Cleaning second story windows can seem like a mammoth task, but it need not be.
Armed with the apt tools and techniques, one can effortlessly render their windows spotlessly clean; no balancing acts on ladders even required!
In this article, we’ll guide you along an easy-to-follow sequence to clean your second story windows in a risk-free and efficient manner.
How To Clean Second Story Windows (With/Without Ladder)
As a key aspect of home maintenance, window cleaning often poses a challenge for those high, hard-to-reach places.
But don’t be afraid, washing second story windows isn’t really as challenging as it seems.
Second story windows can be cleaned using a variety of tools and techniques, tailored to your window type and personal preferences.
A popular option is utilizing a telescopic pole with a separate attached scrubber and squeegee – or simply opt for a handy 2-in-1 squeegee.
This ingenious device allows you to cleanse your windows from the safety of the ground below without the need for precarious ladders.
Here’s how:
- Firstly, mix warm water with your preferred window cleaning solution in a bucket.
- Dip in your scrubber or microfiber washer attachment, affix it to the telescopic pole and extend it to reach your lofty windows. Scrub away!
- Switch out for the squeegee attachment and commence from the top corner of each window, pulling downwards to remove surplus water. Overlap with the previous section as you progress.
- A gentle hose rinse can be used to wash away any lingering dirt or soap residue.
Perhaps you’re feeling crafty?
A homemade telescoping pole could be right up your alley!
This DIY alternative calls for PVC pipes of varying diameters (to create an extending pole), duct tape, a sponge plus warm water mixed with white vinegar.
The steps are straightforward:
- Create your cleaning solution by mixing warm water with one cup of white vinegar.
- Cut a small hole in one end of the largest PVC pipe and insert your sponge through it.
- Secure the sponge firmly around the pipe with duct tape.
- Slide smaller PVC pipes inside the larger one until you achieve sufficient length for those upper story targets.
- Dip your sponged-end into the vinegar solution, squeezing out excess water before scrubbing each window.
- Again, a hose can be used post-cleanse to rinse off any remaining vinegar solution/dirt combo.
If all else fails (or if you have nerves of steel!), there’s always that trusty ladder hiding in your garage. Proceed with caution!
Alternatively accessing second-story windows from inside is also achievable through employing magnetic sliders or strategically extending reach.
How To Clean Second Story Windows With Screens
Second-story windows, especially those fitted with outside screens, can indeed pose a unique set of challenges when cleaning them.
However, be rest assured knowing that there’s an effective way around this task.
Unlocking and detaching the screens from inside your home is the first step to a successful cleanup.
This allows direct access to the outside surfaces of your windows (if you have sliding ones or those that are double hung or tilt or swing inside).
A microfiber cloth or scrubber saturated in your preferred cleaning solution could be your best companions for this purpose.
Often you may find it tricky to have complete access while trying to clean the outside sections of the innermost sliding window.
Because you’ll have to shut it all the way to be able to access the entire area of the innermost outside window, which is impossible to clean from the inside.
The solution? Either clean it from the outside or carefully extricate the window from its frame – still staying within your home’s interior.
This grants you unhindered access to both sides of each window for a thorough cleanse.
Please exercise caution during this process as any undue force could potentially damage either window or frame during removal and reinstallation.
As for other types of windows, such as casements, the screens are usually on the inside, and even when you are able to remove them (or secure upwards sliding screens at the top), the inside-out method reaches its limitations.
To overcome this hurdle, consider employing alternate “inside” cleaning techniques like magnetic sliders or remove the screen either from inside or outside (with the help of a ladder).
Applying these newly mentioned practices should give your windows a clear sparkling new look just like we promised.
How Do I Clean My Second Story Windows Without Removing Screens
For inward-facing screens like those on casements, pushing them upwards usually does the trick.
It then becomes a simple task of cleaning the inside surface of the window and twisting a cleaning solution-soaked cloth onto a telescopic pole to freshen up the outside pane from the outside.
However, screens fitted on the outside of windows present a slightly different predicament.
Should you choose not to remove them, washing your windows alongside the screen is an option but it’s certainly not easy.
A common approach is to use a garden hose as your aquatic wand, spraying water at your windows and screens from ground level.
Be cautious though; doing so runs the risk of soaking your window tracks and sills.
Depending upon the season and how well these areas are ventilated, this could foster a moldy situation over time. You can try and dry things up using a cloth from the inside.
With all that said, never underestimate the power of professional window cleaners if these tasks seem too daunting or time consuming; their expertise may be exactly what you need to keep your second-story windows spotless without all the hassle.
How To Clean The Inside Of A High Rise Window?
Wondering about how to effectively clean the interior of a high-rise window.
After all, these are not your standard ground-level windows that you can easily reach with hand.
These towering monoliths of glass require a different method entirely – the telescopic method we mentioned above.
The telescopic pole is usually equipped with a squeegee on one end and occasionally includes a water feed system to rinse off stubborn grime. Some can have a brush scrubber instead, to help turn the dirt into a solution before rinsing them off using the water fed system.
The length of these cleaning tools can vary significantly based on your needs, but most commercial options will cap out somewhere in the area of 20 feet.
