Washing your windows may not be your favorite household chore, but it’s a huge payout for minimal effort—and it's really not that difficult.
“Dust, pet dander, pollen and smoking residue all become aerosolized and stick to your windows, creating a dirty haze,” “Try to clean your windows about twice a year. You can do them any time temperatures are above freezing, but don’t work when hot sun is beating directly on the glass or the cleaning solution can dry too fast and leave streaks.”
Ready to get started? Follow our simple step-by-step guide to get your windows cleaner than they’ve ever been:
Preparation for your step-by-step window cleaning:
Draw back any drapes and blinds.
It’s much easier to work if you pull curtains and blinds out of the way, says Cleansy. It’s also the ideal time to wash your drapes and dust blinds. And if your windows have removable grids (those pieces that divide the window into individual panes), gently pop them out so you don’t have to clean around each tiny square, which is super-annoying and time-consuming. But be careful handling them, since UV light can make the grids brittle over time.
Mix up your window solution.
It’s fine to use a commercial window cleaning product, but you can also make your own that’s just as effective—and much cheaper. Combine about 8 ounces of hot water with a drop or two of Dawn dish soap — which is great for cutting grease and grime, says Cleansy — in a spray bottle, or in a bucket.
Stock up on microfiber cloths.
Get a bunch of lint-free microfiber cloths. They come in various sizes, but go with ones that are at least 14 inches, so that they're easy to handle. Old flannel rags are okay, too. Avoid using paper towels—which can leave fibers behind—and scrubby sponges that can scratch the window, says Cleansy. When you wash the microfiber cloths after use, separate them from the rest of your laundry so they won't pick up fuzz from other items. And don't use fabric softener, which will decrease their absorbency.
Actual cleaning:
Apply the cleaning solution.
Close the window and wet the window pane with your cleaning solution by using your windows scrubber or sprayer. Start with the top section first, so the solution doesn't trickle down. Get the surface evenly wet, but not dripping.
The squeegee method.
A professional way of cleaning windows is to use a squeegee. There are many different squeegee techniques, but this one's the simplest: Apply your cleaning solution, then make a one-inch-wide swipe across the top of the window pane from left to right with a dry micro-fiber cloth. Pull all the way across. Now wipe your squeegee blade dry, and just below the frame, pull the squeegee steadily straight down and wipe the blade dry again. Do the same maneuver again, with the squeegee overlapping the previous stroke about two inches (to help prevent streaking).
Final wipes.
When you’re done with all the glass, use a clean cloth to dry the window frame. You also can use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to buff out any streaks.
Hire an expert.
If you'd rather leave the job up to the professionals, you can always book a window-cleaning service.
