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The Messy Test Kitchen: Which common window cleaning method is most effective?

We test it so you don't have to! This week: which popular window cleaning method performs best?

The sun is shining, birds are chirping, flowers are blooming — time to throw open those windows and air out the house.

Those filthy, filthy windows. There must be some sign on them that only kids can see that says “wipe your grubby mitts here.”

Window cleaning is a chore that I don’t get around to all that often. I like to attribute it in part to perfectionism: Sometimes when you clean the windows, you find lint or smears when you’re done. That’s hardly satisfying. (Really, the problem is a mix of busyness and laziness.)

What’s the best way to clean windows without left-behind lint and streaks? Testing time!

In the Messy Test Kitchen (and adjacent Messy Test Living Room) I tried out five popular methods. The Messy Test 3-Year-Old also experimented washing windows with a dried-out (clean) butt wipe. Don’t try that one at home.

I used three or four spritzes of Windex with these four methods: newspaper, paper towels, squeegee, and a low-lint cotton (tea or floursack) towel. Finally, I tested the Norwex Microfiber Window Cloth, a chemical-free alternative.

I rated each method on a 1-to-5 scale (5 being best), considering how well they cleaned, whether they left behind lint or streaks, and anything else notable.

Newspaper (& Windex)
Rating: 2.5
Were the windows clean? Yes. Were they streaky or linty? Not particularly. But if I have to clean the windows and then clean newspaper ink off my hands….

Paper Towels (& Windex)
Rating: 4.5
My mom taught me to spray, scrub with two paper towels, and then buff with a third. In this test it worked perfectly; from time to time I’ve found a streak or bit of lint.

Squeegee (& Windex)
Rating: 1
The squeegee could not remove sticky fingerprints; it left streaks and puddles of Windex that I needed the newspaper, towel, or paper towel to wipe up.

Low-lint Towel (& Windex)
Rating: 4.5
Results were same as with paper towels.

Norwex Microfiber Window Cloth
Rating: 5

I am not a Norwex user. (Thanks to my friendly neighbor who lets me borrow stuff.) Some people have concerns about Norwex products and whether they really can effectively kill bacteria without the use of chemicals. But when it comes to windows and mirrors, I don’t plan to make-out with them. I just want them to look clean.

I followed the instructions from this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHQKdzSPM_0) and found it worked just as advertised. For a particularly grimy window you do need to have two different cloths — one of their all-purpose EnviroCloths, wet, to scrub the grime; and then their window cloth, dry, to buff and shine. But it did clean, lint- and streak-free.

THE RESULTS:

Norwex Microfiber Window Cloth: 5

Paper Towels: 4.5

Low-lint Towels: 4.5

Newspaper: 2.5

Squeegee: 1

Squeegees are fun for 3-year-olds to play with. They can’t clean windows 3-year-olds have touched. Newspapers work but leave behind ink.

Was the difference between paper and cloth towels with Windex and the Norwex big enough to justify investing in Norwex? Only if you feel strongly about the occasional streak or lint particle, or getting away from cleaning chemicals.

Otherwise, it was pretty close to a draw. Just clean the windows and be done with it for … you know, however long.

Let’s keep in touch:

Practical Weight Loss (You CAN lose weight this year!)

By Dawn, Featured, Mom Life

Early in my adult life I worked as a personal trainer. I had overcome weight struggles myself and wanted to help others with practical weight loss.

I was young, naive and idealistic. I was also SINGLE, had DISPOSABLE INCOME, was WITHOUT CHILDREN, and without anything else that placed large demands on my time (a stressful career, caring for a loved one, etc.).

So basically, I was in an ideal position to manage my weight by eating healthy and being active (which we all know by now is the key to success), and that’s what I did. I thought this was practical weight loss and I wanted others to do the same…~~just like me~~ exactly like me!

Fast forward almost 10 years and now I can actually understand what my clients were battling. (I’d be such a better trainer now!) With a family, a job, anda post child-bearing body I still don’t recognize in the mirror…weight loss is daunting and at times seems impossible.

But I have been able to achieve it, this is how I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight when my baby turned 6-months WITHOUT exercising or eating only healthy foods.

To help explain where I am coming from, let me introduce you to two people:

Meet Louise, she was 40 or so and was tired of being embarrassed when her sons would bring friends home from college. She decided to do the Body for Life program, and the day she came for her personal training consultation, she was already sitting in my office when I arrived to work.

She had a little cooler with her snacks and water for the day and when I mentioned a food journal, she produced one on the spot. After visiting for a little while it was clear that she was investing in time with me to accelerate her weight loss, not to facilitate it.

Within 3 months she had shed 50 pounds and wasn’t looking back. Louise was one of my only successes as a trainer because: She was focused on weight loss, in fact she had placed so much value on it, that she was funneling ALOT of energy towards planning her meals and snacks, working out and learning all that she could about nutrition and exercise. She was the poster child for success.

Meet Liv, she was a stay at home mom of two adorable little kids. She would arrive late most days, (I can still see the exasperated look on her face as she came in the door, “I’ll be just one minute” as she hurried over to the children’s check in) and while she dressed the part, spent a lot of money on her gym membership and my services, outside of the gym, her life was busy and chaotic. Her kids were involved in numerous activities and her husband had a demanding job and wasn’t able to offer her much reprieve.

In the end, our sessions together became more of time for her to unload and I rarely brought up her eating habits because it only brought frustration and shame. She never lost a pound, BUT THAT WAS OK…Viv’s energy was being funneled toward her family and I was glad to be a friend to her.

So who can you relate to? Let me tell you, Liv and I would have some good laughs now about marriage, parenthood and weight loss!

And, even though you may not be in a place right now to devote massive amounts of energy to weight loss, like Louise, I do believe there are a few things that you can do to shed a few pounds without exercising or changing what you eat, here is what I suggest:

PRACTICAL WEIGHT LOSS STEPS

1a. Realize you aren’t alone.

I see what everyone pins on pinterest. Fitness tips and “secrets,” smoothies and detox recipes… the truth is: I click on those skinny, toned, tan girls, too, I mean if they really did find a secret, I want to know about it! The other truth is: MOST (the majority, almost ALL) of the people I know struggle with their weight and would like to drop at least a few pounds (even the ones who I would consider “skinny”!)…and many have been struggling for years, if not decades. You are not alone in this.

1b. Please, please, PLEASE stop beating yourself up.

Weight loss is difficult. It is very personal and most often there is emotional pain associated with it. Be kind to yourself! If you mess up, IT’S OK…we all do! And even if you never lose a pound, you ARE STILL LOVED. Even weight loss icon Jenny Craig says this: “Self-love is the only weight-loss aid that really works in the long run.” Too bad she couldn’t find a way to package that!

2. THE KEY–> Eat a little less.

This is how I have lost weight after my third. Weight loss is not easy, but it is simple:

eat more = gain weight | eat the same = maintain weight | EAT LESS = LOSE WEIGHT

Of course I want to be healthy, and I want my family to be healthy, but right now, during this season, we eat healthy about 50% of the time and the other 50% is whatever is convenient (while I would like to improve that ratio down the road, this is where we are at right now–my former personal trainer self would be horrified!). So until you are in a place where you can dedicate more energy to preparing healthy meals, just eat LESS of what you are already eating.

3. Focus on two good meals a day.

Now again, this is just what has worked for me, but I cut out snacks and now, most days, just focus on getting in two good meals. For me, snacks were just an opportunity to overeat. By eating two meals (of REAL, filling food–a lean cuisine frozen meal won’t cut it here), I never feel deprived because I eat good tasting food at those two meals. (We do need to realize, though, that this can leave us vulnerable at times if you encounter large amounts of food (like at a party or buffet) read more about that here in the FAQ.)

4. Keep the junk out of reach. No really.

(next to #2, this has been the biggest key to my success) I don’t know about you, but if there is candy, cookies, chips, ice cream, frosting, animal crackers, or anything of the sorts in the house I WILL EAT IT. Oh not all at once, one here, a handful there, a little more here. And if something happens where I get my feelings hurt, I will likely eat more because I feel justified. Yuck. :(

At first, I didn’t think we could clear out the house of this stuff because I didn’t think it was fair to my husband, I was the one wanting to make these changes, not him, and I should have the self control to keep from eating it. But after this third baby I finally reached the point where I said, nope, it all has to go. I told him that if he wanted to keep snacks in his truck for his lunch or other times, that he could, but asked that we no longer keep it in the house. The funny part? After a couple months of this he is glad that it is gone, too.

5. Don’t buy new shoes, a gym membership or a bunch of healthy food.

In my experience, unless you are ready to make an all out commitment like Louise, these just bring shame, guilt and remorse when they go unused. First, work on developing some new habits, and then, reward yourself with these things.

Or… 6. Acknowledge that now isn’t the right time…

Maybe you’re caring for a loved one, adjusting to the routines of a new school year, trying to keep your head above water with work and family, going back to school, basically dedicating all of your energy elsewhere right now…then please give yourself permission to not worry about losing weight right now.

Most importantly, know that YOU ARE LOVED, and YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. And that just like winning the lottery won’t bring happiness, being skinny won’t either. Believing the truth that you are loved and investing in meaningful relationships with your spouse, friends and family, now that is a recipe for happiness :)

Further Reading on this topic: I know what you’re thinking “I bet she’s one of those naturally skinny people!” I answer that and other questions here –> FAQ, plus, you’ll find a few tips and little known facts about weight loss HERE

Revitalizing Your Marriage: Part 1

By Jim, Featured, Healthy Relationships

Change is in the air! We see it all over in nature as the the trees let go of the old to make eventual room for the new. This truth of nature got me thinking about what do I need to let go of so that my relationships can become revitalized.

The first thing that I need to work on letting go is sarcasm. This little word is packed with a nasty punch. The word sarcasm is from a Greek word, and it literally means “to tear the flesh off.” A relationship that uses sarcasm will not thrive because it is tough to grow when the flesh keeps getting torn off.

I have worked with many couples and parents who have seen the devastation that this habit can bring to a relationship. I remember one husband who I was working with told me: “Jim, you’ll kill me if I can’t use sarcasm…its who I am!”

I told him what I need to tell myself at times: “you weren’t born using sarcasm, it is a learned behavior; so the good news is you can let go of this old behavior and learn communication behaviors that are better for your relationships.”

He listened to me and we worked on him letting go of sarcasm. He was open to this change, and it demanded that he listen to his wife if she said the key phrase “I just heard sarcasm, could I have a different response?” It didn’t heal over night, and we had to go through a little winter time of change. But they made steady progress as he learned how to drop this old habit in order to develop a new one. As he let go of sarcasm his wife really started to appreciate it and their marriage got back on the track of new life that God desired for them.

How about you? Are there any sarcastic responses hat you need to drop in your relationships? If there are please give it some serious thought and prayer. If you are wondering about it, ask your loved one straight up and they will tell you if sarcasm is an issue. If it is an issue take time to set up new routines so that new life-giving habits can be developed.

May God deeply bless your fall season as you pray about dropping some old behaviors in order to bring about new, life–giving habits in your relationships. Peace.

To read part two of revitalizing your marriage, click here! (It’s all about what we HEAR our partner saying :)

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