Windows are a great way to let light into your home and show off the interior. However, if you have dirty windows, it is hard to enjoy them as much as you want. Here are some tips on how to clean your windows without streaking:
- Spray glass cleaner onto one side of the window pane and squeegee until dry; repeat for another side of the window.
- Use a dry washcloth soaked in water to wipe away any remaining streaks from the first round of cleaning.
- Apply the second layer of glass cleaner and then squeegee again; this should leave no streaks at all.
- Use a cotton towel (old t-shirts or socks work great) to dry the window after cleaning.
- Apply silicone spray on the door track and frames, but not directly onto the glass itself; this will make it much easier to open/close your windows later.
- Use a squeegee or cloth-covered sponge with long rubber fingers to wipe window panes in one direction only for streakless results (the sponge will catch any drips).
- The squeegee blade should be at a 45-degree angle to the window pane. Careful with this technique! The rubber fingers of a dry cloth-covered sponge can also clean windows without leaving streaks.
- Don’t forget about your patio doors and blinds, too! These are often overlooked when cleaning home windows.
- Don’t forget to clean the tracks, too! Turn on your ceiling fans before you leave the room. The fan will dry any water drops that have accumulated while cleaning and prevent them from leaving streaks.
How not to clean your windows:
- Do not leave any water on the windowpane after cleaning.
- Never squeegee in a circular motion; this will lead to streaking.
- Never use paper towels to clean windows; the tiny pieces of paper will leave minute scratches.
- Do not clean windows on a sunny day; these can lead to streaking.
- Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners, even if they promise streakless results. They will cause more harm than good!
- Never dry windows with paper towels or newspaper as this leads to scratching and may leave ink streaks behind.
- Rubbing alcohol is not recommended for cleaning windows as it can leave a residue.
- Do not use window washing fluids that advertise streak-free results; they may contain ammonia and cause streaking.
- Please do not clean windows in the sun or on a hot day; this leads to drying too quickly, so water drops dry before you have time to squeegee them away.
- Do not clean windows when the temperature is below freezing; this can lead to cracks in glass or window damage if ice forms and then expands while cleaning.
- Don’t forget to wipe blinds, too! Use a medium bristled brush for hard-to-reach spots like between slats on vertical blinds.
