Using a clean, lint-free towel (or the black-and-white pages of a newspaper), dry the window completely using a Z-shaped motion. You also can use clean paper towels to dry the windows, if you prefer. If dirt or streaks remain, spray and dry again. (Dirty windows typically require two rounds of spraying and drying.)
These types of towels can be used as drying cloths after the windows have been cleaned. The microfiber glass cleaning cloths were designed for the sole purpose of leaving the windows, mirrors streak free and without smudges.
Once all the dirt is off the windows, it's time to dry them. Working from the top down to prevent drips, dry the glass with a squeegee or clean, dry, lint-free towel. Use a dry part of the same cloth to wipe away cleaner that's pooled around the edges where the glass meets the frame.
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.
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.
The combination of dish soap and vinegar is highly effective for a few different reasons. They're both excellent at breaking down tough grease and grime, but vinegar alone will simply run off of most surfaces, and dish soap is too thick to use on its own.
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.)
Dawn as a substitute glass cleaner
One of the most effective ways to clean glass is dish soap – it's what professional window cleaners use when cleaning exterior windows.
Raise the Temperature
Raising the temperature of the windows will reduce the condensation on them. Condensation occurs when warm air hits a cold surface (the window). Think about taking a cold drink out of your fridge on a warm day.
Buy a dehumidifier: Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and keep it off of your windows. Place your dehumidifier near the windows where you tend to see the most condensation. Move your houseplants: Did you know that the more houseplants you have, the more moisture you'll find in the air?
Providing you have agitated (or scrubbed) the dirt and rinsed the window thoroughly to remove the dirt, you can leave it wet and it will dry completely clear!
Paper towels are typically treated for absorbency, which makes them ideal for spills, but awful for glass cleaning. Instead, substitute your paper towels for something more practical, like actual cloth. Lint-free cotton cloths, like microfiber cloths are great options for glass cleaners.
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.
Ettore Microswipe Towel is lint-free, microfiber towel provides the best washing and drying properties. It is perfect for dry cleaning of glass, computer screens, window frames, etc.
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.
A mixture of vinegar and water can provide an effective and non-toxic cleaning solution for windows and mirrors. To clean your windows with vinegar, combine equal parts vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle.
The Simplest Method for Cleaning Glass
Mix one-half gallon of warm water with one tablespoon of Jet Dry liquid and two to three tablespoons of liquid dishwashing or laundry detergent.
Windex Outdoor Concentrated Cleaner is the easy way to clean and shine windows, patio furniture, brick, and other outdoor surfaces! The specially-designed spray bottle conveniently attaches directly to your garden hose.
One of our favorite window cleaning hacks is to create your own window cleaning solution using simple distilled vinegar, otherwise known as white vinegar. This is an easy-to-find product (if you don't already have it around the house).
Salt and other minerals in the hard water might look clean as you wash the window, but once dry it becomes a white streaky mess. This is often seen on windows that are hit by sprinklers or ground water, although there are some areas that have hard enough water inside to look this way as well.