i can see clearly now

Begin challenging your own assumptions.
Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.
Alan Alda, American Actor

About this time every year, I get a real good look at the windows on my house...unfortunately they don't look so good!  That bright morning or late afternoon sun has a way of magnifying all the fingerprints, dog smudges, and wear & tear from the winter weather.

 Time to clean windows!  There are many different techniques to get clean windows involving newspaper, white vinegar or some Windex...I have found the simplest and true method to be as follows:

1. Get some clean cotton towels/rags, a window squeegy, and a bucket of warm dish-soapy water.  I like to use Dawn because "it gets grease out of my way."
2. Emerse one rag into the soapy water and wash the window in a circular motion covering it all--even wiping the sills and trim.
3. With a dry rag, wipe the left sash and the top sash.
4. With squeegy and dry towel in hand, swipe water off beginning at the top left across to the right. 
5. Make the next pass just beneath the previous and continue until the entire window has been swiped. If you wipe your squeegy after each pass, you avoid trails of water.
6. Wipe up any remaining water along the sides & trim with dry towel.
7. Stand back and admire.

Tips:

• Never wash windows in the direct sun (streaks).
• Paper towels and glass cleaner for whatever reason never work for me...they leave a greasy film...so what is the point of cleaning?
• Make sure you wash your screens otherwise you are going to have to wash again (all that soot on the screens will mess up your clean windows).  I wash mine in the bathtub with the shower and a long handled brush.
• Maintaining your windows at least twice a year is a great way to stay on top of any repairs that might be needed and improve your view of the world.
• If all else fails...drink enough red wine so you don't notice your dirty windows. :)

Here are some more beautiful windows and treatments that caught my eye (complements of myhomeideas.com)

This last photo makes me want to have tea with my friends...right after I get to cleaning my windows!!  Have a great window treatment?  Take a snapshot and send it to me...I love creative diy-ers! 

Have a great weekend!