Month: April 2016

The Prime Time to Wash away Your Pollen Problem

wash-away-pesky-pollen-janssen-glass-doors-windows-spring-cleaning

Springtime brings loads of pollen and dust in the air, leaving that pesky green and yellow film on your outdoor glass and furniture. Many feel the urge to clean these surfaces the moment they start seeing green, but depending on the time of year, cleaning may not be worth it.

Knowing when pollen season starts and ends in your area can save you time and help you avoid useless cleaning. No one needs to waste time cleaning a mess that will reappear the next day, which is why Janssen Glass is explaining the best time to clean pesky pollen and when to wait it out.

 

Pollen Primetime

In general, pollen season typically lasts from early spring to late autumn, but different plants release pollen at different times.

  • Tree Pollen is the first to fall, starting mid-March and continuing until mid-May.
  • Grass Pollen is next, arriving in mid-May and staying into July.
  • Weed Pollen is the last pollen to fall, from the end of June all the way to September.

Helpful Tip: Depending on where you are located, find out which types of pollen are worse in your area to decide on optimal cleaning times.

 

To Clean or Not To Clean

With steady pollen arriving all spring and summer long,  choosing when to deep clean your windows and outdoor surfaces can feel like a guessing game. However, if you wait all season long to clean, built-up pollen can be a pain to power through. In some cases, pollen buildup can get so bad that it may even require professional cleaning to completely eliminate.

To avoid this issue, we suggest staying on top of pollen problems by cleaning these outdoor surfaces once every month, followed by a deep clean in early September. If the pollen is light, it may be enough to spray it down with a hose, followed by a wipe down with your preferred glass cleaner. However, some pollens are stickier than others and may require more work to remove. For those pesky pollens, check out these alternative home solutions that can make cleaning your windows a breeze.

Pollen season doesn’t have to be a bother. Plan ahead with these tips and regular upkeep to spend less time worrying about pollen, and more time enjoying springtime.

Read more glass cleaning tips on our blog, here. Looking for help with your home’s glass? Call Janssen Glass & Door for all your glass and mirror needs at (913) 677-5727.

 

Is Your Shower Making You Sick?

woman-cleaning-mold-shower-janssen-glass-door

Showers are meant to cleanse away everyday grime, not add to it! The shower is the perfect place for mold to make its mark, and many people think a small amount of mildew won’t make a difference, but in reality it can make you sick, especially if you are allergic.

Here are a few ways the professionals at Janssen Glass & Door suggest getting rid of this pesky fungus.

Hot Water + Soap + Baking Soda

This solution can be used for mild cases of mold in your shower. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • One teaspoon of liquid soap
  • One cup of baking soda
  • Enough hot water to form a paste

Directions: Spread this solution where mold is present and let it sit for an hour or two. After sitting, rinse the area and repeat if necessary.

Helpful Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil to your mix reduce the moldy odor.

 

Bleach + Water

This solution is for more stubborn, matured mold. Bleach is good for this because it doesn’t just remove mold, it kills it.

  • Spray bottle
  • Gloves
  • Scrub brush
  • 1 part bleach
  • 2 parts water

Directions: Mix this solution together and spray the moldy area with solution. Let it dry completely and then spray the area a second time, this time scrubbing the area with a brush. After that, rinse and repeat until mold is gone.

Related Read: How to Clean Shower Door Tracks

 

Mild White Vinegar

This is a great way to not only remove existing mold, but to prevent it from coming back. Vinegar reportedly kills 82% of mold species, so spraying shower surfaces with vinegar on a regular basis will make it very hard for mold to come back.

  • Spray bottle
  • Mild white vinegar
  • Towel

Directions: Put the undiluted vinegar into the spray bottle and spray moldy surfaces. Let this sit for an hour and then wipe the area clean with hot water, and dry the surface after.

Helpful Tip: Hydrogen peroxide is also commonly used to clean tough shower stains, but be careful because it can cause some shower surfaces to fade.

 

Other Useful Tips

After going through the trouble of cleaning your shower, prevent mold from coming back with these helpful tips:

  • Leave the lights on! After showering, leave the lights on for about fifteen minutes. Light helps reduce the growth of mold spores, so leaving the blinds open or leaving the lights on for a little can do wonders for maintaining a clean bathroom.
  • Air it out. It may help to crack a window or turn on your ceiling fan while showering. This will prevent condensation and help eliminate humidity for mold to grow in.  
  • Wipe it down. Make sure to wipe down your shower if there are areas that tend to stay wet long after the shower is used.
  • If it can’t be cleaned, it may be time to replace it. Stubborn mold and other shower messes may be too bad to fix yourself. If that’s the case, it may be time to re-grout or caulk your shower.

Related Read: Tips Every Homeowner Should Know When It Comes to Cleaning Their Shower Door

Call us today at (913) 677-5727 or (816) 472-5330 for more glass shower door tips or to install your new custom glass shower doors with Janssen Glass & Door.