How to Clean Windows After Using Holiday Clings
Getting into the festive spirit of the holiday season by decorating with window clings is a lot of fun. However, once the holidays wrap up, those decorations have to come down. After all, you don’t want to be known as that house on the block that keeps their decorations up for months.
Unfortunately, window clings can leave residue and stains that can be a pain to clean up after. If only you had some tips for how to clean windows after the holidays and get that streak-free shine back…
Tip No. 1: Removing Gunk Residue Leftover from Holiday Window Clings
Window clings are typically pretty easy to peel off. It’s the gunk they leave behind that’s hard to remove. Nonetheless, it’s not impossible to recover that streak-free shine. Here’s what you’ll need:- Microfiber cloths or coffee filters
- A streak-free window cleaner
First, dampen a cloth with water and wipe any dirt or soil build up from the window. Next, spray the gummy portion of the window with your cleaning solution and let that sit for up to five minutes. This should make it easier to remove the window cling residue.
Finally, wipe the residue off using your filter or microfiber cloth. You may have to scrub a little to get rid of all of it, but don’t attempt to use scouring pads or coarse brushes as they can scrape your glass. Repeat these steps until the residue is gone.
If you have a particularly stubborn piece of adhesive, you may have to try scraping it with a razor blade. Be sure to test an inconspicuous area of the window before you start scraping to make sure you don’t leave unsightly scratches on your glass.
Tip No. 2: Removing Discoloration or Stains Left by Holiday Window Clings
Some window clings can leave behind colored stains if they’ve been left on long enough, especially if they’ve been baking in the sun. In mild cases, the streak-free window cleaner you used to get rid of cling residue should take care of any discoloration.For tougher stains, combine ¼ cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Mist the stained area and let that sit for a few minutes. Afterwards, wipe down the window with a coffee filter or microfiber cloth. That should do the trick. However, if this doesn’t work, you may need to switch to a stronger commercial cleaner to get that streak-free shine back.
Warning: You might be tempted to tackle your stain with bleach. Keep in mind that bleach should never be used with ammonia or vinegar. These combinations can cause extremely dangerous chemical reactions that are hazardous to your health. Many commercial window cleaners do contain ammonia or other chemicals that should not be mixed with bleach. If you’re uncertain as to whether it’s safe to use bleach with your commercial cleaner, call the number on the side of the bottle to ask.
While it’s fun to decorate with holiday window clings, once the season is over you want to see a streak-free shine rather than the grimy outlines of snowflakes and snowmen on your windows.
Looking for more ways to keep your home clean this winter? Check out this post on eliminating odors to keep your house smelling fresh and clean until spring.
