What’s the Best Method for Getting Windows Spotlessly Clean?
Learn the best tips and tricks professionals use to get windows squeaky clean and streak-free
When I was a child, my mother would often quip at the sight of large, multi-storey homes, “Yeah, but who’s going to clean all those windows?” In her mind, she was probably imagining one person painstakingly cleaning each window the way she did around our home. She would mix four litres of water with two tablespoons of white vinegar, fill a spray bottle, squeegee the liquid off each window and wipe the glass dry with newspaper, a process to which she and, subsequently, we, strictly adhered.
But does mother really know best? I thought I’d check with the professionals to find out the best way to clean windows.
But does mother really know best? I thought I’d check with the professionals to find out the best way to clean windows.
Easy solutions
Once the area is prepped, Lewis and her team advise ditching pre-packaged bottled cleansers and mixing up a solution of warm water with a small squirt of liquid soap. “Usually just a drop per every couple of litres will do it,” she says. “Then grab a sponge and scrub down the windows, making sure you get into the corners and crevices.” Next, clear away the solution with a squeegee and wipe dry with a clean towel.
Lewis says there are strong opinions about how to achieve streak-free windows. Warm water vs cold? Vinegar vs soap? Newspaper vs paper towels?
“The answer, of course, is there is no ‘right way’, unless you don’t clean at all,” Lewis says. “For exceptionally grimy windows, add some vinegar or ammonia to the solution. If you really have build-up, vinegar will cut through grease and grime.”
Lewis suggests you wash the edges of the window glass first, rinse, and then give the whole window a go.
Next, squeegee away the excess, wiping down the squeegee with a soft cloth or clean rag every couple of strokes. For a large window, wipe down the squeegee after a single large stroke; with smaller window panes (using a much smaller squeegee), wipe it dry after every couple of strokes.
For unusual-shaped windows, finding or creating a custom-sized squeegee may come in handy.
Once the area is prepped, Lewis and her team advise ditching pre-packaged bottled cleansers and mixing up a solution of warm water with a small squirt of liquid soap. “Usually just a drop per every couple of litres will do it,” she says. “Then grab a sponge and scrub down the windows, making sure you get into the corners and crevices.” Next, clear away the solution with a squeegee and wipe dry with a clean towel.
Lewis says there are strong opinions about how to achieve streak-free windows. Warm water vs cold? Vinegar vs soap? Newspaper vs paper towels?
“The answer, of course, is there is no ‘right way’, unless you don’t clean at all,” Lewis says. “For exceptionally grimy windows, add some vinegar or ammonia to the solution. If you really have build-up, vinegar will cut through grease and grime.”
Lewis suggests you wash the edges of the window glass first, rinse, and then give the whole window a go.
Next, squeegee away the excess, wiping down the squeegee with a soft cloth or clean rag every couple of strokes. For a large window, wipe down the squeegee after a single large stroke; with smaller window panes (using a much smaller squeegee), wipe it dry after every couple of strokes.
For unusual-shaped windows, finding or creating a custom-sized squeegee may come in handy.
To get rid of any streaks after squeegeeing and make your windows shine, Lewis suggests using a dry cloth or even newspaper.
“One thing you should know, however,” she says, “is that not all newspapers are created equal.” Since newspaper ink is not a standard solution, some ink may be darker or contribute to streaking, while others may not. “You’ll need to play around with that and figure it out as you go,” she says.
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“One thing you should know, however,” she says, “is that not all newspapers are created equal.” Since newspaper ink is not a standard solution, some ink may be darker or contribute to streaking, while others may not. “You’ll need to play around with that and figure it out as you go,” she says.
Discover how to make your home irresistible to renters (clean windows could help!)
Tip Lewis suggests wiping windows dry in a vertical direction on one side of the windows, and wiping horizontally on the other side. “This way, if streaks appear, you know which side they’re on,” she says.
Keeping track
To clean dirty window tracks, both Lewis and Dorn say that using a vacuum attachment is one way, but they recommend getting out an old toothbrush for most jobs. “That really allows you to get down into those crevices a bit better,” Lewis says.
Keeping track
To clean dirty window tracks, both Lewis and Dorn say that using a vacuum attachment is one way, but they recommend getting out an old toothbrush for most jobs. “That really allows you to get down into those crevices a bit better,” Lewis says.
When to call in help
The task of window cleaning may call for professional help, depending on the number and style of windows you have, whether there’s also secondary glazing or grilles to deal with, how much free time you have, and whether you need ladders or special equipment to reach up two or three storeys.
“Honestly, if there are windows you can’t reach that require tall ladders from the outside, we would recommend not doing them and hiring a professional who’s insured,” Dorn says. “That’s one of the reasons people call us. By the time they look at the cost of buying the ladders and squeegees, the towels and cleansers, they decide to just hire professionals.”
The task of window cleaning may call for professional help, depending on the number and style of windows you have, whether there’s also secondary glazing or grilles to deal with, how much free time you have, and whether you need ladders or special equipment to reach up two or three storeys.
“Honestly, if there are windows you can’t reach that require tall ladders from the outside, we would recommend not doing them and hiring a professional who’s insured,” Dorn says. “That’s one of the reasons people call us. By the time they look at the cost of buying the ladders and squeegees, the towels and cleansers, they decide to just hire professionals.”
Going pro
If you’re hiring a window-cleaning crew, make sure they’re insured and have good reviews. Dorn recommends checking to see how long the service has been in business. “I would go with a legitimate outfit and not just somebody working out of the back of their truck,” he says.
“These people are going to be in your home,” Lewis says. “You want someone you can feel comfortable with, and someone you can ask questions of, such as, ‘What should I expect?’ Your cleaning service should be able to walk you through that process.”
Lewis says it’s also important to find out how many people they will be sending over for the job. “If it’s just a team of one or two, it’s going to take a lot longer than a team of four. So consider those kinds of things. How long do you want those people to be in your home?”
Check out these quick fixes for revamping your kitchen
Do you have any tips and tricks for getting windows clean? Share them in the Comments below.
If you’re hiring a window-cleaning crew, make sure they’re insured and have good reviews. Dorn recommends checking to see how long the service has been in business. “I would go with a legitimate outfit and not just somebody working out of the back of their truck,” he says.
“These people are going to be in your home,” Lewis says. “You want someone you can feel comfortable with, and someone you can ask questions of, such as, ‘What should I expect?’ Your cleaning service should be able to walk you through that process.”
Lewis says it’s also important to find out how many people they will be sending over for the job. “If it’s just a team of one or two, it’s going to take a lot longer than a team of four. So consider those kinds of things. How long do you want those people to be in your home?”
Check out these quick fixes for revamping your kitchen
Do you have any tips and tricks for getting windows clean? Share them in the Comments below.
To begin, I asked Stephanie Lewis, customer experience manager at The Maids cleaning service, how often windows should be cleaned. “It’s really up to homeowners themselves,” she says. “Some people like to clean their windows every week on their own, and others are OK with having a professional come in and clean their windows inside and out, from top to bottom, twice a year. It’s one of those things that can fall into spring and autumn cleaning.”
Will Dorn, president of Prime Time Window Cleaning Inc, says most of his customers opt for cleaning two or three times each year. “Definitely in the spring after the long winter, and then in summer or late autumn before the holidays,” Dorn says.
Tip Lewis suggests avoiding cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day. “Everything dries so much faster, and it’s going to streak,” she says. “So we recommend doing it on a cloudy day.”
First things first
To get started, Dorn says, it’s important to clear the window area of trinkets, knick-knacks and any furniture that may get in the way of cleaning. “One of the big things about cleaning windows is really protecting your floors and the inside of your walls,” Lewis says. “You want to make sure you lay down a sheet or drop cloth to protect your carpet or flooring from getting wet and damaged.”