How to clean upstairs windows safely

However, there are some important things you must eventually attend to if you want to get the maximum enjoyment and lifespan out of your windows. One of the most important of these is cleaning both the frame and the glazing of your windows inside and out, no matter where they are in your home. 

Especially as we approach the coming spring and unLockdown, when our homes can expect visitors aplenty, it might be good to get our homes ship-shape before the fun begins in earnest. 

Here’s your guide to cleaning your home’s windows.

Clean upstairs windows safely without a ladder

Cleaning the outside of your windows can be a little like communism or skateboarding — easy enough in theory, but sometimes dangerous in practice! 

Plenty of our ancestors met their untimely ends by leaning out to try to reach tricky specks of grime, and even the use of ladders doesn’t offer much of an alternative to many UK homeowners. Unless you’re familiar with their safe use and know what you’re doing, window cleaning while perched on the end of a long ladder can be dangerous. Even worse (depending on your priorities!), the use of ladders can sometimes damage the facade of your home.

How to clean upstairs windows from inside

If you’re looking to clean high-up windows from the inside, it’s best to avoid any and all “leaning out”. If the windows in question do not open inwards, you cannot reach their full extent without moving your arm out past the shoulder or you don’t feel safe reaching out of your window at all, it’s best to avoid all attempts to clean them from inside.

With that said, there are some kinds of window that lend themselves to inside-cleaning far better than others. Sash windows, for instance, open vertically and involve two separate panes of glass that can sometimes open in two different directions. This can make it a little easier to clean your windows without leaning outwards, as you can simply slide each mini-pane into an accessible position. 

Even better — at Britannia, our sash windows can actually tilt inwards for easy, fuss-free indoor cleaning. 

French windows are fitted without a fixed mullion – that’s the middle section that separates windows from each other. As a result, it’s easy to clean them from the inside even though they open outwards, by opening one window so as to carefully clean the other with an outstretched arm. Keep your other hand on the indoors side of the window at all times!

Tilt and turn windows do what they say on the tin. As they turn inwards, it’s easy to access the “outside” pane of the window!

How to clean upstairs windows from outside

If you’re ladder-confident, experienced and your property won’t mind being leant on, you can use that method. If you’re looking to save time and have some spare cash, you can always hire a window cleaner. 

However, if you’re not quite sure about either of those, there is a method that lets you keep both feet firmly on the ground.

First off, however, it does require a few pieces of equipment. It probably also works best for properties with a devoted garden or yard. You’ll need a hose, probably best with a sprayer attachment that allows its stream to travel a good distance. 

You’ll also need an extendable window brush and squeegee, a bucket of lukewarm water mixed with a window cleaning solution of your choice and favourable weather — medium temperature with a few clouds is best, with absolutely no chance of rain.

Simply give your upstairs windows a good spray with water before soaking your brush in your bucket. Then scrub the window until it’s soapy and most of the grime has come off. Leave for a minute, before washing away with the hose. 

Then, simply fit the squeegee and wipe in a slow, S-shaped pattern down from the top left corner. Ensure full coverage.   

This will almost certainly not provide the same finish as a professional clean, especially the first few times. There are also other slightly fiddlier methods, usually using a strip cleaner. After a few goes, however, you’ll get the hang of it. It doesn’t need to be done very often, and it’s an easy way to save a few quid. 

Window cleaning tips

Surprisingly, a vacuum cleaner can be used as part of the process of window cleaning! When the weather’s been dry for a good while, dust and dry, loose dirt can build up in the nooks and crannies, particularly of static picture windows. You can use a vacuum cleaner to remove this easily.

Window frames more generally tend to gather dirt over time, occasionally leading to staining. Modern uPVC and aluminium windows are hard-wearing and tend to resist discoloration, but you can prolong the life of your windows by wiping down their frames with a cloth and soapy water every once in a while.

Get in touch

If you’re looking to fit new windows but you’re worried about keeping them clean, get in touch with us — we can talk you through our various options. Our installation teams will always be happy to advise you on the correct way to take care of your new, British-made Britannia windows.