With temperatures just above freezing (0 to 5 degrees Celsius) windows with thin glass should be cleaned with cold water. Modern windows with thicker glass can be cleaned using warm water. It will be effective as long as you squeegee the water off the glass quickly and as the water cools it is replaced.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No matter what the season is, it is generally best to wash your windows on an overcast day or early in the morning.
Bottom Line
If you're a homeowner, clean your windows regularly, twice or thrice a year, and once every month for commercial properties like restaurants. However, take into account factors that may require you to clean exterior windows more often. You can do it yourself or call in a professional.
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.
Skip the specialty products and make your own cleaning solution using a mix of water and dish soap. This combo is tough enough to cut through grime on especially dirty windows, like those in the kitchen, yet won't leave a residue. Alternatively, vinegar can also be used as an effective DIY window cleaner.
As with a car, you should avoid cleaning your windows on hot, sunny days. The heat will make the glass dry too quickly and cause smears, undoing all your hard work. To do a proper job, take down curtains and blinds and clear windowsills of clutter.
Pick a cloudy day. The best way to clean windows begins with the right weather. Since bright sun will dry your cleaning solution before you can properly clean the windows and leave them streaky, it's best to wash windows on a cloudy day.
It's often recommended to spray the window cleaner directly on your microfiber cloth, newspaper, or t-shirt instead of the glass. The reason is that this will help you avoid drips that can leave streaks if you don't wipe them up quickly.
To make your own window cleaner, you'll need a glass spray bottle and an 8-ounce bottle of Jet Dry rinse aid. For best results, use a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe down windows. If you don't have microfiber cleaning cloths, you can use a microfiber mop instead.
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.
Many people automatically presume that if it's already raining there is no point in cleaning the window – but this is not the case! Unless the wind is too strong or the rain is torrential we will still be along to clean your windows, as it's mainly a mixture of wind and rain that really makes your windows dirty.
Get rid of it! Professional window cleaners don't use Windex, so why should we? This special blend will give your window the crystal clear shine you're looking for. Josh Shaw, with Sparkly Clean Windows, shares the recipe for his window cleaning solution.
Should a window cleaner dry windows? Drying windows is time-consuming, laborious and often doesn't leave a great finish. If they've been cleaned and rinsed with pure water, windows can be left to dry naturally, without the risk of smears – just wash and go!
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.
Schmitz says that cleaning your baseboards once every two to three months should be sufficient, though that will depend on the room of your home and how much traffic it gets. If your baseboards have collected a layer of dirt, dust, and pet hair, they're due for a cleaning, regardless of when you last wiped them down.
For homes and small businesses it can take anywhere from one hour to three hours to have your windows cleaned professionally. For larger homes and companies it can take from 2 to 6 hours to have all the windows cleaned.