, TOO

Much like the ceiling, we don’t often consider our walls and doors as places where dust, dirt and grime lurk. We do, generally recognize that windows get dirty-there’s visible evidence. But until we actually clean the windows and see the difference it can make in the room’s lighting, we underestimate just how dirty our windows are. Walls and doors are a little harder to remember to clean, but are just as needful of a good wipe down. Again, by going over these surfaces with more attention once a year, you will not only refresh your home, but you will extend the life of you paint, door finish, and hardware. You will catch small problems before they become big ones.

CLEANING WINDOWS, INSIDE AND OUT

Let’s start where most of the dirt is hiding—windows. To clean your windows, including the window sill and tracks, you will need a vacuum or duster, microfiber cloths, gentle cleaner, a squeegee and possibly a step ladder. A note about safety. To properly clean windows on an upper level or large windows that extend to great heights, you may want to hire professional window cleaners, especially for the outdoor cleaning. You may be able to safely clean these out of reach windows with a very long extendable handled tool made for this job. Do you research and a cost-benefit analysis considering all the costs…how long it will take you to safely clean these windows inside and out and any special equipment (ladders, tools, etc) you may need to buy or borrow.

For basic window cleaning that you can safely do with your feet on the ground or on a low step ladder, here’s the preferred method. Dry clean before wet clean….always. This universal cleaning rule applies here as well. Using a microfiber duster or your vacuum hose with brush attachment, remove dust and dirt from the window frame, sill, and track. At this point you may also want to vacuum the blinds if you have any. We will discuss cleaning window coverings next week. You can decide whether or not you want to do both at the same time. For example, remove the curtains and launder them while you wash the window. It’s up to you. For now, I will be talking about cleaning the window itself.

Remove the screen from the window and go over it with a brush or vacuum to dry clean. Next, mix up a mild cleaning solution of one part white vinegar with ten parts water. The vinegar's acidity cuts through mineral deposits and soap residue while evaporating cleanly. Add a drop of dish soap for extra cleaning power on heavily soiled windows. Dip the sponge or cloth into your solution, wring out some of the liquid and apply to the glass in circular motions. Then quickly remove the solution with a squeegee, working from the top, down, wiping the water off the squeegee with a cloth in between passes. Next, wipe down the window sill, frame and track. If the track is really dirty you may need a small scrub brush to get into the nooks and crannies.

Do these two steps on both the inside and outside of the window. Unless you have windows that tilt in for cleaning, you will probably want to do all the inside work first, then move to the outside. When ready to tackle the outside, just repeat the above steps for wet cleaning. If dry cleaning did not get all the dirt from the screen, you will want to gently scrub it with your solution and a scrub brush. Spray clean with a hose and let fully dry before placing back on the window.

LOOK FOR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS AS YOU CLEAN

Throughout this process, be sure to check for peeling paint, rotting or missing weather stripping or caulk, broken tracks or hardware, and any other maintenance issues. Deal with them right away if you can, or add them to a running list of to-do’s that you will get to once the cleaning job is done.

WINDOW CLEANING TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Clean windows on a cloudy day rather than in bright sunlight so that your solution doesn’t dry before you can squeegee it off, leaving a streaky window.
If your windows are very large, clean them in sections for the same reason. Trying to cover a huge area at once increases the likelihood of streaks when the solution dries before you can get to it. Break up large windows into two or three sections working from the top, down.
Make seasonal cleaning easier by practicing regular maintenance cleaning. Wipe away fingerprints, greasy smudges, pet nose prints, etc once a week or every few days. Run the vacuum or Swifer duster over sills and tracks once a week and vacuum dirt off screens every few weeks to keep it from transferring to the glass, especially when you are opening your windows often.

CLEANING DOORS

Closet, pantry, bedroom, bathroom--what do these all have in common? They all have entry doors quietly collecting dust and dirt. So let's clean them! You know what I’m going to say….get out your vacuum or dry cleaning tool of choice and remove all the dust and cobwebs from the frame and flat surfaces. Pay special attention to corners, the top of the door frame, and the area around the hinges.

Now you are ready for a little damp cleaning. For wood doors, use only mild soap and water so that you don’t damage the finish. No vinegar or other acidic cleaners! If the door has glass, clean with methods discussed in the previous section. For metal or fiberglass doors use a mild vinegar solution 1 part vinegar to10 parts water. A drop or two of dish soap is usually a safe addition. Just be sure to test your cleaning solution on a small hidden area of the door to make sure the paint job is not affected.

Wet your cloth or sponge with the solution and wring out until just damp. Wipe all areas of the door with the cloth, going over scuffs or stains again as needed. Tough stains or scuffs might need a Magic Eraser, but be gentle….it’s very easy to get carried away and remove the paint! Give extra care to cleaning the high touch area on and around the doorknob.

CLEANING WALLS

And finally, clean those walls. Do your dry cleaning first, following the same procedure laid out last week for ceilings. A long handled flat head microfiber mop is great for both dry and damp cleaning walls. Once you’ve removed all the dust, mix up a mild cleaning solution of warm water and a few drops of dish soap, or if cleaning in the kitchen or other grimy areas, mix 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water and a few drops of dish soap. Test your paint like you did on the doors, if needed.

STAINS & SCUFF MARKS FIRST

Before cleaning the main surface, wipe down light switch plates and other high touch points and get after the smudges and stains on the wall. Here are some solutions to remove common wall stains or marks:

CRAYON: Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the stain, let sit a couple minutes then lift gently with a damp cloth.

INK OR MARKER: rubbing alcohol, hairspray or other solvent. Apply with a cloth and gently rub away the stain. Magic eraser works well, too, just don’t erase your paint with vigorous scrubbing!

MOLD/MILDEW: Mix equal parts vinegar and water to a spray bottle, apply to stain, let sit a few minutes until stain starts to disappear. Wipe clean. If that doesn't work, you might try a commercial mold and mildew remover.

"WASH" THE WALL

Then dip your flat mop head cover into the solution and wring out until slightly damp (or spray on until just dampened if using a spray bottle). Go over your walls, working from the top, down in slightly over-lapping passes. Work in 3-4 foot sections at a time. Once you’ve done a washing pass, you can go back over it with a clean, damp with water, flat head mop cover to rinse. So it is helpful to have more than one mop cover for this job. Turn on the ceiling fan or open windows to let air flow aid in drying the walls quickly.

A word about baseboards

I leave it up to you as to whether or not you want to include baseboards in your wall washing or do them as a separate job, or even as part of the floor cleaning. It’s up to you, just make sure you clean them with dry methods first, then follow with paint testing and gentle cleaning with the proper solution.

Congratulations! By turning your attention to windows, doors and walls, you’ve cleaned all of the vertical hard surfaces in the house! Great job!

Next week, I have a little story to share with you about the time I cleaned my curtains after 10 years and why you shouldn’t wait that long to clean yours.