Spring and summer cleaning is upon us and that means that you want every inch of your home fresh and clean. That includes your windows, down to the sills and tracks. The good news is that cleaning window tracks doesn’t have to be a hassle. Keep reading and we’ll take a look at a few different ways you can ensure clean window tracks in your home.
Why Is Cleaning Window Tracks Important?
First of all, you probably want your whole home clean when you do a deep clean and the window tracks can’t be forgotten! Plus, allowing dirt and grime to build up in these can cause your window to not close all the way and a draft won’t do your energy bill any favors. Secondary Glazing for Temperature Control can also help reduce your energy bill.
A clean AC filter also allows for better airflow, which translates to improved cooling performance and energy efficiency. Find out the best way to clean ac filter. Then, look for solutions when ac unit fan not spinning.
What You’ll Need to Clean Window Tracks with a Power Toothbrush:
- Bucket
- It’s going to be much easier to keep your toothbrush clean with a bucket of soapy water close at hand.
- Hot water
- Soap
- A little bit of dish soap can do the trick here.
- Electric toothbrush
- Paper towels
- Clean rag
How to Clean Window Tracks with a Power Toothbrush
Step 1: Get Your Soapy Water and a Rag
Before you get down into the nitty gritty, you want to make sure that you clear out any large debris in your window track. This can include things like stray leaves or even, unfortunately, a few dead bugs.
To tackle these, you’ll want to start by getting a bucket and filling it with warm, soapy water and opening your window. Then, dip your clean rag in it and wipe the window track down. This won’t get rid of everything but it’ll help clear out some of the mess.
An old power toothbrush has recently made it’s way onto my list of highly recommended cleaning tools! Toothbrushes are the perfect cleaning companion for tight areas that are otherwise unreachable! And a power toothbrush just makes it that much easier, doing most of the work for you! Let me illustrate.
Step 2: Grab the Toothbrush
Now, grab your electric power toothbrush and dip it in the soapy water. All you have to do from here is put it where you need cleaned and press the start button. Since it’s a power toothbrush, that movement will help break up some of the grime in the window track. Every so often, you’ll want to rinse your toothbrush in the soapy water to keep it clean and efficient.
Because the power toothbrush is doing most of the work here, you don’t have to tire yourself out scrubbing either!
Take this filthy, fly laden window track that hasn’t been cleaned in months. A swipe of a wet soapy rag just isn’t going to cut it. Although, it will help! But first it’s probably a good idea to remove those dead flys.
Once that’s taken care of, dip the power toothbrush into a bucket of hot soapy water and set it spinning in those tight window track crevices.
It will kick up all that dirt and grime in no time! Rinse toothbrush in soapy water as needed.
Step 3: Approach Things with a Paper Towel
Now that you’ve scrubbed things clean or, rather, let the power toothbrush do its work, you aren’t quite done yet. However, this last part is pretty easy. All you need to do is use a paper towel to wipe the dirty, soapy water out of the window track.
The easiest way to do this is to fold your paper towel so you have an edge that fits right where you need it to go. You might need to reposition the towel to go over it again on a cleaner spot on the towel, depending on how dirty your window track is.
Then take a paper towel and fold it in half. Stick the edge down in the crevices to pick up the leftover dirty soapy water.
See our other Cleaning Tricks like Shower Head and Oven Burnt Food.
Wipe dry and you have an immaculate window track that looks brand new! So glad I didn’t throw this new found cleaning tool out after not liking it for my teeth! It’s going to get plenty of use after all. Hope the husband isn’t offended…he put it in my stocking for Christmas!
How to Clean Window Tracks with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Step 1: Start with a Vacuum
For this method, you can start wiping down the window track like we did above or use the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner to clear out large debris.
Step 2: Baking Soda and Vinegar
To add the baking soda to the equation, lightly sprinkle it over the window track but be careful to not leave any massive piles.
Source: theintentionalmom.com
Then, in a spray bottle, combine a cleaning solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray down the window sill and let the ensuing reaction take place for about ten minutes. Then you can scrub the area with a power toothbrush or rag. Then, use a towel to wipe it out.
How to Clean Window Tracks with a Garment Steamer:
Step 1: Check the Weather
This is a method that’s really best for spring or summer cleaning. Because you’re using heat to clean with this one, you won’t want to shock the material by doing it while it’s cold. A spot test is a good idea too.
Step 2: Cleaning with the Garment Steamer
Start by setting up your steamer to heat up. In the meantime, this is a great time to use a rag or vacuum to remove larger debris from the window track. Once your steamer has heated up, use it to steam the grime in your window track – this will help break everything up. After that, wipe it down with a clean towel and repeat the process until the surface is clean.
How to Clean Window Tracks with a Window Sill and Track Brush Set
Step 1: Get a Window Sill and Brush Set
Like many things, you can pick up cleaning kits that are made for your windows. These usually feature brushes that are specially shaped to pick up grime in the tight corners of your windows. All you have to do is spray your cleaning solution and grab the brush you need from the kit!
How to Clean Mold From Window Tracks?
There are some things that you might find when you’re cleaning that make you recoil. Many homeowners get rightfully nervous when they see mold. Luckily, if you find mold in your window tracks, put undiluted white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray down the area. An hour later, you can use warm water and a paper towel to clean it.
For an extra boost, finish off with one more light spray of vinegar and let the area air dry.
How Do You Remove Water Stains from Window Sills?
If there’s one part of your house that’s exposed to the weather, it’s your windows. Whether you accidentally left one cracked in the rain or there was a spill, you might wonder if there’s any hope for a water-stained window sill.
If you have a wooden window sill, one of your best bets is to look into some wood cleaner at your local hardware store or online. If your sill is made of another material, you can use a bucket of soapy water and then scrub the stain with rubbing alcohol diluted with equal parts water.
How Often Should You Clean Your Window Sills?
When it comes to window sills, outside of an unexpected mess, you can get away with cleaning them about twice a year, maybe even once. However, if you live in a household where you keep your windows open a lot, your window sills will need more frequent cleanings.
How Often Should You Clean Your Window Tracks?
Because dirty window tracks can effect the efficiency of your windows and let in drafts, you’ll want to make sure you clean these a littl emore often. By more manufacturer’s recommendations, it’s a good idea to clean this part of your window twice if not four times a year.
Did you like these tips and tricks? Cleaning your window tracks is great for your household hygiene and the insulation your windows offer you. If your home needs an insulation update, check out https://cavity-wall-insulation.uk. With any of these methods, you can make quick work of this chore. If you like this tutorial, let us know in the comments and share this with a friend!