The winter garden is a dream of many homeowners because it gives us the feeling of sitting on the terrace even in winter and can also provide winter quarters for one or two plants. However, maintenance obviously also involves work. You should carry out a basic cleaning of the glazing twice a year so that, firstly, stubborn dirt cannot accumulate over a long period of time. Secondly, this also extends the lifespan of the materials. Here we summarize how you can clean the winter garden step by step. This makes window cleaning a complete success!
More important than often assumed: When should you clean the winter garden roof etc.?
You probably already know what they areWindow of the houseregards. This is no less important in the winter garden. Of course, the dirt is easier to see in the sun, so you can wipe it again more easily. BUT: Sunshine means heat and that in turn causes the water to dry faster. This means you don't have enough time to clean streak-free, but on the contrary - the whole thing actually leads to streaks particularly quickly. But that's not all, because it shouldn't be too cold for the same reasons. A cloudy, rain-free day with temperatures above freezing is therefore optimal.
Cleaning the winter garden: You should prepare this beforehand
In order to be able to work consistently once you have started, it is worthto provide everything necessary. The most important thing is to clean the outside of the winter garden, because that's where most dirt naturally collects, especially on the roof. Inside, you can treat your “bonus room” like a normal interior: simply clean the windows as usual and remove dust and streaks. If you feel like it, you can also do the same cleaning as outside. You need:
- Washing brush with telescopic arm and squeegee attachment (since you will be cleaning your winter garden regularly, it is worth investing in this practical tool)
- Cleaning products, preferably homemade from natural ingredients such as dishwashing liquid and water
- Microfiber cloth (another dry cloth is also suitable)
- Garden hose (including water connection of course)
- stable ladder to reach the higher areas
- Gardening gloves
1. If the glazing has a rain gutter
Not every winter garden has a rain gutter, but if it does, you can assume that dirt will collect in it over time. In most cases, not so much that it needs to be cleaned twice a year. However, it is still worth taking a look every time you clean the winter garden and cleaning it if necessary. To do this, use your hands to remove coarse dirt such as leaves or nests (don't forget to wear gloves) or rinse it out with the water hose.
2. Remove coarse dirt from all corners
Cobwebs, dust and fine soil collect quite quickly on the outside. Start with them so that you don't spread them around later when cleaning the glass and make your job more difficult. Brush away such dirt with a brush that has the softest possible bristles. Don’t forget the roof either.
3. Rinse the surfaces
Now you can rinse off any residue with the garden hose before you start scrubbing the glass surfaces. You can also make the jet a little stronger for this purpose. Don't forget to rinse the skylights too.
4. Clean the winter garden with a brush and window cleaning agent
In any case, you will get cheaper if you prepare the cleaning agent for cleaning yourself. We havein this articleWe've put together some recipes for you to choose from. These are also not harmful to the environment. Also consider what kind of material your winter garden is made of. For example, aluminum profiles do not necessarily tolerate agents that are harmless to PVC and vice versa.
Dip your brush into the prepared agent. Warm water is definitely recommended as it is more likely to avoid streaks than cold water. Brush over the conservatory windows to clean them thoroughly. Also scrub corners and edges and be particularly thorough when cleaning the conservatory roof, as dirt can be extremely stubborn there.
5. Final steps: Wash and dry
Rinse everything off one last time. Then it's time to dry. To do this, remove the remaining moisture with the squeegee. You pull each stroke from top to bottom without interruption and either vertically or horizontally so that no water lines remain. Also, dry the squeegee after each stroke, otherwise it could leave water lines and drips on the already dry areas.
After each pane of glass has dried, wipe any drops of water dry with the microfiber cloth so that they do not leave stains. Then you are finished and can clean your winter garden again in six months.
You can find out how to get yellowed window frames white againread here.