Your Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Windows the Best Way

It’s springtime. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and flowers are blooming. What a beautiful sight! There’s just one problem: your windows are dirty and an eyesore to look through. With smudges everywhere and residue from winter months on the inside and outside, they desperately need a good cleaning. 

Cleaning your windows can be a simple task with the right equipment, solution, and by knowing what you’re doing. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll give you all the tips and tricks to get your windows sparkling with ease. 

Learn to Clean Your Windows Yourself

While getting your windows professionally cleaned might be considered convenient, the cost is astronomical compared to doing it yourself. Even after purchasing all the necessary supplies, you’ll save so much money by doing it yourself. As long as your windows are accessible, with a bit of elbow grease, they can be spotless in no time. 

Before you begin cleaning or acquiring supplies, you should devise a cleaning plan. Will you be cleaning your windows from the inside only, or the outside as well? And, are all your windows easily accessible? If not, consider using a ladder or other equipment to help you. This process can be as simple or as extensive as you want. 

Once you’ve figured out your cleaning plan, prep your windows if they need it. This means removing any noticeable dust, debris, or dirt before cleaning. This will ultimately reduce streaks and smudges. Finally, you’re ready to start cleaning your windows. 

Get the Right Supplies

Because there are a few different cleaning methods for windows, you have more than one option for equipment. To guarantee the least amount of streaks and no leftover lint, a squeegee cleaning tool is the best choice and is used by professionals. 

Another great option is a microfiber towel, which is typically more common in homes today. We recommend avoiding paper towels or tissues when cleaning as they can leave behind lint and dust particles when washing. 

One optional tool to use is a small scrubber brush, or something that allows you to clean small spaces. This is for your window tracks or other small areas surrounding your windows that have dirt build-up. 

Find Your Preferred Cleaning Solution 

There are three different options for window cleaning solutions: store-bought, dish soap mixture, and vinegar solution.

Professional window cleaners warn against using ammonia or alcohol-based solutions. These tend to leave streaks and can potentially damage your window frame or hardware. Windex is a popular and suitable option for store-bought window cleaners. 

You can also easily DIY your cleaning solution with products you have at home. This is a convenient and mindful option. Not only will you be saving money on cleaning products, but you’ll also be aware of the ingredients. 

One easy option is using dish soap. In a bucket, mix a few drops of dish soap with about 2 gallons of water. It’s that simple!

Another simple option is a vinegar and water solution. This is great for many reasons - it’s easy, safe, non-toxic, and contains the simplest ingredients. If you’re conscious about the chemicals used in your home, this is for you. Another benefit of using vinegar is that it’s just as effective at cutting dirt and grease as other cleaning products. 

To make the vinegar solution, mix one part vinegar and two parts water, and voila - you’ve made your own non-toxic window cleaner. 

Start Cleaning 

This is self-explanatory, but we have a few tips to offer. To optimally clean your windows, start from the top of each pane and work your way down. This way, you’re not spreading any dust or dirt around. If using a microfiber cloth, wipe in a Z-shaped motion. 

If using a squeegee, first apply the solution on the glass with a cloth or a scrubber (which sometimes comes on the other side of a squeegee). Then, wipe from top to bottom, overlapping the last sweep slightly.

Once you’ve cleaned the glass, wipe any excess water at the bottom of the frame or on the windowsill. That’s it! You now have clean windows.

Don’t Forget the Window Tracks 

While the window glass is sparkling, don’t forget to ensure your window tracks are clean, too. If they aren’t, you can take your window cleaning solution and a small scrubbing brush and clean up any dirt that is built up. Then, wipe up any excess with a microfiber towel. And there you have it, squeaky clean windows from the inside out.

Enjoy the View With Clean Windows

We hope you found these window cleaning tips helpful and that you can enjoy your outdoor view with streak-free windows. Are you looking for replacement or new construction windows? Earthwise Windows are the highest quality energy efficient windows with some of the lowest prices. To learn more or get a quote, contact your local Earthwise manufacturer to get started.