When was the last time you cleaned your outside windows? Last year? Five years ago? Never?
It might sound like a deeply unpleasant or unworkable chore, especially for homes with multiple floors, but you really can brighten up your windows with both feet planted on the ground — no ladder required.
* Extension poles can be adjusted to clean first floor windows of just about any height, and most models can extend to second floor windows as well. Most kits include a sponge and squeegee. Use a sponge and soapy water to scrub and the squeegee to remove the suds.
* Magnetic window cleaners are a great option if you live in an apartment building or need to clean in an area where ladders or extension poles can't reach. Spray or dip two magnetic cleaners in cleaning solution and wring out any excess, place the magnetic cleaners on each side of the window in the same spot to allow the magnets to pull together, and use handle inside to clean both surfaces simultaneously.
* Your regular garden hose can do a lot of work without any fancy accessories required. Set it to a hard spray to wash dirt away and clean built-up debris out of crevices. Use a sponge and soapy water for tough spots within reach, then rinse and dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
* Telescopic U-shaped window cleaners function similarly to extension poles, but curve in a u-shape so that you can clean exterior surfaces from inside without doing any precarious reaching.
