While fancy sprays, cleaners, or vinegar solutions may appear attractive, many professional window cleaners find the most success with dishwashing liquid and water. This is one of the best solutions for streak-free window cleaning, and it won't leave harsh chemicals on your windows.
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.
Microfiber cloths are the agreed upon winners when it comes to glass cleaning. These cloths made of polyester and polyamides are great for sensitive surfaces like glass. They attract lint and dust, and soak up your window cleaning product to leave your windows with that professional-quality finish.
Avoid using paper towels, clothes and tissues as they may be soft, but may have a crude surface that can easily attract dust or scratch your residential glass or storefront glass. Use microfibers to elongate their life. Keep your home glass clean and damage-free by following the tips mentioned above.
To create your own glass cleaner, mix together 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with commercial brands.
Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”
Rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropyl alcohol) can be used to help achieve a streak-free finish on your glass surfaces. You can mix a small amount (around 10% of the total volume) into the cleaning solutions above, or you can use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water as a final step in your cleaning process.
Apply a drop of distilled white vinegar to the cloudy glass and rub a small area with a microfiber cloth. If the area is clear when the glass is dry, you will be able to clean away the cloudiness. If it is still cloudy, the glass is permanently etched. Use a sharp edge to gently scrape the cloudy area of the glass.
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.
Distilled vinegar and hot water
A true tried and tested method, distilled vinegar and hot water has proven to be one of the most successful methods to clean your windows.
Most Effective: Windex Foaming Glass and Window Cleaner
Using an ammonia-based, foaming formula, this all-purpose cleaner can eliminate even the toughest marks on your glass.
But when you combine the two, you get an effective, sprayable miracle cleaner that clings to surfaces. Just spray it on, let it sit for a while, then scrub lightly and rinse, and you'll be amazed at the results every time!
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.
You can also use water from a bucket. Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there's serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.
It contains vinegar and isopropyl alcohol, which both cut through grease and kill bacteria. Simply mix one cup of alcohol and water and add a tablespoon of vinegar. Add the mixture to a spray bottle, and you're good to go!
Hydrogen peroxide can be used in a ratio of four cups of water to one-half cup hydrogen peroxide. Not only does it clean but it disinfects glass and other surfaces.