A squeegee. Squeegees take a little more work to get used to than cloth or paper, but the resulting difference is well worth it. On top of that, cleaning windows with a squeegee takes a fraction of the time.
You can use a solution of dish soap and hot water, then scrub gently with a sponge. Hose down with clean water. Then use a hose to get rid stains and debris. You may have to use a ladder to reach windows on the second level.
Cotton washcloths come in a handy size to make efficient work of cleaning your windows. While you won't give the glass a final polish with these cloths, you can use them to remove excess debris before you bring in the microfiber. Use one wet washcloth to remove dirt and a dry one to remove the excess water.
Odd though it might seem, wiping down glass with newspaper not only helps produce streak-free glass, but also a lovely, bright shine! Be sure to spray your cleaning product on the newspaper or cloth rather than directly on the mirror. This will prevent the cleaner from dripping into the frame and possibly corroding it.
Microfibre Glass Cloth. Thick premium grade microfibre cloth removes stubborn grime. Ideal for cleaning windows, mirrors, stainless steel and glass surfaces without streaking. Use wet or dry, with or without chemicals.
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.
Microfiber will not scratch glass.
Instead of using standard cleaning products, get a bucket of water and mix it with dishwashing detergent or vinegar. Apply this cleaning solution to the glass using a long window scrubber. Grab a squeegee and pull its blade over the glass in a reverse “S” pattern.
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.
Use a cleaning solution: Like Glass-Rite cleaner! Or we also recommend a simple solution of equal parts vinegar and water, a Windex solution in water is good also. Do not use glass cleaners that are ammonia or alcohol based. They may leave streaks or make a film that attracts moisture or dust.
While paper towels are wonderful for cleaning up spills, they do a terrible job on glass. Because they are made of tiny paper fibers, they leave a residue of lint and fuzz all over your otherwise clean windows.
A tell-tale sign that windows and mirrors were cleaned using paper towels are the steaks and lint left behind. The trail of lint and residue left on the surface is an inevitable result of the tiny paper fibers that make up a paper towel.
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.
Squeegee the windows
The dry edge creates the perfect surface to get a good start and you don't have to be up against the window edge and causing missed spots. There is little to no cleaning up leftover drips from the squeegee when you use this method making it much faster.
Start at the Top. Whether you begin cleaning inside or outside, always start at the top of the window. By working your way down, you'll catch any drips that appear. Lightly spray the cleaner on the glass and let it work for at least 30 seconds to start cutting through the grime.
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.
Vinegar. A trusted way to get windows sparkling is a combination of water and vinegar. Fill a bucket with water and add two or three cups of white vinegar.
Make sure to use a commercial glass cleaner or try a combination of distilled water and white vinegar. Once you have the product ready, use a microfiber cloth, t-shirt, or newspaper instead of paper towels. Spray the product on your cloth instead of on the mirror in order to avoid drips that you'll need to wipe up.
For that reason, users of the water fed pole system use purified water. Window cleaners purify their water by passing it through a series of filters and resins, making use of natural processes like reverse osmosis and deionisation.
Microfiber cleaning cloths are one of the most important window cleaning tools used by professionals to attain streak-free windows. The fibers' are effective as cleaning agents because of their finely split strands. These greatly increase the surface area for the microfiber cloth to collect dirt and dust.
Strict 'No' for Paper Towels, Dry Cloth and Tissues
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.
Most paper towels are treated for absorbency. That makes them great for wiping up spills, but terrible for cleaning glass. The absorbency treatment is why your glass tables, mirrors and windows end up covered in lint and dry with a film. If you must use paper towels, go with untreated towels such as SCOTT Glass Towels.