One of the biggest mistakes in window cleaning is to over-spray, making it hard to wipe off the cleaning solution. Dry the window. Immediately after you've sprayed your window with the cleaning solution, wipe it off from side to side using crumpled newspaper or a clean microfiber cloth. Work quickly to avoid streaks.
Use a Z-shaped motion on your glass panes
'Take a microfiber cloth and wipe in a Z-shaped motion to stop the smears and get every little,' they say. However, for more stubborn marks, you may need to dilute a mild detergent into the water.
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.
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.
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.
Professional window cleaners use a solution made from dish soap and water to achieve a streak-free clean. The key is to use a small amount of soap and distilled water. Some professionals add ammonia to the water for increased cleaning power.
If you're all about the DIY life, we've got just the thing for you. 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.
Professional window cleaners like Window Genie are trained and experienced in this battle. Window Genie uses a polishing paste specifically designed to fight the minerals that create these stains. The paste is applied to a non-abrasive cleaning pad and the window is lightly scrubbed.
Environmentally Friendly - Effective cleaning without chemicals or soap. Safer Work Environment - Less risk of property damage. Added Privacy - The customer need not worry about being visible through upstairs windows.
If you have smeared windows when you're finished cleaning, you've left cleaning solution, soap, or minerals behind. Whether you have white residue on windows or another blemish, the solution is the same. Clean faster, use cleaner water, and wipe away all your solution, so nothing is left behind.
To make the best window washing solution with rubbing alcohol, add 1½ cup water, 1½ cup rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (if you have any) to a spray bottle. Close the bottle, shake it to mix the ingredients, and use it to clean windows and other glass surfaces in your home.
Purified water does a better job of removing dirt from windows and it does not leave any residue behind that can smear the glass surface. Water softeners remove hard water scale and scum minerals through an ion exchange process.
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!
This is due to the use of soft water, where scum minerals are removed from the water to avoid the streaky residue left on your freshly cleaned glass. With less leftover grime means the water alone absorbs dirt from the windows, frames and sills rather than attracting dust. It's also said to stay clean for longer!
Use a Magic Eraser
They're called magic erasers for a good reason – they really do work like magic. They scrub gently on surfaces and are super effective at removing water spots from glass.
Window Washing Tips
If you want to take an environmentally friendly route (which we recommend), then a solution of warm water and vinegar will do the trick and get your windows clean. Some brands and types of windows are much easier to clean than others.
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.
Whether or not you tip your window cleaner depends on the circumstances. Some cleaners will work for a low rate, while others will charge a premium. While it's customary to tip those who provide excellent service, there is no set protocol for tipping window cleaners.
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.
The blue solution in the reservoir is an alcohol-based glass cleaner probably diluted with some water. After multiple people have wiped bugs, mud, oil, and gasoline off their vehicle using the squeegee and dunked it back into the tub, that fluid is more filth than detergent.
Window washing solution: This is very important because it removes dirt and helps reduce the number of streaks. A typical solution used by professionals is 3/4 cup clear ammonia or white vinegar, 1 gallon of water and 2 to 4 teaspoons blue Dawn dishwashing liquid combined in a bucket.
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.
Hot water cleans windows faster
Removes dirt more easily – hot water is more successful in removing dirt. This is because hot temperatures make dirt particles vibrate faster, which makes it a lot easier to wipe them away.
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.