How To Clean Jalousie Windows: The Best Way vs. The Easiest Way

Jalousie windows have long endured because they have some unique features that make them well suited to life in Hawaii (or Florida or any other semi-tropical place). They allow full ventilation even in stormy driving rains, they create some architectural interest with their strong divisions of light, and generally they create an iconic ambience in any sunroom they grace. However, their one drawback is that they are a serious bummer to clean!

Tip: Never Clean Jalousie Windows in Place!

Each jalousie window is like a complicated mess of tiny sliver windows, so if you try to spray them with windex and wipe them down in place, you’ll end up pushing all the gunk over to the edges where it will get lodged into the clasping mechanism, and over time the edges will get funkier and funkier and funkier.

Removing the panes is the trick…I’ve lived with jalousies for almost 2 decades and I honestly don’t think anyone has a better way to clean jalousie windows than my way. I say this is the “best” way, but it’s not the easiest. For the easiest way to clean jalousie windows, see my zinger at the end of this blog post.

The Best Way to Clean Jalousie Windows

Now for the heinous time-consuming process fun part of cleaning the windows!

Here’s the recipe:

• 1 bathtub or shower
• 1 dollop dishwasher detergent
• 2 large towels laid out on the floor beside the bathtub
• Assorted clean cotton rags (Don’t use paper towels, which are a waste, and leave skanky little fibers all over the place)
• 1 portable speaker playing your favorite tunes
• Coffee or some other pleasurable thing to sip on

 
Directions:

1. Carefully remove jalousie glass from the window – I like to remove and wash 5 at a time.
2. Place the 5 panes in a bathtub filled with warm water and a generous few squirts of dishwashing liquid and soak them.
3. Wipe each piece down with a soft rag or cloth in the water
4. Rinse each pane underwater and lay out on a towel on the floor beside you.
5. When you have all 5 cleaned and on the floor, wipe each one down on both sides with a clean cotton towel and lay it against a piece of furniture for it to further air dry.
6. Carefully pop them back into their holders and voila!

Variations in Technique

• If you don’t have access to a bathtub, I’ve done this successfully in the shower
• Do the technique as above, but do it naked
• Practice mindfulness and concentrate on your breath as the debilitating soul deadening drudgery joy of cleaning passes the time

The Easiest Way to Clean Jalousie Windows

Okay, so the above technique is definitely the best. For the easiest, find a hard working cleaner and show them this blog post and hire them to do the work for you.

What? You Don’t Have Any Jalousie Windows?

That’s a tragedy, please call me and I will help you purchase or sell a Maui house with jalousie windows.  

Liam S. Ball, R(B)
808.280.7809
liam@hawaiilife.com

Here are some interesting houses that feature jalousie windows: