- Gelatine for window curtains
Machine-washable cotton curtains may emerge from the washer fresh as a daisy, but more often than not, they come out so creased that you’re in for a tough time at the ironing board. How to keep creasing to a minimum when washing cotton curtains? Dissolve 1 tablespoon plain gelatine in 1 cup (250ml) boiling water and add to the final rinse cycle. The same trick will restore shine to glazed cotton curtains.
- Use a blackboard eraser
You’ve washed your windows and when you step back to admire your handiwork you spot the dreaded streaks. What’s worse, you can’t tell whether they’re on the inside or the outside of the pane. You’ll have to clean the panes on both sides again, but with what? One of the best tools is a clean blackboard eraser, rubbed in a circular motion. To keep from guessing about which side of a window is streaked, try this trick next time: use an up-and-down motion when cleaning and drying one side of the window and a back-and-forth motion on the other side. You’ll then know which side to ‘erase’.
- Two old window-washing standbys
People have probably argued about the best ways to clean windows since glass was invented. Two formulations that never disappoint are (a) 1/2 cup (125ml) ammonia in 8 litres warm water or (b) 1 cup (250ml) white vinegar in 1 litre water. To remove isolated smudges and sort other spots swiftly, wipe windowpanes with a soft cloth dipped in white vinegar.
- Effervescent washer
One of the simplest and most effective glass window cleaners around is soda water, which dries without streaking. Just pour it into a spray bottle and spritz the windows, then dry with a cloth.
- Solve the dirty windowsill problem
If you like fresh air and keep your windows open, it can be hard to keep out all the dust and soot that soils indoor sills, especially if you live in an area with heavy traffic. Outdoor sills fare even worse, of course, since their surfaces tend to trap dirt in pits and cracks. To make cleaning windowsills a breeze, wash them thoroughly, let dry and spray the sills lightly with a little clear floor wax.
- Awesome awnings
A good spray with the garden hose every once in a while will help to keep awnings clean and free of debris, but they also need a thorough clean every few months. Scrub awnings that are made of canvas and most other materials with a brush dipped in warm water and a mild detergent. If you’re faced with stubborn stains or mildew, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto a stain and let it sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off with a garden hose. Treat mildew with a solution of 1 part colour fast bleach and 3 parts water; just let it soak into the material for 3-4 minutes and then rinse.
- Don’t wash windows on a hot day!
It might be tempting to do your window washing on a warm day, but you’ll find you’re in a worse situation than you were when you started. Why? Your window-washing solution will dry on contact, leaving the windows streaky.
- Super-green curtain poles
For smaller windows, try a natural alternative to a traditional curtain rod. Find an appropriate length and width of fallen tree branch — say 1.5m long and 7cm in circumference for a 1.2m-wide window — and run it through the tops of curtains or through the curtain rings.
Credit: Reader’s Digest
Picture Credit: Google
