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.
White vinegar is one of the most popular and affordable products that actually have a powerful proven effect against window glass smears and achieve streak-free shine. Vinegar has high acidity that effectively cleans dirt build-up on window glass. But it doesn't create any smudges and it perfectly cleans window smears.
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.
3: Minimize Suds
A little bit goes a long way! It doesn't take much soap to get rid of that dirt, and using too much will result in an overly dense cleaner that can leave a streaky residue on the glass. To concoct your very own batch, simply mix up 2 quarts (1.9 liters) of water with 2 quarts of rubbing alcohol.
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.
Tip #1: Use Cheap Washing Liquid
All you need to achieve brilliantly clean windows is a bit of washing up liquid and warm water. There's no need to buy expensive washing up liquid as the cheap stuff will do the job just as well as long as you use just a little bit.
If you notice streaks on your window, it's likely because of leftover residue from commercial products. To get rid of streaks, make a solution of two cups of water, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and ½ teaspoon of dish detergent and follow our “best way to clean your windows” process.
There's a right and wrong way!
Go horizontally across the top of the window or mirror, then go vertically down the entire window. Applying even pressure, be sure to slightly overlap strokes. Wipe the blade after each stroke to prevent drips. Do it right and you'll be whistling a happy tune!
"Use spray on glass wipe with a micro fibre cloth them wipe again with the other fibre cloth, no smears just crystal clean sparkly windows. Best I've ever found." Many Mrs Hinch fans agreed with this solution, with some also recommending the Lidl polish spray. Others had different solutions.
To help with clearing the condensation away, you can make a simple, home-made solution by mixing two cups of water with two cups of white vinegar and a couple drops of washing up liquid. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle if you have one and spray the solution straight onto your window.
Newspaper is better for cleaning windows than using rags or paper towels, it's true. Remember, mirrors are just glass as well, so this all applies to cleaning mirrors throughout your home whether it's a bathroom mirror or a full-length mirror. But wet newspaper can leave black smudges of ink all over window frames.
Cleaning Windows from the Outside
Start by rinsing the windows with the hose, then fill a bucket with clean, cool water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Using a soft microfiber cloth, go over the surface of the window. For higher windows, use a sponge mop (or a soft cotton or microfiber mop) on a pole.
Anti smudge lenses have a special coating that protects it from fingerprints and smudges, making it a must-have for spectacle wearers. Thanks to these lenses, you no longer have to constantly be rubbing ineffectively at your lenses with the tail end of your shirt or handkerchief.
Use a dry cloth or newspaper to thoroughly dry the doors and to prevent streaking. The newspaper is effective at absorbing any moisture. It will also remove the scum layer which may have stayed on the glass. The end result should be a sparkling high gloss.
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.
In a spray bottle, combine a 1/4 cup white vinegar with a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Dilute the solution with two cups of water, then shake the bottle vigorously to mix the components. If you happen not to have white vinegar on hand, note that you can substitute in lemon juice.
Washing-up liquid, such as FAIRY or CITROL, can be used instead of a professional window cleaning solution, but these solutions have been designed to increase the glide of the squeegee and do not leave behind a residue like some washing up liquids.
Mix one part hot water to one part distilled vinegar. Sponge cleaning: Moisten the window, using the solution, then clean. Squeegee cleaning: Always dampen the squeegee first and clean from the top down, wiping the edge of the squeegee after every stroke.
Spray your windows with a generous amount of glass cleaner. 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.
Other Reasons Windows Might Not Look Clean
In many areas, hard water is the cause of bad streaks and stains on glass. Salt and other minerals in the hard water might look clean as you wash the window, but once dry it becomes a white streaky mess.
Use a freeze-resistant cleaner to prevent the water from freezing on the window. You can use windshield washing solution diluted with water to clean the window. Rubbing alcohol mixed with water and a few drops of liquid dish washing solution is another viable method for washing windows in winter.