How much natural light pours in from windows can make or break a space’s ambience. But if you don’t know how to clean windows properly, even rooms with coveted southern exposure won’t shine to their full potential. If you need a reason to add cleaning windows to your to-do list, here’s why: Not only will your space look better with sunlight streaming in, but research also suggests that sunny rays positively influence your health and happiness. Alternatively, grime, buildup, and otherwise dirty windows are a buzzkill when you’re trying to bask in that afternoon glow.
Perhaps your cleaning energy is taken up by running the dishwasher, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping floors, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect the smudges on glass windows. Thankfully, streak-free panes are part of a spring-cleaning routine you can use to keep your household organized year-round, and you won’t have to live with dust, grime, and buildup much longer. We consulted some cleaning experts and rounded up the best simple cleaning tips you can use to clean your windows like a pro. Read on for tips on how to keep your windows sparkly clean.
What is the best thing to clean windows with?
No matter what type or how many windows your home has, your arsenal of window-cleaning products will be pretty similar. “Grab a microfiber cloth, a vinegar-based glass cleaner, and a small squeegee, if you prefer, and you are ready to go,” says Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids.
Read on for the supplies to have on hand when tackling dirty windows.
If you’re all about DIY, we’ve got just the solution for you. Combine two parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle to mix your own homemade window cleaner. But there’s a catch to be aware of when it comes to this method, according to Elle H., a tasker on Airtasker. “Vinegar is great, especially for removing hard water spots and general film; it’s natural and effective, but I recommend avoiding it on stone window sills, as it can cause them to wear away over time.” If you’re not sure about your sills, stick with “a simple mix of water and dish soap,” per Elle, who suggests you mix “about a teaspoon of dish soap in a bucket of warm water. It cuts through grime without leaving residue and is super affordable.”
John Houlihan, director of window cleaning at Best Cleaning Company, has this DIY cleaning solution up his sleeve:
- 16 oz. distilled water
- Four drops of Dawn dish soap
“Some people also like to add vinegar for extra cleaning power. In that case, you can replace eight ounces of water with white vinegar,” he says. “Using distilled water is key because tap water can leave mineral spots on the glass.”
If you’d rather go the store-bought route for your window-cleaning solution, there are plenty of commercial window-cleaning solutions or sprays (like Windex) on the market, and many will work really well for your window washing. Cohoon recommends a vinegar-based cleanser, which won’t damage hardware or stain curtains or drapes. Likewise, if you’re going with a store-bought option, try to avoid glass cleaners that contain ammonia or are alcohol-based, as these may leave streaks or light films that could attract more dust down the road. Eco-friendly and plant-based glass cleaners like Safely tackle smudges and leave the surface streak-free. Bonus: The floral scent will linger for hours, leaving your space smelling like a bouquet.
Whether you’re going with a DIY mix or a store-bought cleaning product for your window-cleaning solution, the best way to wipe down your windows is with a clean microfiber cloth made specifically for glass care. This is key for streak-free windows. Squeegees can also work well if you’re putting lots of water on the windows (just avoid paper towels, as they can leave lint films all over the glass windows). For outside windows, grab a broom just in case there are any cobwebs or sticks on the window frame that may need to be knocked down.
Another simple trick: It’s never a bad idea to place a bath or beach towel underneath the window before getting started. This will catch any excess water, drips, or spills and keep you from making another mess while you try to clean.
How to Clean Windows in 3 Easy Steps
Once you’ve got the cleaning tools, prep the window frame before you get started on the actual cleaning. “If you notice excess pet hair, dust, or buildup, dry dust windows gently with a feather duster to remove buildup without scratching the glass,” Cohoon says. It’s best to have a surface that’s lint-free before you go in with a wet product—much like you would prep the floor surface before you mop. Also, don’t forget to dust the windowsill, especially if you see some small cobwebs in the corners of the window frame.
It may be tempting to spritz the glass cleaners all over the place, but you don’t want to apply too much—that creates streaks. Start at the top of the dirty window, spray once or twice to start, then take the microfiber cleaning cloth and wipe in Z-shaped motions to dry. Work your way down to the windowsill.
You can also skip the spray bottle entirely and use a plastic bucket with warm water and a few drops of Dawn dish soap (or the white vinegar solution) and wipe up soapy water with long, even swirls, working from top to bottom. “If you have larger windows, you can also use a squeegee,” Cohoon says. “Spray cleaner across the window surface and squeegee dry; wipe down the squeegee in between swipes.” Make sure you have plenty of absorbent microfiber cloths on hand to prevent water spots.
Depending on whether your windows get frequent TLC or only see cleaning products during your annual spring-cleaning, you may have some pretty intense hard water stains. If that’s the case, call in reinforcements: “We’ve found products like Bar Keepers Friend or oxalic acid are great first-line options for this,” Houlihan says. That extra care will go a long way in getting the sparkly clean results you want.
It makes sense that with snow, rain, and wind-blown dirt, exterior windows have more grime than the panes inside your house. To clean outside windows in the best way possible, you need to do some prep. Take out the window screens and wash them separately. 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 of stains and debris. You may have to use a ladder to reach windows on the second level. If you don’t feel confident on a ladder with a spray bottle in hand, call a professional. Clean windows with a white vinegar or soap solution, as you would on the inside. Dry the window with a squeegee, moving from the top of the window with the squeegee blade angled toward the bottom. Reinstall the window screens.
Frequently asked window-cleaning questions
According to Cohoon, one of the worst mistakes you can make when washing windows is to use an all-purpose cleaner. “It can leave streaks or damage the windowsill and hardware over time,” she explains. It’s also not recommended to leave dust or buildup on a window before cleaning, as these small particles can scratch the glass.
According to Sébastien Dupéré, president and cofounder of Dupray, you can steam clean windows. This might be especially useful if you don’t want to use any product on your windows aside from water. “Steam cleaning is a great way to get streak-free results when cleaning windows,” he says. “ Just release the steam and use sweeping movements across the window to get a truly deep clean; then finish with a microfiber cloth to wipe away any excess moisture.”
“The best method involves using a squeegee and a window mop, paired with a microfiber rag to clean corners and window frames,” Houlihan says. “Wet the window with the window mop and then scrub that glass with 0000 steel wool to remove dirt, grime, and oil. Squeegee it clean and dry the frame and corners with a glass microfiber cloth.” He also notes that you’ll want to invest in a specialized glass cloth to get streak-free results. (This one is his favorite.)
Houlihan knows of a handful of common window-cleaning mistakes he’d note to avoid. For starters, he recommends cleaning windows when they’re in the shade or on overcast days; direct sunlight causes the cleaner to dry up too quickly and can leave streaks as a result. “Skipping the window frames and sills is also a mistake, since it leads to dirty runoff,” he continues. “Always clean the top, sides, and bottom of the window frame first.” Cleaning from the bottom up is another mistake that can cause drips from the upper windows to dirty the glass below.
Lastly, he recommends using the right cloth. “Using the wrong cloth, like a paper towel or standard microfiber rag, is a mistake,” Houlihan says. “These can leave lint behind. Instead, use a specialized glass cloth designed for streak-free, lint-free cleaning.”
While guidance around frequency of window cleaning can depend on many factors—like if you’re a smoker or have pets or kids—you should generally aim to clean your windows biweekly. “If you live in an older home prone to dust, have construction going on, or live with multiple kids, pets, or a smoker, be sure to clean more regularly to keep buildup, streaks, and dust at bay,” says Cohoon. For a more concrete number to keep in mind, Elle recommends cleaning exterior windows every three to four months and interior windows at least every other month.
“It depends,” Houlihan says. “In town, curtains can help reduce indoor dust settling on windows. However, in rural or ranch settings, curtains can create warm pockets of air that attract insects like flies, which can actually lead to more mess near the windows.”
Don’t think that just because you live in an apartment or other buildings with high-rise windows you can’t have glistening windows like everyone else. Start by seeing if you can remove your panes from their frames. If so, all you need to do is pop them out, line them up, and scrub them down.
It can be an acrobatic feat to clean windows that can’t be moved, and no one is asking for you to scale a building so that yours can gleam. Instead of stretching your arms to wipe down tilted windows, opt for a gliding cleaner to remove dirt with ease. A strong magnet keeps the outer piece in place as you move it across the pane, making for an almost effortless process. Just make sure you buy the right one for the thickness of your windows.
