Why does newspaper clean windows so well

Newspaper is a very dense material. It is made from soft fibers that are very tightly packed together; it is not abrasive and will not scratch or pit glass. In the past newspapers were a part of daily life and everyone got the newspaper daily. So using soft newspaper was a cheap and easy way to get cleaner windows without the hassle of rags.

When paper towels became common household items people tried using paper towels to clean windows. But paper towels were more expensive than newspaper.

And paper towels have jagged fibers that are great for catching liquid but also can cause small scratches or pits on glass. So using newspaper remained the favored method of cleaning windows.

Sometimes the ink would run when the newspaper got wet but that was a small problem compared to the risks of using rags or the cost of paper towels. Print newspapers have become obsolete thanks to the Internet. The homeowners that still got the newspaper on a regular basis had to pay higher prices for subscriptions. The higher cost of subscriptions made it not very cost effective to use newspaper to clean windows.

Ultimately, the use of newspaper to clear home or office windows will depend on you. Comparing the two results and seeing if newspaper provides you with the results you want costs nothing more than your time. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Window Washing Blog. Pros of Using Newspaper to Clean Glass Windows: Save a few bucks If you want to live as frugal as possible or to tuck a few bucks away for a rainy day, the cost of newspaper is minimal at best.

Easily Available The worse feeling is when you head to the store only to find the item you needed is sold out.

Scrub Away with Ink Interestingly, window cleaning contractors believe that the ink on newspaper can help scrub away dust, dirt and small stains without harming the glass. Disposable and Recyclable Unlike clothes that require rewashing, newspaper can go right into the trash or—better yet—go into the recycling bin. Ink Bleeds Many times when you use newspaper to wash glass, you will notice some black or perhaps other color smudges appearing on your fingers or under your nails. Spray window with distilled water, use waffle weave micro fiber cloth and wipe down window, flip cloth over and buff to perfection.

Regardless of which step of this process you are doing, make sure you are getting all corners and nuances of window for true perfection.

I have told you what I think the best is, but the "best" of anything will ultimately come down to the capabilities of the window cleaner as well as the user experience. Most window cleaners will work. The better question will be more about other factors you may not have considered:. While many people think using newspaper to clean widows is a great method, I personally think it is a horrid idea.

Not because you can't get newspapers to work to clean windows, but he user experience will prove anything but friendly when compared to a quality micro-fiber cloth.

But you could also use the slightly used handkerchief from your grandfather's pocket, but I don't recommend either. Using newspaper to clean windows is a really bad idea despite any compelling argument you have read about this method. Yes, newspaper is very absorbent. Yes, newspaper is rough and acts like a polishing cloth, but all these attributes can be had with a quality micro-fiber cloth.

And with the digital age we now live in; newspaper is becoming harder and harder to actually find. And this holds true with any type of window cleaner you choose, just as it would work to use newspaper to clean windows. House windows are almost identical to car windows.

The real challenge is cleaning glass in general. This could be a mirror, a china cabinet, glass coffee table, etc. Cleaning glass in the form of windows is especially difficult since you can look through them. But regardless of the glass cleaner and method you choose, you can in fact clean house windows using the same techniques as cleaning car windows. This is where I would never recommend using newspaper to clean windows. But with that said; modern day window tint after market window tint is incredibly durable than ever before.

While using newspaper to clean tinted windows would have possibly scratched the window tint film in the past, it would be unlikely that using newspaper to clean windows that have after market tint on them would truly represent a problem. But so is ammonia. So is a thousand other chemicals you could use to clean windows with. Whether you use vinegar or ammonia, you will need to create a window cleaning solution by mixing water with either of these chemicals.

You can use very little ammonia or vinegar to mix with water to create a very effective window cleaner. But if these home made window cleaners were so effective, you likely wouldn't be here in the first place. One way to find out whether the ink type of your newspaper is soy-based is to look for a special soy ink seal. Another way to learn the ink type is to test it.

Hold a newspaper page between your index finger and your thumb. Do this for about a minute or longer. After doing this if your fingers are stained, this means that the newspaper is printed in petroleum-based ink. Newspapers printed in soy ink are the best option for window cleaning. Pick up a soft type of newspaper for your cleaning needs. If you choose to clean with newspaper , you should prepare a cleaning solution to achieve perfect cleaning result.

Use a spray bottle and fill it with the mixture. As you may already know, vinegar solution have great cleaning properties when it comes to window cleaning. Spray the window you want to clean and use a newspaper.

Clean with a newspaper in the same way as you will with a standard towel or rag. Paper towels are convenient household items for cleaning different types of dirt and smears, but they are more expensive than newspaper.

Also, cleaning towels that are made of paper have jagged fibers. This fact makes them perfect for absorbing liquids. But they can create tiny pits or scratches on a window surface when used for window cleaning. Newspaper is really cheap and universal item that can help you get streak-free windows and the effect can be even compared to this achieved by professional cleaning products. You do not need to go to home stores and search for cleaning products. Newspapers are readily available and easy to find.

We live in a modern world and they way we receive information has changed. One big reason for this is the birth of the internet.