Get matched with top window pros in Mount Angel, OR

The best homemade cleaning solution for windows is one gallon of warm, distilled or bottled water mixed with five to ten drops of liquid dish soap. This is what professional window cleaners typically use when they make their cleaning solutions. Using bottled or distilled water will help avoid hard water stains after cleaning, and the soap will cut through grease, smudges, and debris on your glass.

In some cases, you might need a permit for a window replacement, which is hard to get if you’re not a professional contractor. You should probably just hire a window replacement company in the first place because the job is complicated and can be dangerous for the average DIYer. You may not even save any money doing it yourself because contractors purchase materials wholesale.

The type of casement window you have depends on where the hinges are located, the number of sashes, the style, and how the windows open. Single casement windows are popular casement windows that use a handle or crank to open. If you have two casement windows side by side, you likely have double casement windows. 

Windows that swing inward can tip you off to having in-swing casement windows, while windows that open from the bottom and swing outwards are top-hinged. If you can open your windows by pushing them outwards like a door, you may have a type of push-out window.

Storm windows have about the same life span as standard windows—between 20 and 30 years. Vinyl and wood storm windows last longer than aluminum, but they all fall within that life span range. Of course, how long your storm windows last will depend on how much severe weather they see. Direct impacts, in particular, can quickly reduce how long your storm windows last.