Paper towels are generally not recommended for cleaning windows. While they are highly absorbent for spills, they are notorious for leaving behind lint, streaks, and fuzzy residue. They can also shed microscopic wood fibers that cause tiny scratches on smooth or coated glass over time.
But streaks, haze, or the lint left behind tell a different story. The issue usually isn't the cleaner; it's the wiping tool. For years, paper towels were the default. Today, microfiber cloths have become the top choice for professionals and anyone serious about achieving spotless glass.
Professional window cleaners rely on a combination of pure water systems for exterior high-reach work and a simple mixture of water and mild dish soap (like Dawn) for traditional hand washing. Their toolkit focuses on high-quality, long-lasting equipment designed for speed, streak-free results, and deep cleaning.
10 Things You Shouldn't Be Cleaning with Paper Towels
Doing so is not only wasteful, it's ineffective. Paper towels can scratch glass and leave a residue of lint behind.
People put newspaper on windows primarily for privacy, insulation, or to keep out light. It is a popular, zero-cost, temporary fix for renters on a tight budget or those waiting on permanent window treatments.
Putting paper towels in your fridge is a popular and cost-effective kitchen hack used primarily to absorb excess moisture, which helps prevent fruits and vegetables from getting slimy, wilting, or rotting. It is a simple trick that significantly extends the shelf life of your fresh produce.
Swedish Dishcloths
In fact, just one Swedish dish cloth can replace up to 17 rolls of paper towel! They're easy to rinse out and reuse throughout the day, and they dry quickly when hung up between uses.
Hotels keep white towels bright and sanitary using commercial-grade machinery and a precise combination of heavy-duty detergents, bleach, and high water temperatures.
A simple, highly effective DIY mixture of 1 part distilled white vinegar and 1 part warm water cleans windows better, costs less, and avoids leaving behind the chemical residue that causes traditional blue cleaners to streak. Add 2-3 drops of Dawn dish soap for greasy glass.
5 Common Window Cleaning Mistakes You Should Avoid
Yes, a mixture of vinegar and Dawn dish soap is highly effective, inexpensive, and a great DIY alternative to commercial window cleaners. The vinegar cuts through grime and prevents water spots, while the Dawn cuts grease and provides the perfect lubrication for a squeegee to glide across the glass.
Japanese old-fashioned cotton cloth "Sarashi" is an alternative to paper towels and reusable for kitchen use such as draining food, straining soup ...
Avoid Paper Towels and Dry Cloths.
Rough surfaces on paper towels can scratch the surface of your glass, even when wet. Tissues contain lotions and can leave lint and fibers on the glass. A dry cloth can also scratch your glass. When possible, chose microfiber towels for your auto glass.
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
Muslims use water instead of, or in addition to, toilet paper to clean themselves after using the restroom. This practice, called Istinja, is rooted in Islamic hygiene and purity laws.
Flight attendants hand out hot towels primarily as an elevated hospitality gesture—inspired by the Japanese tradition of oshibori—to help you refresh.
People put toilet paper in the fridge because the highly absorbent paper fibers act as a natural sponge, soaking up excess moisture. This humidity control helps neutralize pungent food odors and keeps your fruits and vegetables crisp by preventing them from getting soggy.
Around 70% of the world doesn't rely on toilet paper in the way we do, turning to water before tissue.
Bounty with Dawn paper towels, which featured built-in, water-activated detergent, have been officially discontinued by the manufacturer. While you can no longer buy them in standard retail stores, you can still track down residual stock from third-party sellers.
Some of Stewart's homes utilize interior blinds for light regulation and privacy. Others feature windows framed by exterior shutters, operable versions of which can also be used for light control, ventilation and privacy.
In the U.S., the uncovered window is perhaps less an expression of communal trust than one of personal protection. Wealthier homeowners, who can also afford state-of- the-art security systems, may not feel that they need shades. These curtainless windows have become one of our subtlest statements of privilege.
People wrap foil around doorknobs as a viral DIY alarm and visual deterrent. The theory is that if an intruder tries to turn the handle from the outside, the crinkling noise will wake you, or the ripped foil will let you know someone attempted to enter while you were asleep.