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Saturday, April 6, 2013

Frustrating

I am frustrated this morning. Oops, it is already 12:05 pm. When I sat down to write here it was still morning. I have spent quite a bit of time looking in my picture folders for one or two to add to this post, but had no luck finding what I was thinking about. For some reason, some pictures have been put in different places on the computer and I can never seem to find them back. Any suggestions as to how I can move them back into my main picture folder?
 
So, unless I find what I want later, this post will be picture-less.
 
I haven't been blogging much lately as I have been in a funk. I haven't been doing much, period. So how do you write about a very boring life? My brain has been a bit foggy anyway, so have had a hard time thinking of anything to write about. Other bloggers are so good at having set themes for each day of the week. Maybe I need to spend more time thinking up some themes so I can do something similar? Maybe I just need to get a life! Why would anyone want to read about me doing nothing every day? Could this just be the winter doldrums? It IS spring, after all. But it is hard to tell that by the weather patterns so far.
 
I like to look out my windows and watch the birds and squirrels, and sometimes the neighbors. <grin> But the windows are so grimy from the long winter, so I am hoping for some warm weather to coincide with a good energy day, so that I can get outside and wash those windows. It is not a job I really love, but I love the clean windows so I will have to get out there and do it. It is a tedious project with this house. All but one of the windows have combination storm windows outside. I hate them! One good thing, this is a one story house and it is a small house. Outside I can't q . u . i . t . e reach all the way to the top of the window when standing on the ground, no matter how much I stretch.  I am 5'8" so you can't call me petite. Because of my bad knees I can't climb a ladder. So what can I do?
 
I have a long handled window washer. It has one side that is like folded Handi-Wipes. Some come with more of a sponge type thing, sort of like a floor mop but without the thing that squeezes the water out. Opposite that is a squeegee. I go out with a bucket of soapy water and that mop/squeegee thing and first wash the top half of the window, then wipe the squeegee with a rag and squeegee the window. It doesn't do the perfect job, but it does work. I will do that with all the windows around the house, not touching the bottom half of the windows since there is screen there. The outside is done! Next I go inside, raise the bottom of the window, remove the bottom glass part of the storm window and clean both sides of that. If they are really dirty I wash them first with soapy water, then use Windex and shine with either paper towel or old newspaper. The newspaper works really well, and  is free.
 
This year, when I have used the last of the Windex I have on hand, I plan to try the homemade version that so many bloggers swear by. I have  seen it on Pinterest too. There are different mixes out there, but this is the one I thought I would try:
 
2 c. water
1/2 c. white vinegar
1/4 c. rubbing alcohol
 
Mix and put in spray bottle.
 
Then I wash out the sills in between the windows. If I am feeling energetic I will get out my hand steamer and steam clean as it gets in the cracks and narrow spaces a little better. An old toothbrush does a decent job as well. I also wipe off the screens with a wet rag or sponge. Then the storm window goes back in, the window closed, and then I Windex the interior windows and I am finished.
 
Some of you observant people might have noticed that I did not clean the outside of the interior windows, nor the inside of the top half of the storm window. Good grief! How much energy do you think I have??? If I were younger, slimmer, had good knees and back, and had lots of energy, that would be done every time as well. (maybe) A perfectionist I will never be! Really, how dirty can those parts get? They are not exposed to the elements. If they do get really bad I will attempt to clean them, but that means having to go outside again, and moving windows up and down. That really works better as a two person job, and I am not two people. I usually have to do windows room by room, with one room per day, or sometimes per week.
 
If I can get myself on the ball, when I finally get around to washing windows I will try to take some pictures.
 
Well, this was not what I had planned to write when I started! I do have something else to tell you about, but will do that in another post after I eat some lunch, unless I get sidetracked again.


4 comments:

  1. You can come clean my windows too! It is a chore that I hate!!!

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    1. I will make a deal with you, Susan. I will come and help you clean windows providing you come here and help me with mine. It goes much faster with two (or more).

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  2. I use a bucket of soapy water and a broom to clean the outside ... once a year. I rinse with a squirt of the hose. Then I totally ignore the ouside till next time. I have a policy ... I tell my visitors, if you see something that needs cleaning, you are welcome to do it yourself. No one ever complains. With trains, trucks and dust storms here, they get grotty again as soon as they've been done. I've learnt to live with it and only do it so it doesn't get 'baked on'. Happy cleaning Lorita, Sue

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    Replies
    1. I would do the hose, too, but our water leaves too many spots that are impossible to remove if left on. I tried the Outdoor Windex that attaches to a hose and supposed to rinse clean and no need to dry. But it didn't work well at all with our water, and the windows did not get very clean. The dirty windows don't bother me unless I want to see out of them. LOL I know what you mean about them getting 'grotty' again right after they have been done. It is bound to rain here the next day and will be all spotted again. But at least they would be 'clean' spots.

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