Tidylife

Interior & Lifestyle

  • Home
  • Shopping
    • My Directory
  • About
    • Work With Me
  • Home Inspiration
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedroom
    • Flooring
    • Furniture
    • Home Office
    • Lighting
  • Home Improvements
    • Furniture Makeovers
    • DIY
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Cars & Motoring
    • Eco
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Finance
    • Fitness/Running
    • House Plants
    • Kids stuff
    • Money Saving
  • Home Maintenance
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cleaning, Featured · January 6, 2017

How to Clean Roof Windows like A Pro

The start of a New Year is a great time to give the home a thorough tidy and clean.  After the Christmas tree has been taken down and the rubbish removed, I love to steam clean all the floors and get our windows sparkling.

Sparkling windows

But while normal windows don’t pose a problem, trying to clean roof windows can be a little trickier.  So here’s a few simple steps to get them gleaming again:

Get an Extendable Cleaning Kit

clean a glass roofRather than reaching your high windows by climbing a step ladder, it is safer to use an extendable cleaning kit.  These can be simply a mop on a pole that has an adjustable length, or a bit more deluxe with a built-in water tank and trigger, so you can squirt soapy water as you go.  There are also window cleaning accessories available that connect to your jet power washer (ideal for the external glass) and gadgets such as window vacuums that suck up excess water, leaving a streak free finish.

The Cleaning Process

Firstly dust the window to remove cobwebs, then sponge or squeegee on hot soapy water using either a propriety window cleaning solution or dishwashing soap, which is good for most surface cleaning (and E-cloths are effective even using hot water alone).  It’s a good idea to lay a ground sheet below the window to catch drips. Finally, a soft lint free cloth is great for drying off and buffing the glass.

Easy Cleaning Inside and Out

Many people with roof lights don’t realise that you can actually clean the outside from the inside – by rotating the sash through 165 degrees, which gives you easy access to the exterior pane. Much better than climbing a ladder outdoors!  However, you may still need to do that from time to time, to clear the flashing of leaves and debris and ensure rainwater can flow freely; always use a special roof ladder and do not put any weight on the glass.  Don’t try and take a full bucket of water up with you either to rinse the window!  Instead, use a hose pipe to fill it once you are up the ladder.

If your roof light doesn’t have self-cleaning glass, you could lightly wax the exterior (e.g. car wax) to help protect against rain spots and environmental damage!

Reduce the Need for Cleaning

Frequent washing may wear off any finishes on wooden window frames, so try to dust and buff the window in between soapy washes.  Well maintained windows will need less intervention in the longer term, so try not to let snow and leaves build up on the outside.  To reduce the chance of condensation, roof window experts Roofwindows.co.uk recommend having a heat source underneath the window pane for cleaning and maintenance.

Featured Post

© Copyright 2017 Antonia, All rights Reserved. Written For: Tidylife

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Posted By: Antonia · In: Cleaning, Featured

5 Ways To Remove Superglue
How to Stay Warm at Night in a Cold Bedroom

You’ll Also Love

Natural home made cleaning productsEasy Recipes For Making Your Own Cleaning Products
Vax Blade Cordless UKThe new Vax Blade Cordless 32V Vacuum Cleaner & a Giveaway!
wooden furniture careA Complete Guide to Caring and Maintaining Solid Wood Furniture

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hannah says

    January 9, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    I’ve got windows that I can’t reach too, these are great tips!

    Reply
  2. karen jones says

    January 9, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Great tips. Anything that makes life easier in a busy home is a plus for me. x

    Reply
  3. Fresh Design Blog says

    January 9, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    I’ve not got roof windows, but could definitely do with an extendable cleaning kit to reach high windows. Great tips and it’s so much cheaper than having to use a window cleaner.
    Fresh Design Blog recently posted…Product review: Five drawer rattan storage rackMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Stacey Sheppard says

    January 9, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    I live in a first floor flat. When I first moved in with my husband he couldn’t believe how stupid British windows are as they open outwards. In Poland they open into the room for easy cleaning. Some great tips here though.
    Stacey Sheppard recently posted…Review : Avvolta Kettle & Toaster by De’LonghiMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Geraldine says

    January 9, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    Such a great idea. I’m not sure how our sky light windows have stayed clean. Is there such a thing as self cleaning roof windows? I remember the builder saying something. I obviously wasn’t paying attention but after 8 years they still look good. x
    Geraldine recently posted…A family photo book. How to create memories of fun days out.My Profile

    Reply
  6. Karen Clough says

    January 9, 2017 at 9:27 pm

    Ohhhh I don’t envy this task – at least you’ve found a way to make it easier!
    (My husband is thankfully the one that’s better at cleaning haha!)
    Karen Clough recently posted…What CBeebies Land Taught Me About InteriorsMy Profile

    Reply
  7. cate says

    January 9, 2017 at 10:55 pm

    Great tips, I don’t have roof windows but will know where to come to if I do! X
    cate recently posted…Tidying those wires and creating an uncluttered home with CalligarisMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Karen - Making Spaces says

    January 10, 2017 at 9:30 am

    The new look site is looking good Antonia! Great tips on keeping windows clean. Luckily our window cleaners have those extendable pole thingies so we can even keep our new loft windows clean!x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Hello! I'M ANTONIA I launched Tidylife to provide interior, garden & lifestyle inspiration. Love home decor and budget friendly improvements? Me too! You'll find them all here. Plus decorating, styling & upcycling ideas. I also love to share fitness, fashion & beauty features, so I hope you enjoy visiting Tidylife.

Subscribe to my newsletter

Name

Email


Copyright © 2025 Tidylife · Theme by 17th Avenue

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept All Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT