Vinegar or a mineral deposit cleaner for stubborn stains Scraper or razor for stickers, tape, paint, and sap Vacuum Sponge or lint-free cloth Sharp rubber squeegee for drying A few clean, lint-free rags or cloths Large bucket
Stubborn stains and grime can be removed with white vinegar or a mineral deposit cleaner. Either spray the stains with vinegar and let it sit for five minutes before wiping, or clean the area with a sponge that’s wet with the mineral cleaner. To remove tape, paint, and sticky messes, wet the area and use a scraper to remove the tape. Hold the scraper at a 45-degree angle to the glass, and press gently as you move forward underneath the tape. [1] X Research source
For inside windows, use a small brush attachment and vacuum all around the windows. For outside windows, use either a vacuum with a long hose attachment, a portable vacuum, or a pressure washer. [2] X Research source
Use a hose outfitted with a spray nozzle and spray all the outdoor windows to remove dirt, grime, and other buildup.
Equal parts white vinegar and water 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid dishwashing liquid per gallon (3. 8 L) of water Professional window cleaning solution
You can use any motion you like to clean the windows, such as circles, an up and down motion, or a back and forth zig zag. Clean every inch of glass to ensure that no dirt or grime is left behind. [5] X Research source Clean and fully dry one window at a time before moving on to the next.
Overlap each stroke by about an inch (2. 5 cm), and work your way down toward the bottom of the window until the entire surface is dry. When you’re wiping the window, make sure the squeegee stays in contact with the glass during each swipe. It’s important to use a new squeegee with a sharp blade because removing all the water from the window is one of the keys to a streak-free clean. [7] X Research source
Drying excess water won’t help with streaks, but it will prevent mold and water damage around your windows.
Wipe down your squeegee with a dry cloth between each stroke as you dry each window, and in between every window that you dry.
Dirty water will leave dirt and dust deposits on the glass, and this will create streaks.
To make sure the blade keeps contact with the glass, apply gentle pressure to the squeegee as you swipe from one side of the window to the other.
When non-distilled water evaporates from the windows, it can leave behind traces of these elements and minerals that will stay on the glass and leave visible marks.
Do not interrupt your window cleaning when you’re in the middle of cleaning or squeegeeing a window. Once you start cleaning a window, work as quickly as possible to ensure the cleaner doesn’t have time to dry on the glass. [11] X Research source
Glass isn’t actually as smooth as it looks, and is actually pitted. So when you use a cloth to dry windows, you leave different quantities of moisture and cleaner on different parts of the glass, and this leads to streaks. [12] X Research source Squeegees are the best way to dry windows for a streak-free clean because they don’t absorb moisture from one spot and deposit it elsewhere.
First, the newspaper moves dirt, moisture, and cleaning solution around just like an absorbent cloth would. Second, the ink from the newspaper is liable to run and leave dark streaks all over the glass.
It’s much better to apply cleaning solution with a sponge or cloth that’s soaked in your cleaner, because this way you can apply an even layer of cleaner to the entire surface. [14] X Research source
On sunny days, your cleaning product will dry much faster, giving you less time to wipe it off, and increasing the chances that there will be streaks. To prevent this, wait for a cloudy day to clean your windows. [15] X Research source
Not only will the wind dry your cleaning product quickly, but it could also blow dirt and debris onto your freshly cleaned windows.
Fall is one of the best times to clean windows, but you may have to hold out for a dry and calm day. Late spring and early summer are also ideal for window cleaning, but you’ll have to wait for a day that’s not too sunny or rainy.
