Can You Really Clean Windows With Newspaper?

Did you know that in the 19th century, people cleaned their windows using vinegar, water and newspapers? But was this an effective method, and can newspapers still be used to clean windows? Newspapers are more effective than paper towels and rags to polish your windows, but a squeegee will do the same job in half the time. Therefore, even though newspapers may not be the only foolproof way to clean your windows properly, they can eliminate smudges and streaks. If you have deeply-stained windows, it is best to let professional bond cleaners in Ipswich handle the same so that they can get rid of these stains effectively for a sparkling home.  But for indoor windows and other glass surfaces, you can use newspapers to wipe them down. Here is a brief history of why newspapers became a household favourite for cleaning windows and how you can use them effectively.

Why Were Newspapers Such Effective Window-Cleaners?

Newspapers used to be printed with petroleum-based ink that would lend them a nice, glossy look and make users want to pick them up. This petroleum-based ink was also effective in polishing windows; thus, people started using these newspapers to give their windows a nice shine.

Another reason people preferred newspapers over rags and cloths to clean windows is that newspapers are made up of densely packed fibres that are rigid in their structure. This means that even if wet, they will not break apart and thus will not leave streaks of paper across your windows. They are also non-abrasive and will not scratch your glass surfaces.

People would also use white vinegar to clean their windows because the acetic acid in white vinegar breaks down any oil and dirt. They would then wipe away this oil and dirt with a newspaper.

If you are wondering how this technique works, here is a step-by-step guide to how you can use vinegar and newspapers to clean your windows:

How To Clean Your Windows Using Newspaper And Vinegar

1. Gather Your Cleaning Supplies You should first arrange the following items before you start cleaning your windows:

Spray bottle

Newspapers

White vinegar

Water

Wastebasket

2. Spray The Windows Start by mixing three cups of water with one cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle. If your windows are very dirty and have a lot of harmful dust mites on them, you can increase the quantity of white vinegar. Bond cleaners in Ipswich recommend using white vinegar, as this will not leave any residue on your windows. Now, spray your windows from top to bottom and left to right and let the solution work its magic for around ten minutes. 3. Scrub The Windows Next, you should scrunch your newspapers into loose balls and wipe the solution off your windows. The dense fibres of the newspaper will absorb the liquid solution and will not leave any scratches. You should move in a circular motion from top to bottom so that you cover the whole window and keep throwing away used newspapers in your wastebasket 4. Dry Your Windows Lastly, it is very important to dry your windows so that there are no water spots and stains. Professional cleaners who offer bond cleaning in Ipswich suggest that once you have wiped the solution off, take flat pieces of newspaper and spread them across your windows. Leave them for a while and replace them with new sheets of newspaper until your windows are completely dry and spot-free.

An Important Tip

Only clean your windows when there is direct sunlight on them, as these harsh rays can quickly dry up the solution before you can wipe it off. This will leave smudges and stains on your windows. Instead, pick a cloudy day to deep clean your windows, as it will be easier to wipe off the solution. You can use this technique to clean your windows if you have a lot of newspapers at home, but there are many drawbacks to this as well, such as:

Drawbacks Of Using Newspapers On Your Window

1. No Polishing Finish Back in the day, newspapers used petroleum-based ink, so when you wiped the windows with them, it gave a polishing finish. But with the rise in more eco-friendly inks such as soy ink in the 1970s and 1980s, the same polish and finish have disappeared. Soy ink is made from soybean oil and is more eco-friendly than petroleum-based ink, but it does not agave the same cleaning effect on windows and glass surfaces. 2. Stains The Frames Newspapers do not create smudges or stain the glass of your window but can stick to your wooden frames and tracks. They will leave spots all over your frames, especially if they are glossy and white. You will then have to do an additional deep cleaning of your window tracks to get rid of these stains and smudges. 3. Can Create A Mess You will have to buy a lot of newspapers if you have many large windows, which can create quite a mess. It is also time-consuming to clean outdoor windows with newspapers, and you will be exhausted. Let professional bond cleaners in Ipswich clean your outdoor windows using their own techniques and tools. 4. Better Alternatives There are now more options to clean your windows, such as microfiber cloths or the ever-favourite squeegee.

The squeegee was invented in the 1900s and was inspired by a tool used to scrape fish residue off boats.

It soon became very popular because it is easy to use and gets the job done in half the time.

The squeegee has a rubber end that makes it easy to absorb and squeeze out the water and cleaning solution from your windows.

Since these squeegees are wide, they cover more distance in less time and can clean your windows quickly.

Conclusion

Therefore, newspapers can be used with vinegar to clean your windows, but if you want a quicker and more effective way to do this, you should use a squeegee instead. If you have deeply stained and large outdoor windows, it is better to let bonding experts in Ipswich scrub and clean them using their advanced tools and techniques.