How to clean windows without streaks

Clean windows make a room lighter at once. With the right method, they are also quick to do, and they don’t leave streaks. Here is how the professionals do it.

What you need

• the bucket 10 liters with pouring spout,
• warm water with a few drops of dish soap,
• a washer or a sponge,
• the window squeegee 30 cm,
• the microfiber window cloths, set of 2,
• an old towel for the windowsill,
• the household step ladder, 3 steps, for high windows.

Choose the right moment

Don’t clean windows in bright sunshine. The water dries before you can remove it, and that leaves streaks. A cloudy day or the shady side of the house is best.

Step 1: dust first

Wipe the frame and the windowsill with a dry cloth or vacuum them. Otherwise the dust ends up in your water and on the glass.

Step 2: wash

Fill the bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. More soap doesn’t help; it leaves a film. Wet the washer or sponge, squeeze it out a little, and wash the whole window. Pay attention to the corners and edges.

Step 3: squeegee

1. Wipe the rubber blade with a dry cloth.
2. Start at the top corner. Pull the squeegee across the glass in one straight stroke, top to bottom or side to side.
3. Wipe the blade on the cloth after every stroke.
4. Start the next stroke slightly overlapping the last one.
5. Keep the blade at the same angle and the same pressure all the way.

Step 4: dry the edges

Water always stays along the frame. Wipe it away with a slightly damp microfiber window cloth. Then polish any remaining spots with the second, dry cloth.

Step 5: the windowsill

Dry the frame and the windowsill with the towel. Water that stays on wooden frames damages the paint.

High windows

The handle of the window squeegee fits most telescopic poles. Reach high windows from the ground instead of from a ladder. If you do use the step ladder, make sure it stands fully open and on a flat surface.

Mirrors and glass doors

For mirrors, a shower screen and glass doors, you don’t need a bucket. Make one microfiber window cloth slightly damp, wipe the glass, and polish it with the dry cloth. For the shower, use the shower squeegee after every shower, and you will rarely need to clean it properly.

Care for your tools

Wash the microfiber cloths at sixty degrees, without fabric softener. Rinse the squeegee and store it with the blade free. A worn blade leaves streaks; replace it when that happens.