Why It’s Important to Keep Your Windows Clean in the Summer

The summer has finally come to northern Illiois, with the welcome sun shining down on McHenry, Crystal Lake, Barrington, Woodstock and beyond. It’s at times like this that people’s thoughts naturally turn to beach vacations, picnics in the park, long walks, ice cream and window cleaning. Oh, is it only us who thinks that last one? Well, window cleaning is kind of our job here at Norther Illinois Windows – you can’t blame us!

All jokes aside, the summer is an absolutely brilliant time to get your windows cleaned. This is true for a few big reasons.

Firstly, you have to consider what your windows just went through. The winter – between the cold, the snow and the rain – wasn’t just tough on us, but on our homes too, and you’d better believe it affected your windows.

Things like dirt, grime and salt will have undoubtedly built up over the past few months, and – if left unchecked – these can damage your glass. The same definitely goes for even more harmful substances which also thrive in tough conditions, like algae and mold. Even though everything looks lovely again now in this summer weather, these things still need to be cleaned away professionally – by a company like Northern Illinois Windows – for the long-term health of your windows.

Secondly, clean windows will greatly aid your enjoyment of the summer. Many people like to stay indoors a fair amount in this season, particularly when it gets uncomfortably hot outside. That doesn’t mean you don’t want to benefit from the weather, however, and clean windows help you to do just that. They actually let through significantly more light than their dirtier counterparts, therefore letting the sun inside and helping to make your home a brighter, cheerier place.

Thirdly… clean windows simply look better! That’s not our most scientific reason, we know, but it’s true! Summer is traditionally the season in which folks entertain the most, whether it’s inviting their family over to stay for a few days, or holding a barbecue for their friends. Naturally, you want to ensure your house is looking its absolute best when you do this, and having clean windows is an integral part of that.

So, we think it’s clear that it’s extremely important to have clean windows in the summer. Of course, you can try to do this yourself… but we certainly wouldn’t recommend it. The DIY approach to window cleaning sounds like a good idea, but – without professional-level equipment or training – you stand a significant chance of simply damaging your windows, rather than actually cleaning them.

It’s much quicker, easier and safer to simply hire a professional window cleaning company, like Northern Illinois Windows. We’ve been cleaning windows in places like Cary, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and Fox Lake for over 25 years, and we’re known to always achieve great results.

This is traditionally a pretty busy time of year for us, with seemingly everyone in northern Illinois wanting to get their windows cleaned at once, but we’re sure that we’ll still be able to fit you in! To get in touch with us now, in order to discuss your window cleaning needs, or to simply book us in straight away, just send us an email at bill@NIWService.com, or call us on (815) 385-6646.

Office cleaning checklist – don’t forget the windows

Do you have someone come in to clean your office? Or, have you assigned that duty to one or more members of your office staff, in addition to their other duties? Maybe you do the office cleaning yourself.

When your office is cleaned, is it done right? How do you know if the office is cleaned properly? This is not as much of a subjective question – depending on your personal definition of ‘clean’ – as you might think. There are two primary factors to consider when you determine if your office is cleaned properly: thoroughness and effectiveness.

Thoroughness refers to whether the office was cleaned in its entirety. Effectiveness refers to whether the office is truly clean. The latter refers to how clean and includes whether your office is adequately sterilized. This is an important question when you look at your office as a potential incubator where germs, and other nasties, can grow, thrive and infect you and your workers resulting in sick days that cut into productivity.

Sterilization is achieved through the proper application of effective cleaning products (be wary of those that might leave foul chemicals in their wake – there are effective cleaning materials that are based on natural products that don’t leave chemical landmines on the surfaces, and in the air, of your office.

In terms of what you should clean, and this depends on whether you’re doing a deep cleaning or a maintenance cleaning, you should …

• Remove waste, dump wastebaskets and clear clutter
• Wipe surfaces with proper cleaning products (test in an obscure area first to make sure the cleaning solvent won’t damage the surface where you’re using it)
• Sweep and mop the floor
• Wipe around doorways and handrails and other areas where people frequently place their hands
• Wipe and sanitize keyboards, computer mouses, printer keypads and other equipment that is used in the office
• Do extra sanitary cleaning in bathrooms and eating areas
• Clean vents, often found in the ceiling, as well as light fixtures
• Clean the windows and other glass surfaces

This latter step, is an area where it often takes a trained expert to do a good job. Frequently, when someone is less familiar with proper cleaning methods, it is very difficult to do a good job of cleaning the windows. It may look good at first but, as the window dries completely, spots and streaks will appear. And, to make matters worse, for the amateur, cleaning windows poorly takes much more time than it takes a professional to clean the windows properly.

A clean office will give your employees a better feeling about their environment, even if it is subconscious. Clean windows to look through are a big part of this. And, if you have customers coming to your office, clean windows will give them a better impression of your business, too.