The essential cleaning supply is water! However, should you use tap water without any treatment? Usually, tap water is clean enough to use in your housework. However, in some areas of Illinois State, the hardness of water can reach an extremely high level!

Does it mean that you can’t use tap water for cleaning? Not exactly! But using distilled water has many benefits over mineral-filled tap water. Learn here how using distilled water in your chores could benefit you! 

Distilled vs. tap water: What’s the difference?

All tap and bottled water are treated (or purified) to remove contaminants. Tap water is usually safe to use, but it doesn’t mean it’s pure—as it always contains minerals dissolved. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

On the other hand:

Distilled water is also purified, but with a different method. The process is similar to the water cycle. The water first boils into steam. Then, it condensates into liquid again, but with the contaminants left behind.

In other words, distilled water is “purer” than tap water. And this difference increases depending on how “hard” the water is. 

Let’s speak more about the hardness of water.

Hardness of water

Water can be “harder” or “softer,” depending on the number of minerals dissolved in it. As mentioned above, the hardness of water can reach high levels in Illinois. On the other hand, distilled water removes all those minerals found in tap water during the distillation process.

Hard water is not necessarily worse. The main minerals found in hard water (calcium and magnesium) are essential nutrients!

However:

Natural minerals found in hard water might be a drawback for cleaning. Here is how tap water can affect your chores!

Benefits of using distilled water for cleaning

When it comes to cleaning, mineral deposits in tap water can have subtle reactions. Of course, using distilled water for cleaning is not mandatory, but it can benefit you in some specific chores! 

Here are some benefits that you can get with distilled water!

1. Streak-free window cleaning

Mineral deposits in tap water might end up as streaks! If you are using a commercial window cleaner, make sure to rinse the glass with distilled water. Otherwise, you are just replacing the chemical residue of the cleaner with mineral residue in the water!

In the same way, if you are rinsing a glass or a stainless steel surface, use distilled water to avoid streaks! Also, remember to use distilled water in any DIY glass cleaner you make. It will reduce the probability of window streaks! 

2. Soap works better with distilled water

Usually, soap builds less lather in mineral-filled tap water. Soap depends on complex chemical reactions between the soap and the dirt molecules. However, when minerals like calcium are present in the water, they react with soap and reduce its cleaning power!

3. Distilled water can maintain vinegar acidity

Do you like to do your own cleaning products? Then, you might be familiar with all the uses vinegar has for cleaning! Many of the DIY recipes out there involve white vinegar and water. However, hard water is usually alkaline and might not mix well with vinegar.

What does this mean? In a broad sense, you are balancing vinegar’s acidity by mixing it with alkaline water. Vinegar is great for some cleaning chores because it’s acidic, and distilled water can maintain it that way!

Learn more cleaning tips with Illinois Valley Clean Team

Illinois Valley Clean Team is an experienced residential cleaning company in the Illinois Valley area. You can find helpful tips and advice on our blog page. Let us share what we’ve learned with you! 
Or do you need a hand with your cleaning chores? Let Illinois Valley Clean Team clean your home for you! Request an estimate right now!

There’s a beautiful view outside, but you need to wash the windows first!

When was the last time you cleaned your windows? Many internet sites claim that you should wash your windows twice or thrice a year (like this article here.) Maybe now is the time! 

Learn here how to clean windows with zero streaks!

What is the best cleaner for your windows?

Cleaning windows is a bigger challenge than it looks for one reason: window streaks. Why are your windows streaky after cleaning them? Sometimes, it’s dry dirt, but more than often, it’s just cleaning product residue! Keep it in mind while choosing the cleaner!

When it comes to cleaning glass or streaky surfaces, natural is best. DIY cleaners with vinegar and alcohol work because both products evaporate after some minutes—leaving no residue behind. 

On the other hand:

Commercial cleaning products may have excessive soap, ammonia, and other chemicals! Of course, warm soapy water and commercial window cleaners are efficient for washing dirty windows, but the chances of leaving streaks are higher!

Then, what’s the best homemade cleaner for my windows?

Usually, vinegar and water are enough to clean windows. You could add rubbing alcohol to the solution, but it’s better if you use it to spot clean tough stains. 

To make your zero-streak homemade window cleaner, follow these two simple steps:

1. Put one or two cups of warm water in a spraying bottle.
2. Pour white vinegar into the bottle. You can put a tenth of the amount of water or make it a half-and-half solution. The concentration depends on how dirty your windows are!

What is the best way to clean windows without leaving streaks

Now is the time to clean your windows. The first thing to do is choose a cleaning product—either your trusted commercial cleaner or the homemade cleaner mentioned above.

Also, you’ll need at least two microfiber cloths and maybe your vacuum cleaner or duster. 

Ready to begin? Here is how to clean a window! 

Step 1. Dust the entire window (including the frame and sills)

If you spray the solution in a dusty window, you’ll end up with a mess. First, dry-clean all the dust and dirt. Use the vacuum crevice attachment to dust every corner in the window frame. Then, dust or vacuum the window sill and glass.

Step 2. Spray the cleaner throughout the glass

At this point, the window should appear almost clean! However, you need to remove the stains and build-up film in the glass. Spray the cleaner you chose previously, but be careful not to wet the frame. If you are cleaning multiple windows, work with just one at a time.

Step 3. Wipe the cleaner with a lint-free cloth

Wiping a window with a lint-free microfiber cloth is ideal. It will absorb the dirt and excess cleaner. For especially tough stains, dip a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and dab the spot for a few seconds. Never use a razor or scrubbing pad—or you might scratch the glass!

Continue wiping the glass with the microfiber cloth until it appears completely clean. If you use soapy water, give a final rinse with only plain water.

Step 4. Use a clean cloth to dry your window

Just after wiping your window, dry it with a clean and dry cloth. Avoid paper towels that might leave a residue!

Step 5. If streaks appear, rinse the glass with plain water

Window cleaning is more about patience than technique.

After cleaning a window, you need to wait some minutes to see if streaks appear. This part is inevitable! Even the most experienced window cleaners struggle with streaks.

Remember that Illinois’ hardness of water is high. It means that running water has a high amount of minerals—and the very water could be leaving streaks! To remove the streaks, rinse the glass with a microfiber cloth and distilled water. 

Professional window cleaning in Illinois Valley

Do you have enough time to clean your windows? Let the best cleaning company in Illinois Valley clean them for you! Illinois Valley Clean Team offers every service your home needs, including regular cleaning, pressure washing, and window cleaning! 
Get your free quote by clicking here!