Cleaning any other type of windows is a relatively simple process, but when it comes to skylights, most homeowners complain that after just a few minutes they got a floor-full of water and cleaning products and the skylights are still dirty. Well, cleaning the skylights is a more complicated task because obviously, these windows are situated on the ceiling and any cleaning attempt will eventually result in water pouring down on the floor, carpets, furniture items and other personal belongings. Still, it is not the end of the world and you might be happy to know that you can still clean your skylights without having an unwanted shower. You just have to follow these tips and tricks.
Gather all the required materials
In order to successfully clean the skylights and make them sparkle, homeowners need a bucket, a ladder, sponge mop and squeegee, several plastic sheets, towels, dish liquid, white vinegar and one or two hours of free time. If the sponge mop is extendable then it is even better and the homeowner can borrow one from a neighbor or rent one from the local janitorial supply store.
Prepare the area before cleaning the skylights
In order to avoid damaging any personal belongings, homeowners should first liberate the space under the skylights. He should move all furniture items, carpets, electronics and so on to a safer place until the cleaning process is done. Afterwards, he should add several plastic sheets on the floor in order to protect it from spills and cleaning solutions. Instead of plastic sheets, the homeowner can also use several towels as well as blankets or other types of fabrics he might have in his house.
Use the ladder if it is necessary
In some cases, the skylights can be very high and not even an extendable mop is enough to reach them. Therefore, homeowners should make use of a strong and stable ladder in order to reach higher and clean the skylights easier.
Create a cleaning mixture from water, white vinegar and dish liquid
The cleaning solution is easy to prepare. Homeowners should just pour a gallon of water (preferably warm) into the bucket, add a tiny amount of dish liquid and half a cup of white vinegar. This solution should be mixed thoroughly and used to clean both sides of the skylights. If the homeowner wants, he can replace white vinegar with a quarter of a cup of ammonia. Similarly, instead of dish liquid, the homeowner might want to use powdered dish detergent which has a bigger cleaning power.
Clean the skylights carefully
Now it is time to clean the skylights. Homeowners should dip their extendable mops into the bucket and clean the skylights from the highest point downward, to avoid excessive spills. The squeegee should be moistened with a wet cloth (so that it doesn’t skip) and then used to remove water and dirt from the skylights. Afterwards, the squeegee should be wrapped in a dry towel and then used to eliminate any drips and excessive water from the surface of the glass. Well, the skylights will look as brand new as any trace of dust and dirt will be eliminated.
Don’t forget to clean the skylights on the outside as well
In order to complete this cleaning process, the homeowner should climb on his roof and repeat the same cleaning procedures on the outside of the skylights. However, working on the roof can be quite dangerous and the homeowner must take the required safety precautions. For example, he should only work on good weather, he should wear adequate clothing, a bottle of water if it is very hot outside and have a lot of patience. For this cleaning process, it is best to use distilled water as it can prevent any mineral deposits on the surface of the glass.
Use more ammonia or white vinegar if the skylights are very dirty
In some cases, different skylights such as the ones from the kitchen might be even dirtier and greasy. To clean them, it is necessary to add more ammonia or white vinegar into the cleaning mixture and rub and scrub the surface of the glass several times in order to eliminate all the impurities.
Protect yourself while cleaning the skylights
When cleaning the skylights from inside the house, it is very likely that water will drip on the home owner during the cleaning process. Therefore, it is best to wear protective glasses and even a mask that covers the nose, so that the cleaning mixture doesn’t cause any injuries, allergies or irritations.
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