Do dust build-ups make the outsides of your windows look grimy and unwelcoming? Maybe you have postponed the chore of cleaning them for too long and now they are becoming harder and harder to shine. To effectively clean outside windows, it is important to use specific tools and techniques. Using a U-shaped telescopic pole and a double-sided squeegee, along with a proper cleaning solution, can tackle grime efficiently.

Avoid cleaning on sunny days to prevent products from baking onto the glass. Outside window cleaning is one of the more unpleasant household maintenance tasks, and it is only natural that you put off taking care of it for as long as possible. Fortunately, there are several neat tricks that you can use that will help you make the process much easier, and smoother and deliver results that live up to even the highest industry standards – all without the need to resort to the services of professional window cleaners.

The Necessary Preparations

Even though outside window cleaning doesn’t need to happen more than twice a year, approaching it without the right tools can turn the process into a nightmare. So make sure that you have everything you need at hand before you go about the job to achieve clean windows. Let’s not forget that additionally if you try to clean your windows without the proper tools and detergents, you might end up making them look even dirtier.

So, make sure that you gather all you need beforehand:

• Broom and/or vacuum cleaner
• Mop and a bucket
• Squeegee
• U-shaped telescopic pole
• Commercial cleaning products or DIY ones like dishwashing liquid and white vinegar
• Magnetic window cleaner
• Cloths
• Rubber gloves
• Strip washer

Using a proper cleaning solution is essential to effectively remove dirt and grime.

What exactly your outside window cleaning is going to require depends entirely on the type of your property and the windows you have. In some instances, you may need a ladder and even water fed poles in addition to the list above. In others, a simple cloth and a bucket of water will be more than enough.

Using a Mop

Cleaning windows can be made much easier with a good, old-fashioned mop, which works miracles for washing windows on the outside from the inside of the house or the apartment. Put some cleaning detergent, or equal parts dishwashing liquid and white vinegar in a bucket of water to create an effective DIY window cleaner, and dip the mop in it. Remove the majority of the dirt and dust build-up from the outside of your windows with the mop. Then use a microfiber cloth to wipe and polish the glass.

Using a Magnetic Window Cleaner

If you are living in an upper-floor flat, you might find cleaning dust and dirt buildups from the outside of your hard to reach outside windows to be a challenging task. In such cases, magnetic window cleaners are a real lifesaver. In addition to making the process safer and easier, they allow you to reach even places that are typically outside of your reach with other tools. Magnetic window cleaners that you can operate from inside of your home come with a microfiber cloth that gently wipes away the commercial cleaning fluid or the homemade one you are using to get rid of the grime covering your windows. Just remember to move gently and slowly so as to not disconnect the magnets of the device.

Using a Squeegee

A Squeegee might look like a professional-grade tool, and it is indeed the licensed window cleaner’s best friend, but you can make good use of it as well. It is best to use this tool when you can access your windows by ladder only. Due to the fact squeegees have short handles you can easily operate them while on the ladder without putting yourself in danger. There are squeegees with extendable handles in case your windows are higher.

For high windows, using squeegees with extendable handles can help you clean effectively without the need for a ladder, reducing the risk of falls. One of the best features of quality squeegees is the advanced microfiber cloths that you will find attached to them. So, you can use the squeegee side to remove the dirt and dust buildups from your windows, and then wipe the water and detergents by simply flipping the tool over. No need to wear extra cloths. For a streak-free finish, use a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe down the glass after using the squeegee.

Using a Telescopic Pole

U-shaped telescopic poles are great tools for window cleaning when you don’t want to get outside on the ledge. They work particularly well on double-hung and sliding glass windows, and they make it easier to clean the window frame along with the glass. Using the right window cleaning solution is crucial to ensure clarity and avoid streaks. They also help you clean the window tracks as well, which is a pretty daunting task. Just remember to place some large cloth on the floor beneath the windows, so that you don’t have to vacuum and wash it as well once you are done.

Sliding Windows

If you have sliding glass windows at home, the easiest and safest way to clean them, including the window sill, would actually be to remove the window panes from the frame. Carefully unhinge the slides and place the windows on the floor covered with cloth or a blanket. Use a microfiber cloth to rinse the dirt and then another one to dry and polish the glass. Work carefully so as to not break the glass. You will be amazed how quickly you will be able to complete the task, and how little effort removing and placing back up the sliding glass windows takes.

Do you plan to deep clean your home? Well, in that case, you are in for a tough task that may take you a whole day and even more. You will need to consider cleaning and sanitizing a lot of spots and parts in your home that you rarely think of when doing your regular weekly chores. Maybe you will even ask yourself how to clean vertical blinds in the most efficient way possible. The job might sound nearly impossible, but the truth is that if you follow a few easy-to-follow steps and simple cleaning tips even stubborn stains stand no chance.

When it comes to cleaning vertical blinds, a step-by-step guide can be very helpful. Different materials, such as fabric vertical blinds, may require specific part cleaning tools and methods, so it’s important to check the manufacturer’s notes.

First and foremost, make sure that you have the right tools of trade at hand:

• Some warm water
• A microfiber cloth, vacuum cleaner, and stain remover for stubborn stains
• Gentle laundry detergent

Also, make sure that you have a flat surface to lay your vertical blinds while you are deep cleaning and drying them once you have a hundred percent clean vertical blinds.

Should I take my vertical blinds down?

You might feel tempted to leave your vertical blinds hanging while cleaning them. It might sound like the easier solution to the problem, but the truth is that by doing so you will not be able to properly clean vertical blinds of any type, and you are likely to damage them in the cleaning process too.

The job of taking down and build up your vertical blinds is simpler than it may seem at first look.

Start by removing the vertical slats from the spring clips. Most spring clips are plastic, so be careful not to break them. Use a ladder to reach them, because climbing on furniture can be pretty dangerous. Once you do that, remove the headrail from the brackets of your vertical blinds and proceed to unscrew the brackets from the windows. In that way, you can easily remove your vertical blinds and place them on the flat surface you are going to use to clean them. You can inspect them better that way and detect areas heavily stained by dust, or even vertical blinds mold which affects both fabric blinds and wooden blinds.

Remove Blind Slats and Clean Vertical Blinds Headrail

Before you start with the process of getting your vertical blinds clean, make sure that you unhook the slats and thoroughly clean the headrail. You can use a microfiber cloth and some luke warm water. If you have skipped cleaning the vertical blinds in your home during the last few spring cleanings, you might want to use a heavy-duty stain or mold remover for the purpose. Getting the headrail first will ensure you’ve tackled the hardest job first, and will give enough time to the surface to dry before rehanging your vertical blinds.

Washing Your Blinds in Warm Water

Depending on the material your blinds are made of, you might wash vertical blinds in warm water in the bathtub or even toss them in the washing machine. Using the washing machine is the quickest and most painless way to go around the task to clean blinds. Be advised, however, that even blinds that are approved for cleaning in a washing machine according to the manufacturer’s notes might get damaged. So, washing them by hand and scrubbing stains with a damp cloth might turn out to be your safest bet.

Soak the blinds well and use baby wipes or a wet sponge to remove any mold you see. It is advisable to leave the powerful stain remover and detergents for emergencies only because they are so strong they might potentially damage the fabric. Make sure to use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust built-ups. Also, you might want to resort to homemade remedies such as lemon juice on a damp cloth for both the stubborn stains on delicate fabrics.

Lay Blinds Out to Dry

As you can see, the question of how to clean vertical blinds sounds scary only at first. After you have run the vacuum cleaner through all the dust and fabrics and washed them in warm, soapy water, you can just toss them in the tumble dryer for a bit, and then lay your blinds on the clean vertical surface you prepared to completely dry them. It’s best to leave them out of direct sunlight, as to avoid damaging their colors. Drying your vertical blinds in that way may take a little longer, depending on the weather, but it is the best course of action if you want to enjoy them for longer.

Rehang Your Blinds

Now that your clean vertical blinds are thoroughly dried, all you have to do is rehang them. For that purpose, you will need to follow the same steps that you used to remove them from your windows, but in reverse.

If you are vacating rented premises anywhere in the UK, you might be wondering how long a landlord can hold deposits after tenancy ends. This is an important question because getting your tenancy deposit back can play a crucial role in balancing your budget and help you secure another rental property in time.

Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme (TDP)

One crucial fact you should be aware of is the way security deposits are regulated under British law. Anywhere in the United Kingdom, landlords are required to put the money you give them as a security deposit into a special fund designed as a tenancy deposit protection. These funds commonly go by the name of Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes. Their purpose is to guarantee that the deposit money is used only for their intended purposes – to cover any expenses that the landlord might have to make in case the tenant breaches their contract. By using tenancy deposit services, property owners enter an agreement not to spend this money in any other way, and return the funds to their tenants once they move out.

Returning Funds

So, the question arises, when is your landlord expected to return your money once you stop using their property? Even though certain letting agents guarantee the immediate return of your money, you should consider the fact that like anything else related to TDP schemes, there are certain rules and regulations that dictate the schedule for the return. The most important rule is that your landlord should return the money within 10 days after you have vacated the premises. That is 10 calendar, not work days. In case the landlord doesn’t meet that deadline, they are required by law to provide a written explanation of the reasons they are holding the funds.

When Can Landlords Hold Tenancy Deposits

The deposit funds are designed to protect certain rights of the landlords as well. They play the role of an insurance scheme for the property owner. Because of this, there are certain situations in which the landlord can exercise their right and not return the money. There are three main reasons for such an action:

1. The tenant has outstanding bills accumulated on the property, such as utility bills.
2. The tenant has back-rent to pay.
3. There is damage on the property that goes beyond the wear and tear that is to be expected for the duration of the tenancy.

In addition to these three reasons, there might be other specific situations in which the landlord holds the deposit and still is within their rights as described by the law. Remember that these reasons should always be explicitly described in your tenancy agreement, so make sure to read the contract you signed with the landlord thoroughly prior to moving out of their house or apartment. One example of such a special clause would be that you will be required to have a licensed professional cleaning company carry out an end-of-tenancy cleaning on the premises once you move your possessions out before your landlord returns your tenancy deposit.

What Landlords Can Hold Money For

Situations in which your landlord can’t either deduct or fully hold your deposit money include:

• Property damage that occurred prior to you moving into the rental property.
• Repairing normal wear and tear, including worn carpets and upholstery, as well as fainted paint.
• Cleaning fees they incur on the property after you moved out, in case you left it in the same condition you found it when you moved in.

Because of this, it is highly advisable that you snap photos of the condition of the rented property when you are moving into it, as well as the day you are moving out. These will be admitted as evidence should you need to take action to get a deposit refund.

What if the landlord doesn’t return the money from the custodial scheme without a reason?

If you haven’t breached your tenancy agreement but your landlord continues holding your tenancy funds beyond the 10-day period defined under the country’s tenancy laws, you will be perfectly within your right to seek legal advice and pursue legal action against your already former landlord. It is best to try to communicate your concerns with the landlord first. Call the letting agent that works with them as well. If that fails, call the tenancy deposit scheme and explain the situation. You can request your deposit refund directly from them and the people working there will advise you on the appropriate next steps to take. In rare cases, you will need to go to court.