Spring has sprung and the cleaning has begun! It has a nice ring to it, but the truth is after a long winter there is a lot of work to be done inside and out of your home. While the weather in the spring gets warmer, it is still bipolar. A lot of customers want to get their windows cleaned but always fear the inevitable April shower.
Conventional wisdom (or maybe it was just grandma) always said rain dirties our windows. When the rain comes down and ruins the fun we look out the window with dismay, but when the storm clears and fun is at hand, the tidy housekeeper frowns. Looking out the spotted drab window makes the heart sink. But don’t blame it on the rain.
Rain isn’t what makes the windows dirty. Rain is actually very clean. Without boring you to death with science, let’s just say rain is basically distilled water. In fact, around the world some window cleaners actually prefer rainwater. These window cleaners use something called “rainwater harvesting”. A quick Google search with that phrase might blow your mind. It’s especially popular in rain-soaked regions like the United Kingdom and the Pacific Northwest. So if rain isn’t the main culprit, who is to blame? There are a few factors that cause a window to turn into a water-spotted eyesore.
Screens
The real villain is the vigilant, protective screen. While screens are necessary and helpful, they can be the biggest problem that a clean window will face. Screens prevent dirt, pollen, pests, and other debris from damaging our windows. The problem develops when the rain comes. As the rain passes through the screen, it grabs the debris and slams it against the glass. When the water dries what is left is an unsightly dirty window. When you get your windows cleaned by a professional, or do it yourself, make sure the screens are cleaned, too. Be forewarned, most window cleaners do not include a screen cleaning and there will be an extra charge, but it’s an absolute necessity for a long-lasting clean.
Environment
The second contributing factor to rain messing up your freshly cleaned windows is the environment. Every part of the country is different, so there can be local contributing factors. In a more industrial area, acid rain is a real problem. Acid rain is precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses high levels of hydrogen ions and a low pH. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and of course, windows. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. If you live in an area that has a large amount of carbon dioxide or other chemicals being released, then yes rain itself can be a problem.
So there you have it. Dirty screens and acid rain are to blame. If you’re not facing either of those issues, your windows shouldn’t get dirty again every time it rains – don’t blame it on the rain! Rain is not the culprit, it’s actually almost completely pure – clean enough to drink! Use your newfound knowledge about dirty screens and talk to your service provider about adding screen cleaning to your regular window cleaning – or do it yourself! No special tools or chemicals are needed for an effective screen cleaning – simply brush off large debris, gently scrub with a soapy sponge, and rinse… voila! So next time it’s raining, don’t reschedule your window cleaning service. The only downside to cleaning windows in the rain… is being out in the rain!
