If the cleaner evaporates before you can wipe it away, it creates streaks. Spray your cleaner over small sections and wipe it away before moving on to avoid streaks if your cleaner is evaporating too fast.
Use a Z-shaped motion on your glass panes
It is a good idea to fill your spray bottle with your vinegar solution for a seamless application over the glass. 'Take a microfiber cloth and wipe in a Z-shaped motion to stop the smears and get every little,' they say.
This can happen if you keep reusing a sponge that isn't being washed frequently. Or if the technique used is sloppy and not thorough. And some squeegees give a really patchy finish, especially poorer quality models not designed for professional use.
If so, you might have noticed this common problem: No matter how rigorously you clean them, the windows still appear cloudy, with chalky white residue. If you notice these tell-tale signs, chances are, there are hard water stains on home's windows.
Using Space Heaters & Hairdryers. Space heaters and hair dryers are products that are in almost any home and these can be used to help clear the condensation from your double pane windows. Place the space heater or hairdryer by the window and leave it on. This will absorb all the moisture in between the windows.
Excessive Cleaning Solution
Whether you have purchased a premixed glass cleaner, or you are using your own soapy mixture, too much cleaning solution will cause streaky windows. It is a common misconception that the more cleaning solution you use, the cleaner the glass will be but with windows this is not the case.
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. Alcohol- and ammonia-based cleaners evaporate more quickly than vinegar, but any window cleaner can leave streaks if it isn't removed fast enough.
You can also make an all-natural window cleaning solution using a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Adding a touch of liquid soap to the vinegar solution will help remove any streak-causing wax left on the window from commercial cleaners used in the past.
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.
Particle pollutants, such as airborne soot, smoke, pollen, and mold spores, are especially prone to building up on windows. For this reason, your windows may become dirty more quickly if your business is located in an area with high levels of pollution.
More environmentally-friendly than disposable paper towels, a microfiber cloth has numerous other benefits that make it an ideal alternative for cleaning windows and surfaces: Absorbency: A microfiber cleaning cloth absorbs over six times its weight in water and when used dry, collects fine dust through static charge.
(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.)
If you must use paper towels, go with untreated towels such as SCOTT Glass Towels. Skip anything touting its absorbency.
Fill your vessel with equal parts vinegar and water. Soak your cloudy glassware in the vinegar solution: Put your cloudy glassware in the solution and let the pieces soak for about 30 minutes. Test one of the glasses for cloudiness: Take one of the glasses out of the solution and give it a rinse.
Direct Sunlight Causes Water To Evaporate Faster
The reason that windows are more prone to streaks when cleaned in direct sunlight is that the extra-warm glass causes the water to evaporate more quickly. As such, a film of soap or detergent can be left on the glass where the cleaning solution has dried too quickly.
To make the best window washing solution with rubbing alcohol, add 1½ cup water, 1½ cup rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (if you have any) to a spray bottle. Close the bottle, shake it to mix the ingredients, and use it to clean windows and other glass surfaces in your home.
Frankly put, fogging happens when the seal between the two panes of glass wears down or fails totally. Once the seal fails, moisture is allowed to seep into the space between the two pieces of glass. In order to clean the fog, you will first have to remove the seal and then clean each piece of glass.
One of the most common reasons for glass to become foggy or cloudy is water damage. This can be from a leaky window, condensation, or even humidity in the air.
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.
Professional glass cleaning with UNGER microfibre cloths and chamois leathers. Even stubborn dirt is no problem for the microfibre cloths and chamois leathers made of high-quality materials. Due to their high ability to absorb maximum dirt and water, they ensure professional glass cleaning.
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.
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.