Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Battle For Clean Glass Shower Doors

Regardless of the type, cleaning windows is always a chore. Granted some windows are more difficult to clean than others but perhaps none are more difficult than glass shower doors. Glass shower doors can quickly lose their luster even after a short amount of time due to hard water stains. The calcium build up left behind by shower water is bad enough but when you take into consideration things like soap scum, dead skin, and even hair it's not difficult to see why these types of "windows" are so arduous to clean.
Due to the difficult nature of cleaning shower doors and even keeping them free from any or all of the aforementioned issues some homeowners will turn to professional window cleaners for assistance. While this is always a good idea simply because the results they produce are phenomenal, not every homeowner is financially capable of hiring a professional.

In scenarios where a homeowner either can't afford to hire professional window cleaner or would just prefer to do the job themselves, there are a few things that they can do to make cleaning glass shower doors less difficult, less frustrating, and less time-consuming. The first and perhaps most important of these being regular cleanings. A homeowner who utilizes a simple squeegee can reduce the amount of build up on their glass shower doors by simply wiping off the shower door immediately after completing their shower. Doing so will wipe away not only water but all the other debris mentioned previously as well. While calcium buildup will still occur as will other types of debris, this will keep shower doors looking clean for a greater length of time and it will reduce the need for hard cleanings.

Homeowners looking for a secret weapon in the battle against dirty shower doors will be happy to learn that they can keep their shower doors extremely clean not only by utilizing a squeegee on a regular basis but by utilizing fabric softener sheets as well. Nearly every homeowner has fabric softener sheets in their home and the sheets are designed to soften water deposits. Therefore by rubbing them all over a glass shower door homeowners can dramatically reduce the amount of hard water deposits/calcium  buildup that gather on their shower doors. This will keep their shower doors from looking cloudy and if used in conjunction with a squeegee after showers, will negate the need for any type of cleaning that requires any large amount of time.

Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County glass restoration, and Orange County window restoration and window cleaning in Orange County.

Professional Window Cleaning Advantages

Cleaning windows, be them part of a residence or part of a commercial structure, is a dirty job inside and out. It's also a very physically demanding job especially during those months of the year that are extremely cold or hot. Despite the many trepidations individuals may have regarding the cleaning of their windows, the fact remains that windows must be cleaned if they are to not only look good but allow in proper lighting and function as a part of a structure's climate control.

It isn't difficult to find an excuse to avoid cleaning windows which is why some people turn to professional window cleaners to get the job done. While this isn't and always the cheapest route the ends justifies the means if for no other reason than the layperson gets to avoid having to do a difficult job. While some people may remain apprehensive even after considering the physical and chronological demands of cleaning their windows, many eventually recognize that the pros of hiring a professional window cleaner far outweigh the cons and come to realize that paying someone to do this type of work is well worth every penny.

Even the most physically capable of persons will find the number of advantages in hiring a professional window cleaner enough to justify their hiring. The first and sometimes most obvious advantage is the end results. 99.9% of the time professional window cleaners are going to deliver far greater results than even the most dedicated layperson. Just as a professional auto detailer would do to showroom vehicles, professional window cleaners can bring out a "showroom shine" on just about any type of window. These types of windows will leave any structure they are part of looking far more warm and attractive than those at the windows cleaned by lay persons.

As cleaning windows often requires more time than most individuals are willing to spend on them, those that attempt to clean their windows themselves often end up cutting corners midway through the job in order to reach the finish line just a little bit earlier. Professional window cleaners cut no corners and are meticulous in their work. Getting windows clean and making them shine like new requires a lot of time; time that most people would rather spend doing something they enjoy. Hiring a professional window cleaner allows a homeowner and owners of commercial structures to do something else with their time.

There was once a time when professional window cleaners were far more expensive than they are now. As the technologies that enable professionals to do their job have improved, prices have fallen and many companies want to be as competitive as possible and therefore go to great lengths to offer deals to outdo their competition. It's also important to remember that do-it-yourselfers will spend a great deal of not only time but money as well. The cost of professional cleaning solutions, static free rags, squeegees, extension poles, and other equipment gets expensive quickly. Hiring a professional means individual will be paying mainly for labor and it negates the need to purchase tools and chemicals for themselves.

One of the biggest advantages that often goes overlooked in hiring a professional window cleaner is that many not only clean windows but offer a myriad of other services as well. Things like pressure washing, screen door repair, glass repair and restoration, and even the cleaning of things like lighting fixtures can save home and business owners a lot of time and money. Additionally these same companies sometimes offer service packages that include these additional services as part of their routine window cleaning services.

Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County window cleaning, and Orange County window cleaning prices and window washing in Orange County.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Repairing A Screen Door

Despite the many apprehensions individuals have regarding replacing screens on their screen doors, the process isn't particularly difficult to complete. In fact so simple is this type of project that even the most un-savvy of individuals will be able to complete it. Before beginning this type of project however individuals will want to make sure that they have all the tools and materials necessary so as to avoid having to start, stop, and restart a job which can lead to frustration and subpar work.
The first thing that individuals want to do when they have a screen that needs replacing is purchase a screen repair tool. The majority of people will be familiar with this tool as it consists of a handle in the middle and two wheels on the ends of the handle. Next after carefully measuring the screen door in need of repair individuals will need to visit a home improvement store and purchase a screen that overlaps their door a bit. Usually a couple of inches on each side of the door is enough. These extra few inches will allow for mistakes as well as some slack during the re-screening process. Anyone repairing a screen door should also have a utility knife handy and a pair of pliers as well.

Once all of the tools and materials have been procured an individual will want to remove the the actual screen door from its track and then remove the damaged screen. While lying the screen door on the ground screen spline will need to be located and pulled out. While some splines will be wedged into the groove tightly a putty/utility knife can be used to dig it out. Once one portion of the screen spline is pulled from its groove pulling the rest out by hand is a cinch.

Once a screen gasket/spline has been removed an individual will want to remove the screen from the door and simply discard it. A torn screen is irreparable and with a new screen on hand there's no reason to hold onto any portion of the old screen. Once the old screen has then discarded an individual will want to lie the new screen over their door. The new screen should be laid down so that at least two inches extend beyond the doors gasket groove.

Once the new screen has been properly laid over the door an individual will next need to lay the gasket on top of it grooves. While is virtually impossible and unnecessary to lay it perfectly over a doors grooves, getting a close makes the job all the more easier. Once the gasket has been laid down the rolling screen repair tool should be run over the gasket so that it goes firmly back into the doors grooves. One hand should roll the gasket while the other guides the remaining gasket into its groove.
After the gasket has been ruled firmly back into place in individual should run their screen rolling tool over the entire gasket one last time to ensure that their new screen will be firmly held in place. After this has been completed a screen door can be put back on its track and utilized freely.

Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County window cleaning, and Orange County window cleaning prices and window washing in Orange County.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Window Washing Pro Tips

If you’re washing your own windows, you may want to see how the pros wash theirs. Here are a few tips from the pros. You’ll first notice how fast they get the job done. For one thing, they don’t stop to talk to the neighbors, or answer their phones while working. One of the most important, they have everything they need right at their fingertips. They never have to stop to search for a clean cloth or sponge and their win-dows will be free of streaks, scratches and of course dirt.

Often the pro has a spray bottle, but on the outside they may use your garden hose and spray the window first from the bottom up first, then the top down. This clears the window, the window sill, and the material around your window. This rinses away not only the dirt and grime, but also tiny spiders that live around your window. Then they apply the spray that is already pre-mixed.

Many then use their trusty squeegee and wipe the spray from top to bottom. They then dry the excess mixture from the squeegee with a towel attached at their waist. The squeegee then goes back to the top of the window and down, again and again until the window is completely clean.

If you’re cleaning your own windows, you probably have just got the nozzle on the hose, and the pro is com-pletely done with the window including the screen that he set at the side.

Not all pros follow this method. They may use a couple of clean dry towels to dry the window, and the other one to shine it. Shining a window is very important and it isn’t complete until it shines like a million dollars. If million dollars shine.

When high windows are involved, the pro will use other methods and often have a pressure machine that he applies easily.

Another don’t is they never use harsh chemicals, scrapers, scrubbers, or sharp objects to get your windows shining, and they don’t leave a mess around each window.

The easiest way to wash your windows using the pro tips is by hiring the pro. The professional window washer will get the job done before you even get all your own tools set out. The best part, the entire window will be clean inside and out.

To be sure you get the very best, hire the pro that is licensed and insured. Besides you’ll be helping our economy.

Stanley Window Cleaning specializes in Orange County window cleaning, window cleaning in Orange County and Orange County pressure washing.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Cleaning Stucco

Stucco is not that hard to clean, even if it has a decorative finish, and you can use the same method to clean painted stucco as you do when you clean unpainted surfaces. We will start by explaining the methods used on the outside stucco walls. If you have recently installed or repaired the stucco, don’t use this method.

Before you begin to clean, spray the entire wall with the garden hose starting from the bottom first. Be sure to saturate the whole area. If there is a stain that does not wash off immediately, you may have to wash it with a mixture of ½ cup of dish detergent and ½ cup of washing detergent in two gallons of water.

Use a soft bristled cleaning brush. Dip the brush into the soap mixture described above and scrub very gently. Do the entire area if needed. Don’t let the soap mixture dry, and rinse it clean using a garden hose with a high-pressured nozzle. Rinse from the top down and be sure to saturate the entire area making sure the soap, dirt and grime are totally gone.

Remember stucco is very porous and whatever you use as a cleaning agent may damage the stucco itself. You can also use pressure washers to clean away the grime from your stucco home; however you need to be very careful that you don't chip away the stucco during this process.

If there is ever damage to your stucco, you need to have it repaired promptly because of the nature of the stucco. If you allow the damage to remain without repair, mold and rot may occur, and it may cause serious damage to the foundation and structure of your home.

You need to remove the stain quickly whenever your stucco receives stain. There are times when teenagers may think it is great fun to egg your home. Eggs drying in the sun can do irreparable damage to your home.

As you seek to keep your home in good condition, it may be to your advantage to hire a professional to clean your stucco walls. There are many that specialize in this service and they make sure that the stucco on your home is not damaged. They identify the areas that need treatment.

A reputable company also has the ability to spray on a conditioner to protect your stucco from further damage. This will keep your home as the pride of the neigh-borhood.


Stanley Window Cleaning specializes in Orange County window cleaning, window cleaning in Orange County and Orange County pressure wash-ing.

Friday, June 22, 2012

How to Care and Clean Window Tint

Like anything else, if you treat it right, it will last for years, and that’s true of the window tint on your home or business. It is basically the same product, and especially right after the window tint’s installed that is the time to be the most cautious.

You shouldn’t even touch it for the first five days. Warn everyone around you not to touch it, or lean against it, or peer out of it, and keep children away from it during that curing period. For at least thirty days, that’s 30 days, don’t try to clean it especially with harsh chemicals. Of course curing time depends a lot on the weather and climate where you live. Inclement weather shouldn’t hurt the tint because it is on the inside of your windows, but bet you knew that.

Just because the window tint is on your window you may think you can apply stickers to it, and why not? Mainly because when you remove those stickers, you remove the window tint too. Not a good idea. Suction cups are another no-no, and bumper stickers belong on the bumper.

With new tint on a home or businesses window's individuals make take precations against people with wandering fingers/hands. A movement against the window tint can cause a wrinkle, a tear, or a pinprick that will grow bigger over time.

We’ve told you what not to do; now we’ll tell you the proper way to care and clean your window tint, so listen up. Soap and water works well on window tint, but window cleaner from your grocer or hardware store has ammonia and that’s not good. Clean with a soft cloth, sponge, paper towels from your house. Stay away from the brown paper towels, newspapers, or stiff cloths.

If you’re considering installing the window tint yourself, unless you’ve had experience doing that job, it’s probably best left to the professional. You’ve seen blotched jobs where the tint wrinkles, doesn’t fit from window frame to window frame, and is just a mess. When you watch the professional install the window tint, it looks so easy, all you have to do is stretch it across the window, get the air bubbles out of it, but when you try it, it’s not that easy.

The best care you can give your window tint is to have it installed properly, wash carefully, and it should last for a very long time, at least for the life of your car.

Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County window cleaning, and Orange County window cleaning prices and window washing in Orange County.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Avoid Scratching Windows While Cleaning

When you put off the job of cleaning your windows, you know the longer you wait, the harder it is to get the windows clean. Just don’t put it off too long because no one ever notices clean windows, only the dirty one gets their attention. So while you’re gathering all the tools necessary to get the job done, just be sure to pick the correct tools in order to avoid scratching your windows.
It’s hard enough to get the job done, and you might think that the best way is to get a scraper to peel off the dirt and grime that’s collected. Don’t do it. That metal or even plastic scraper, or that pad you clean pots and pans with may scratch those delicate windows. Don’t use any harsh chemicals either. You may try washing them just like your grandmother did. Often she used vinegar mixed with water and that morning’s newspaper to dry them.

If you hate the smell of vinegar try using a product from the grocery store that guarantees clean shiny windows. Most of them work all right, but there again the smell may deter you from using them. Another helpful tool is a simple squeegee, even one on a telescopic pole works as well. Just be careful you don’t touch the window with the hard surface of the squeegee because it will scratch your window.

Dish soap and hot water work too, and you can use a sponge to apply and rinse it, then dry them with a soft towel and another dry towel to shine them. That method works best on the outside windows where you can use the garden hose to rinse the soap off. That dish soap can be used on your rose bushes to kill those nasty bugs. Just an added benefit.

There’s another easier way to get your windows clean while you avoid scratching them. That’s to hire an established window cleaning company. They do private homes as well as businesses and will get your windows cleaner than they’ve ever been without you having to spend the day washing them.

If your windows are already scratched, by someone else of course, that professional licensed and insured window cleaner will probably be able to repair those scratches. They will come to your establishment as often as you want them. Many housekeepers that you hire to clean your home, simply ‘Don’t do windows.’ The best, easiest and even cheapest way to have the cleanest windows in your neighbors is to hire the window cleaning company. You’ll never be sorry.
           
Stanley Window Care specializes in Orange County window cleaning, Orange County ca window cleaning, window washers Orange County.

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