Using a lint-free paper towel or microfiber cloth, wipe your windows from top to bottom. If you see any streaks, give them another wipe until the glass is clear.
Years spent as regular towels have put those rags through a lot, meaning they could leave lint behind or be less absorbent. Consider using rags for an initial clean rather than the final polish to keep the glass streak-free. You should also set aside rags specifically for cleaning windows.
A squeegee. Squeegees take a little more work to get used to than cloth or paper, but the resulting difference is well worth it. On top of that, cleaning windows with a squeegee takes a fraction of the time.
You can use a solution of dish soap and hot water, then scrub gently with a sponge. Hose down with clean water. Then use a hose to get rid stains and debris. You may have to use a ladder to reach windows on the second level.
Use a cleaning solution: Like Glass-Rite cleaner! Or we also recommend a simple solution of equal parts vinegar and water, a Windex solution in water is good also. Do not use glass cleaners that are ammonia or alcohol based. They may leave streaks or make a film that attracts moisture or dust.
Microfiber cloths are the agreed upon winners when it comes to glass cleaning. These cloths made of polyester and polyamides are great for sensitive surfaces like glass. They attract lint and dust, and soak up your window cleaning product to leave your windows with that professional-quality finish.
Odd though it might seem, wiping down glass with newspaper not only helps produce streak-free glass, but also a lovely, bright shine! Be sure to spray your cleaning product on the newspaper or cloth rather than directly on the mirror. This will prevent the cleaner from dripping into the frame and possibly corroding it.
More environmentally-friendly than disposable paper towels, a microfiber cloth has numerous other benefits that make it an ideal alternative for cleaning windows and surfaces: Absorbency: A microfiber cleaning cloth absorbs over six times its weight in water and when used dry, collects fine dust through static charge.
A big problem is the evaporation rate. If you're cleaning your windows on a warm sunny day, the liquid part of the solution evaporates quickly and leaves behind a residue that appears as streaks. On the other hand, if you don't entirely remove the liquid you can also be left with a streaky window.
Window cleaning professionals suggest avoiding window washing on very sunny days or at a time when a window is in direct sunlight, as the heat may cause the glass to dry too quickly and cause smears.
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn. Sweep away dirt: Using a broom, sweep away the cobwebs and debris from the windows and sills.
Choose lint-free
Microfiber or other lint-free towels won't leave behind little specks on glass surfaces. Newspaper or old, clean cotton diapers are other great options.
Microfiber will not scratch glass.
The combination of dish soap and vinegar is highly effective for a few different reasons. They're both excellent at breaking down tough grease and grime, but vinegar alone will simply run off of most surfaces, and dish soap is too thick to use on its own.
Mix one part distilled vinegar to 10 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Wipe down the window with a a soft, clean, lint-free microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove dust before you spray your solution, then spray the entire surface.
Professional window cleaners try to clean when temperatures are between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (10-23 C). These temperatures are most common during spring and autumn seasons, making those the best times for outdoor window cleaning.
Paper towels are typically treated for absorbency, which makes them ideal for spills, but awful for glass cleaning. Instead, substitute your paper towels for something more practical, like actual cloth. Lint-free cotton cloths, like microfiber cloths are great options for glass cleaners.
A waffle weave, zero lint microfibre cloth is best for glass cleaning. A good example is the Stjarngloss Rutig Waffle Glass Cloth or the Gtechniq MF5 Power Glass Cloth. Whichever brand you end up using it is important to maintain your glass cloth by using a good quality microfibre cleaner.
If you must use paper towels, go with untreated towels such as SCOTT Glass Towels. Skip anything touting its absorbency.
Instead of using standard cleaning products, get a bucket of water and mix it with dishwashing detergent or vinegar. Apply this cleaning solution to the glass using a long window scrubber. Grab a squeegee and pull its blade over the glass in a reverse “S” pattern.
If streaky windows are a big issue in your home, try cleaning them with vinegar and warm water, which should leave them sparkling and streak-free. Another option is wiping them down with a newspaper, which cuts down on streaks and produces maximum shine.
Because microfiber is so absorbent, it is perfect on windows and surfaces that tend to streak. Since these towels can hold up to 7x their own weight in liquid, there is nothing left to streak the surface. This also makes it better than paper towels when cleaning up spills.