How To Clean Glass Windows

Over fourth dimension, pollution and grime accumulate slowly but surely on your windows, both inside and out, obstructing your views and blocking precious sunlight. The merely thing worse? Thick streaks left behind by improper cleaning.

To proceed your vista streak-free (and your lite-loving houseplants happy), follow this expert cleaning communication from Carolyn Forte, Director of the Proficient Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. With the right window-cleaning products and techniques, your windows will take never looked better.

Mistake #ane: Choosing a sunny solar day to clean your windows.

"Do this task in the blazing lord's day and the cleaner will dry onto the hot windows earlier you become to wipe information technology off, leaving hard-to-remove streaks," Forte says. If the weather won't cooperate, start on the shady side of the house.

Mistake #2: Spraying cleaner on top of dirt and grit.

Earlier you get started, sweep dirt from the window frame with a castor, or suck it upwards with a handheld vacuum or your motorcar'due south dust attachment. This volition prevent clay from turning into a muddy mess when mixed with a cleaner. If your window screen looks especially grimy, pop it out and launder with hot, sudsy water and a soft brush, then rinse and permit dry before putting it back.

For rapidly dusting shades and blinds, Forte recommends going over both sides with a microfiber duster, or opening the slats and going over each i with a damp cloth followed with a dry i.

LAB TIP: You can also refresh your defunction at the same time by putting them in the dryer for xv minutes on an "air-only" bicycle and rehanging quickly to prevent wrinkles.

Fault #3: Skimping on window cleaner.

Don't hold dorsum on the spray, peculiarly if your windows await extra dirty. "You need plenty of cleaner to deliquesce and suspend the dirt so it can be completely wiped away — skimp and you'll be seeing streaks," Forte says.

She recommends Invisible Drinking glass Cleaner With EZ Grip. The fine mist from the canteen stays where y'all spray until you lot wipe it, significant less drips and mess. Cheque out more of our top-tested cleaners, depending on the task:

If y'all would rather go the DIY road, try whipping upward this homemade vinegar cleaner:

Homemade Glass Cleaner

Combine the ingredients and pour them in a spray bottle. If you accept kids or pets, write the ingredients on the outside of the canteen for safety.

If you live in an area with hard water, consider using distilled h2o to brand your glass cleaner. BTW, the vinegar in this DIY cleaner will also help with those stubborn stains. The U.S. Geological Survey says information technology's the acidity of vinegar that allows the minerals left behind from hard water to be washed away.

Mistake #4: Using an onetime cotton fiber rag to dry your windows.

Casabella Microfiber Glass Cloths

Some folks similar drying panes with newspaper, merely you're better off reusable microfiber cloths. "They are super absorbent, washable and leave the glass shiny and streak-gratuitous," Forte says.

Effort Casabella Microfiber Drinking glass Cloths, which have a special honeycomb texture to nab water spots, smudges and dirt from mirrors and glass without scratching.

If you would rather apply newspaper towels, choose a brand that's up to the job. Weak paper towels can shred and leave lint behind. In our nearly contempo examination of the best paper towels you can purchase, Bounty Regular held upwards the best when moisture.

Mistake #5: Wiping with a squeegee.

"Professional person window cleaners swear by them, but you have to know how to use them correctly," Forte says. "You squeegee down and where does the water go? On the floor."

Because of the potential mess and drip factor, she avoids using squeegees, specially for small panes, but they can exist more helpful on bigger, picture windows.

Fault #6: Cleaning all your windows in ane mean solar day.

Y'all only need to clean your windows once or twice a year, Forte says, but it's fifty-fifty easier if yous divide the task upward and do information technology room by room. When yous're cleaning, wipe one side of the window horizontally and the other vertically. If whatever streaks exercise form, you'll easily know whether they're on the outside or the inside.

cleaning up the windows with microfiber cloth

Using a microfiber cloth will go along your windows streak-gratuitous.

athima tongloom

How to Clean Windows, Stride by Step

Now that you know mutual mistakes to avoid, read on for our footstep-past-pace guide on the all-time way to clean your windows, both inside and out, without streaks.

Start past removing dust from the window frame, tracks and sill with a vacuum, duster or cloth. Exercise the same with your blinds or shades. If you have defunction, this is a good fourth dimension to remove and wash them, following the care instructions.
To clean your screens, remove them and vacuum or brush them to get rid of grit. If y'all recollect they demand a deeper clean, wash with a warm, sudsy mix, so rinse and allow them to dry completely.
Spray your windows with a generous amount of drinking glass cleaner.
Using a lint-free paper towel or microfiber cloth, wipe your windows from top to lesser. If yous see any streaks, give them another wipe until the glass is articulate.
While your screens are drying, wipe the exterior of your windows and frames with a soft brush or dispensable material to remove loose dirt and dust.
Repeat steps iii and iv on the exterior window glass. You'll probably have to employ a little more elbow grease (or just a few actress rounds of spraying and wiping) to get rid of all the grime from outside. Depending on the design of your windows, yous may exist able to clean both sides from inside the house, or if you have removable tempest windows, take them off completely for cleaning.
Popular your screen dorsum in, hang your curtains and stride dorsum to curiosity at the polish!

Jodhaira Rodriguez, Good Housekeeping Institute Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab Analyst Jodhaira Rodriguez is a examination analyst in the Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab at the Skillful Housekeeping Institute who graduated from Hofstra Unversity with a Bachelor'south degree in Forensic Science before going on to work as an annotator in an environmental lab.

Caroline Picard Caroline was the Health Editor at GoodHousekeeping.com up until belatedly 2019, where she covered nutrition, fettle, health, and other lifestyle news.