Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the windows
• Part 2 of 3: Avoid common mistakes
• Part 3 of 3: Choosing the right day

Cleaning windows may sound like a simple task, but trying to do it without leaving streaks on the glass will make the job a lot more difficult. There are many cleaning products you can use to clean windows, including commercial products and homemade solutions. Most important, however, are the technique and the tools you use.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the windows

1. Gather your cleaning supplies. There are a few things you will need to clean your windows without leaving streaks. For a cleaning solution, it is best to use water and dish soap, water and vinegar, or a commercial window cleaner of your choice. The tools and equipment you will need include:
   • Vinegar or a cleaner for mineral deposits for stubborn stains
   • Scraper or razor for stickers, tape, paint and juice
   • Vacuum cleaner
   • Sponge or lint-free cloth
   • Sharp rubber squeegee for drying
   • A few clean, lint-free rags or cloths
   • Big bucket
   EXPERT TIP

   Remove stubborn stains. To clean a window without leaving streaks, it's important to start by removing everything from the glass surface, including built-up dirt, bird droppings, stickers, tape, paint, sap, and other stubborn stains.

   • Stubborn stains and dirt can be removed with white vinegar or mineral deposits cleaner. Spray the stains with vinegar and let them sit for five minutes before wiping, or clean the area with a sponge wet with the mineral cleaner.
   • To remove tape, paint, and sticky mess, dampen the area and use a scraper to remove the tape. Hold the scraper at a 45 degree angle to the glass and gently press down on the scraper while moving under the tape.
2. Vacuum the windows. When you clean your windows, the sponge can pick up dust and dirt around the window and create streaks. To avoid this, vacuum or clean the windowsill, sash windows and frames before washing them.
   • For windows in the house, use a small brush and vacuum around the windows.
   • For exterior windows, you use either a vacuum cleaner with a long hose connection, a portable vacuum cleaner or a high-pressure cleaner.
3. Spray the outside of the windows. Windows are bombarded on the outside with dust, dirt and debris from the outside world. The best way to prevent dirt from leaving streaks on your clean windows is to remove as much of it as possible before you start cleaning.
   • Using a hose equipped with a spray nozzle, spray all outside windows from the windows to remove dirt, grime and other debris.
4. Mix your cleaning solution. You can use any cleaning solution you want to create streak-free windows. The technique and tools you use are more important than the cleaner if you want to clean your windows flawlessly and perfectly. Use a clean bucket and prepare any cleaning solution for your windows such as:
   • Equal parts of natural vinegar and water
   • One tablespoon (15 ml) of liquid dish soap per four liters of water
   • Commercial window cleaner
5. Scrub the windows. Dip your sponge or lint-free cloth into the bucket until it is soaked with suds. Remove the sponge and squeeze it gently so that it no longer drips. Wipe the entire window with the sponge, applying gentle pressure to apply an even layer of suds.
   • You can use any movement you want to clean the windows, such as in circles, up and down, or a back and forth zigzag motion.
   • Clean every inch of glass to make sure no dirt or grime is left behind.
   • Completely clean and dry one window at a time before moving on to the next.
6. Dry the windows. Once the glass on the windows has been coated with soapy water, use the squeegee to wipe the water away. Start at the top of the window and work with horizontal swipes from one side of the window to the other. When you are done with each movement, wipe the squeegee dry with a lint-free cloth.
   • Overlap each stroke by about 3 cm and work your way down to the bottom of the window until the entire window surface is dry.
   • When wiping the window, make sure the squeegee stays in contact with the glass during every wipe.
   • It's important to use a sharp-blade window squeegee, as removing all water from the window is one of the keys to a streak-free window.
   EXPERT TIP

   Blot up any excess water. After you've cleaned and dried each window, use a dry cloth or towel to blot up any excess water that drips or has accumulated around the edges of the window, on the windowsill, or on the floor.

   • Soaking up excess water won't help reduce streaks, but it will prevent mold and water damage around your windows.
7. Keep your squeegee dry. A dry squeegee is another key to streak-free windows. If the squeegee is wet, it will leave water marks on the windows and these will leave streaks when the water has dried.
   • Wipe your squeegee with a dry cloth between every wipe and between every window that you dry.
8. Replace the cleaner if necessary. When your water gets so dirty it is no longer clean and clear, throw it away and replace it with fresh soapy water if you need to clean more windows.
   • Dirty water will leave dirt and dust on the glass, which will cause streaks.

Part 2 of 3: Avoid common mistakes

1. Do not remove the squeegee from the window. When drying a window with horizontal sweeps, it is important that the rubber of the squeegee stays in contact with the glass all the time. When the squeegee is lifted, it leaves water behind and this creates streaks when the water dries.
   • To make sure the squeegee stays in contact with the glass, apply light pressure on the squeegee as you swipe from one side of the window to the other.
2. Only use distilled water to clean the windows. Avoid using water that still contains minerals and other elements, as these can leave streaks and marks on otherwise clean windows.
   • When undistilled water evaporates from the windows, it can leave visible traces of these elements and minerals that remain on the glass.
3. Do not stop cleaning or drying the windows in the center of the pane. Any cleaning solution that can dry on the window before it is properly wiped will leave cleaning residue or water stains on the windows.
   • Don't interrupt the cleaning of your windows.
   • Once you start cleaning a window, work as quickly as possible to make sure the cleaner doesn't have time to dry on the glass.
4. Do not wipe the windows with absorbent cloths. When you use an absorbent cloth to wipe a window dry, you just move dirt and moisture across the glass instead of cleaning or drying it properly.
   • Glass is actually not as smooth as it looks, and is actually lumpy. So if you use a cloth to dry windows, you will leave moisture and detergent on different parts of the glass, and this will lead to streaks.
   • A squeegee is the best tool for drying windows without leaving streaks, as they won't absorb moisture from one spot and deposit it elsewhere.
5. Do not use newspaper. Many people swear by newspaper for cleaning and drying windows, but this method is problematic, and is likely to leave streaks for two reasons:
   • First of all, the newspaper moves dirt, moisture and cleaning fluid over the window, just like an absorbent cloth.
   • Second, the ink from the newspaper can run and leave dark streaks on the glass.
6. Avoid using spray bottles. Spray bottles apply an inconsistent amount of cleaning fluid to the windows, and there is no guarantee that you will actually clean every inch of the glass. Glass that has been cleaned unevenly is likely to show streaks after cleaning.
   • It is much better to apply the cleaning fluid with a sponge or cloth soaked in the soapy water, as this will allow you to apply an even coat of cleaner over the entire surface.

Part 3 of 3: Choosing the right day

1. Clean your windows on a cloudy day. One of the main causes of window streaks is the cleaning product itself. This happens when the cleaning product has time to dry on the glass, which happens if you don't wipe it off quickly enough after cleaning.
   • On sunny days, your cleaning product dries much faster, which means you have less time to wipe it off and the chances of streaks are increased.
   • To avoid this, wait on a cloudy day to clean your windows.
2. Choose a quiet day. The wind is another factor that can prematurely dry your cleaning solution, and it will also cause streaks on your window. Wait for a day that is calm and with as little wind as possible.
   • Not only will the wind dry your cleaner quickly, but it can also leave dirt and dust on your freshly cleaned windows.
3. Wait for a dry day. Not only does rain contain water, but it is also full of minerals, pollutants, dirt and other contaminants that can leave residue and streaks on your freshly cleaned windows. To prevent this, do not clean your windows until a dry day.
4. Choose the right season. Windows should ideally be cleaned twice a year, but some seasons are better for this than others. Winter is really the only season when you should avoid window cleaning, simply because freezing temperatures, hot water and wet windows can lead to cracked glass.
   • Autumn is one of the best times to clean windows, but it's best to wait for a dry and calm day.
   • Late spring and early summer are also ideal for window cleaning, but you'll have to wait for a day that isn't too sunny or rainy.