Have you ever spent hours washing your windows, only to notice streaks everywhere? 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.
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.
To avoid drips and evaporation, spray Windex® Glass Cleaner on large windows in sections, wiping away the cleaning solution before moving on to the next portion.
For best results, avoid using Windex® Original Glass Cleaner on very hot or cold surfaces. The product may evaporate before wiping and cause streaking. Choosing the right towel can also help achieve a streak-free shine.
You'll have plenty of time to catch the drips. For cleaning smaller surfaces, Windex® Original Wipes achieve a streak-free shine in a spray-free format.
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.
Using a microfiber cloth will keep your windows streak-free.
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.)
The best time to schedule window cleanings depends on where you live and how susceptible your windows are to getting dirty. Generally, window cleaning should be done at minimum once or twice per year, plus on an as-needed basis, including at least one cleaning of any window screens.
If you're all about the DIY life, we've got just the thing for you. 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.
Paper towels are an easy go-to whenever you're cleaning glass. But, that right there is your problem. Paper towel is the number one culprit of leaving behind streaks and lint. Paper towels are typically treated for absorbency, which makes them ideal for spills, but awful for glass cleaning.
But even mirror-specific products like Windex, while effective at cleaning, can leave your mirror full of streaks because they contain so much soap. While streaks are annoying, they aren't the only issue that can come up when you're cleaning mirrors.
Windex and even generic versions of it contain a powerful chemical, ammonia, which gives the product its telltale pungent scent. Ammonia is colorless at room temperature, has alkaline properties, and is highly corrosive and irritating, according to the New York State Department of Health.
All you do is mix up some vinegar, cornstarch and rubbing alcohol along with a few drops of essential oil, shake to mix and you are in business. This mixture of simple ingredients has some impressive cleaning power!
Rubbing Alcohol Windex Alternative
(Rubbing alcohol is also a safe cleaning solution for stains and sticky messes.) Mix one cup distilled water, three tablespoons vinegar, and ¼ cup rubbing alcohol in a new spray bottle and label it. Shake up your glass cleaning solution and spray it on your glass.
Use soap and water, commercial glass cleaner, or a mixture of one part white vinegar and four parts water (preferably distilled water). Avoid cleaning glass in direct sunlight to avoid streaking. Start from the top of the window and work your way down.
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.
The best window cleaning solution is a simple blend with basic ingredients you likely already have. The most common professional window cleaning solution recipe is filtered or distilled water and dish soap.
Cleaning glass is more about the tools than the elbow grease. Even if you do exactly the right things, like mixing vinegar with distilled water and wiping with newspaper, it's possible to end up with a frustrating streak or three. In that case, the simplest solution is to finish the job with a quick buff.
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.
Best Overall: Stoner Invisible Glass Glass Cleaner
Invisible Glass Glass Cleaner quickly and easily removes fingerprints, smudges, grease and grime without leaving behind residue for a streak-free shine without soaps, scents or dyes. In fact, Invisible Glass guarantees a streak-free finish or your money back.