Expert: Robert Lamb - 4/20/2007

Question
  Let's just say that I'm not "Good Housekeeping," but we're readying our home for sale. I live next to a vacant lot, with a semi-truck turn-around place on dirt beyond that. EVERYTHING in my yard gets dirty fast! What's the best way to clean my windows--fast! I've heard about a new Windex product called "Windex Outdoors"--not supposed to leave any streaks, etc., even when applied in the sun. Plus, it's also supposed to work with screens on. (My house is 92 years old, and the screens aren't coming off for anything! :>)  Thanks!


Answer
Kate-

Wow, that's a toughie! May I ask, have you tried to take the screens off? If they don't want to come off because they have been painted over sometimes if you run a putty knife along the outside edge of the screen they may just pop off.

That's really the best way to clean the windows, by removing the screens first. I'm sure the windows have what we call "screen burn" on them too. Screen burn is really an oxidation on the windows caused by rain splashing through metal screens. A good modern screen material is fiberglass screening. There is no screen burn associated with fiberglass screening and your screens possibly can be rescreened easily.

Now about that Windex product you are asking about. It sounds like you have not tackled window cleaning on your home for quite some time. My guess is that something is better than nothing, but you sure shouldn't hope for anything near perfection. Again, if you can just remove those screens...

If you do plan on removing the screens, look for a hardware store or glass installer that can make you new screens if you damage the old ones trying to get them off. (I'm sure you will probably need some kind of outside assistance if you go this route.)

I'll be happy to walk you through the glass cleaning process if you get those screens off.


Let me know who they turn out.

Sincerely,

Robert Lamb
www.robscleaningservice.com