While you might spare your windows from some random chemicals often present in regular water, using distilled water does not eliminate the water spot issue. If you're cleaning your windows yourself and you want to use a fancy water for your final rinse, we recommend using deionized water over distilled water.
You can also make an all-natural window cleaning solution using a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Adding a touch of liquid soap to the vinegar solution will help remove any streak-causing wax left on the window from commercial cleaners used in the past.
The best temperature for washing windows is between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is the right viscosity at this temperature, and the detergent will mix easily. In addition, there is less risk of the water freezing or drying too quickly.
The most common professional window cleaning solution recipe is filtered or distilled water and dish soap. Just a few spoonfuls of dish soap is all that's needed to create foam for gliding and to help break up any grease and dirt on the glass during cleaning.
Combine two parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle and you'll be all set with a homemade window cleaner. You can also combine warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap if you prefer. Invest in a glass spray bottle to mix up your formula.
That is not to say, however, that perfect results are not possible with cold water. Thousands of window cleaners achieve top-notch results using cold water every day. But hot water is able to get perfect results faster and with less effort.
Use old newspapers to prevent streaks
This texture will remove any grease left over by your solution. However, this will also guarantee the streak-free finish you may desire. 'Once cleaned, rub crumpled newspaper in circular motions to absorb any leftover cleaning flue and leave your window streak-free,' they explain.
While this method works for some jobs, it's not a universal way to do your cleaning. In the case of windows, tap water is one of the worst things you can put on glass – much to the homeowner's surprise!
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.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”
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.
Squeegee the windows
The dry edge creates the perfect surface to get a good start and you don't have to be up against the window edge and causing missed spots. There is little to no cleaning up leftover drips from the squeegee when you use this method making it much faster.
Vinegar removes film from glass surfaces and leaves windows streak-free. Use one part white vinegar to one part water. Add a squirt of washing-up liquid if windows are grubby. If windows are really dirty or greasy, add two tablespoons of household ammonia to a gallon of water and rinse with a vinegar solution.
If you are trying to clean windows that are higher up and harder to reach, consider using a telescoping rod that has a mop attachment on the end. This cleaning method is one of the safest ways to clean through tough-to-reach windows because you don't have to leave the ground.
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.
This has to do with the evaporation rate—if your cleaning solution evaporates before you have time to wipe it off, it will leave a mark. Alcohol- and ammonia-based cleaners evaporate more quickly than vinegar, but any window cleaner can leave streaks if it isn't removed fast enough.
What comes from your tap is "hard water," meaning it contains minerals. When it dries, those minerals often leave water marks and spots on some types of fabric and glass. Since distilled water is pure, it doesn't leave residue the way tap water can.
No matter what type of glass you're cleaning, follow these universal tips: Use soap and water, commercial glass cleaner, or a mixture of one part white vinegar and four parts water (preferably distilled water).
Hot water reduces the drying period and leaves far less streaks on glass surfaces. Hot water is perfect to use in freezing temperatures and also prevents the water pump from freezing. At the end of the day it's all about cleaning faster and better.
Dish Soap and Water
Dish soap is perfect for cleaning windows with residue and buildup, and you only need a few drops of dish soap to get the job done. If you're cleaning inside windows, use a spray bottle and if you're washing exterior windows, use a bucket. Here's all you'll need: 16 oz hot distilled water.
Both a washing and a cleaning should leave you with streak-free glass, but a washing is a quick service that isn't as thorough. Window washing usually involves spraying on the solution and wiping it away with a squeegee to remove loose surface debris only. This isn't what's involved in window cleaning.
Vinegar's natural acidity cuts through grime and deters streaking, and it's safe around children and pets. Below, Stapf walks us through the steps to get your windows gleaming.