Wildfire smoke and your windows
Smoke leaves ash and soot on glass and screens. How to clean it off without scratching the glass or breathing it in, and when to wait.
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Pressure washing or soft washing?
Using the wrong one on siding is one of the most expensive mistakes in outdoor cleaning.
Pressure washing uses the force of the water to remove what is stuck. It is right for concrete, brick, pavers and stone: surfaces that are hard, solid and do not mind being hit.
Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at low pressure. The solution does the work and the water just rinses. It is right for siding, painted wood, stucco, roofing and anything with a seam that water can be driven behind.
Why it matters. A pressure washer aimed at vinyl siding can drive water up behind it and into the wall, where it stays. The siding looks great. The problem shows up months later, and nobody connects the two.
Never on windows. Andersen, Marvin and Milgard all say not to pressure wash windows or use high-pressure hoses on them.
Sources
- How to clean windows — Andersen Windows
- Care and maintenance — Marvin
- Care and maintenance guide — Milgard
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