Distilled water has a high pH and low mineral content, which helps it draw dirt and other compounds from windows. It is also highly effective when it comes to window cleaning, since it leaves no residue or stains behind. However, it is not recommended for exterior windows, which are more difficult to clean.
For this reason, you should use purified water when cleaning your windows to avoid stains. Secondly, purified water makes your windows look immaculately clean and prolongs their durability and resistance to cracking.
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.
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.
Tap water from your sink can be chock full of minerals and metals that aren't visible with the naked eye, but can create a streaky film when dried on a surface like glass. If you're diluting your glass cleaner, consider using distilled water instead of tap water.
Have you ever spent hours washing your windows, only to notice streaks everywhere? 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.
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!
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.
Both distilled water and deionized water are processed to be free of impurities that contribute to visible water spots, which is the reason most vehicle detailers use it. If detailers buy purified water, distilled water is the more cost-effective option.
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.
This pure water allows for the windows to be rinsed and left to dry which results in flawless, streak and spot free finish every time.
In a spray bottle, combine ¼ cup of white vinegar with ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Dilute the solution with 2 cups of water, then shake the bottle vigorously to mix the components. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, you can substitute it with lemon juice.
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.
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.
No matter which surface you are cleaning, distilled water will not leave any residue. Therefore, distilled water is best for cleaning any surface, as it increases the water cleaning features.
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.
For residential windows, we recommend that you fully clean your windows at least twice a year, but three times a year may be best for those who live in areas with lots of trees where pollen tends to accumulate. Every six months is a good rule of thumb for window cleaning, but more often is even better.
Compare tap water to pure water which normally registers at . 000-. 001 parts per million, meaning it contains virtually no damaging minerals or sediments. When used in window cleaning, pure water, even if 100% of it is not removed from the windows, has minimal chance of leaving any residue behind.
Although in some parts of Europe and the UK many people believe having their windows cleaned when it rains is a waste of time, in the USA, it is normal practice for window cleaners to carry on in all weather except storms and high winds. Windows need cleaning because they get dirty not because they get wet.
One of the most foolproof methods is simply to use water. Many people feel as though water isn't enough to properly cleanse their windows, but rest assured that it absolutely is!