Cleaning the outside of windows can be a simple task, provided you can reach them. Professional window washers clean high-rise buildings’ windows twice a year, so it’s a good frequency to adhere to. To clean the inside of windows, add clean, cool water in a plastic bucket and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Place a bath towel beneath to trap spills. Use a soft brush or extension pole, telescopic u-shaped window cleaner, garden hose with sprayer attachment, or magnetic window cleaner.
For exterior windows, use a U-shaped brush to wipe and clean previously unreachable areas. A two-bucket cleaning system, a squeegee, and a microfiber cloth are the best ways to clean outside windows without streaking. Scrub the window with a brush or sponge soaked in soapy water. For ground-floor windows, use a window scrubber, sponge, or microfibre cloth.
To clean glass, make a DIY cleaning solution with vinegar. Use tools like a U-shaped extender brush, mop, or telescoping pole to reach the windows. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive tools to prevent scratches or damage. Make a cleaning solution by mixing equal amounts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap and give the solution a spray.
To clean the inside of windows, add clean, cool water in a plastic bucket and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Remove dirt, dust, or debris from the window frame and sill using a dry cloth. Spray the window cleaner onto the surface and use a sponge. Use two cleaning sponges, a knife, and magnets to create a small cut in the center of the sponges and stuff them into them. Scrub the window lightly with a squeegee and a scraper.
Maintenance checks should be done at least once every two months, more if living near busy roads or coastal areas.
📹 Magnetic Window Cleaner Review 2020 —— Does it work？
There is a rope in between, you don’t have to worry about the other falling downstairs. Double-sided design, strong magnetic, very …
What type of window can you clean from inside?
This guide provides a step-by-step guide on cleaning double-hung windows, focusing on exterior surfaces and interior surfaces. It offers a DIY window cleaning solution, ensuring a streak-free finish. The guide covers cleaning frames, glass, screens, blinds, and shades. While standard window cleaners can be purchased, a homemade ammonia-free solution is recommended for a clean finish without streaks.
Making the cleaning yourself with home-made supplies can save money. The most effective ingredients include ammonia, vinegar, and baking soda. The guide emphasizes the importance of home maintenance and the use of ammonia-free solutions for a streak-free finish.
How to clean inside double pane windows?
Drilling holes in double pane windows can absorb moisture and remove dirt. A desiccate packet can be inserted into the window to absorb moisture, while the holes allow for rubbing alcohol rinse to remove dirt. If dirt build-up persists, creating a device to thread through the holes can be helpful. Wool material on a drain snake can be a DIY cleaning tool. If moisture is the only issue, a method without drilling holes can be used. If dirt is trapped inside double pane windows, drilling or hiring a professional is the only option.
How to clean unreachable glass?
To clean high upstairs windows, gather the necessary equipment, including a garden hose, cleaning detergent, bucket of water, extension pole, brush and squeegee, and a ladder. Spray down the window, add cleaning solution to the water, scrub the window using the brush or sponge, rinse with the hose, and attach a squeegee to the extension pole.
If an extendable squeegee is not available, use a ladder and safety equipment. Gather tools such as paper towels, a spray bottle or bucket, window cleaning solution, a high-quality squeegee, harnessing/safety gear, and a ladder. Securely place the ladder and ensure the harnessing gear is connected. Ideally, have a friend hold the ladder base for safety. Clean high-up windows like ground-floor ones, applying cleaning solution and wiping and drying them using paper towels or squeegee.
How to clean the outside of windows on second floor from inside?
To clean outside windows from inside, use a mop, a squeegee, a magnetic window cleaner, a U-shaped Telescopic pole, and remove sliding windows. Dirt and stains are common on outside walls, so fill a bucket with clean, cold water, add liquid dish soap, and rinse the windows with a hose. A regular mop can be used to clean exterior windows, as it can save time and effort. Mix one part water and one part vinegar in a small bucket, then attach a clean microfiber cloth or mop head to the mop handle. Use the mop to clean the windows until most crud is removed.
How often should I clean windows in Singapore?
Regular cleaning of windows is essential for allowing more light into your home and preventing damage. It is recommended to clean windows every six to 12 months, especially in areas with high levels of dust and pollution. While cleaning may not be the most enjoyable part of living, it is an unavoidable part of maintaining a home. Outsourcing these tasks to a part-time cleaner or hiring cleaning services in Singapore can help. For those who prefer a hands-on approach, a guide detailing the steps of the home cleaning process and the recommended frequency can help maintain a cleaner, happier home.
How do you clean old windows from the inside?
To clean windows, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bucket or spray bottle, and add dish soap for grease and grime removal. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust or dirt from the window surfaces, then wipe the entire surface with the damp cloth, moving in an S pattern from left to right. Use a squeegee to pull the window down in a straight motion, then wipe the edges and corners to remove any remaining moisture.
Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dirt from the windowsill, then dip a microfiber cloth in the vinegar-water solution and wipe the windowsill. Scrub any tough stains with a toothbrush and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Inspect the window for streaks or spots and buff them out with a clean, dry cloth.
For windows on an upper floor, ensure a stable ladder or use an extension pole for hard-to-reach areas. Use a soft brush or sponge to remove dirt or cobwebs from the window surfaces, then mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bucket, add dish soap for grease and grime removal, and wet the window thoroughly. Scrub the window surface with a squeegee, then wipe the rubber edge with a sponge or lint-free cloth. Wipe the edges and corners with a dry cloth.
How do you clean the outside window of a HDB?
In order to clean glass windows, it is recommended that a glass cleaning solution or a DIY solution comprising equal parts white vinegar and water be used in a spray bottle. Prior to the application of the cleaning solution, it is recommended that any grime and dirt be removed from the surface in question with the use of a soft sponge or dry cloth.
How do you clean glass shower doors in Singapore?
To remove soap scum from shower glass doors, a solution of warm water and baking soda should be sprayed onto the surface and then wiped clean. This scrub effectively eliminates the stain. Subsequently, rinse the glass doors with warm water. This method is effective for the majority of soap scum stains; however, the presence of hard water can result in more pronounced discolouration that may not be fully removed through the use of baking soda alone.
How do you clean unreachable interior windows?
Tyroler offers a 2-in-1 extendable window washing tool designed for high windows, featuring a microfiber cloth on one side and a squeegee on the other. This tool can be pivoted 180 degrees to reach all areas, with a range of 1. 6 to 2. 3 meters. The cloths are made to be washed in the washing machine, allowing for 300 reuses before replacement. The squeegee on the other side allows for easy rotation and polishing of the window. The tool is designed to be safe and easy to use, eliminating the need for bending and twisting the arm.
For regular, yet hardly approachable windows, the Glider magnetic window cleaner is a double-sided tool that cleans both sides of the window simultaneously, with joint knocks that can be adjusted to fit windows 2-18mm thick.
How do you clean outside windows that you Cannot reach?
To clean outdoor windows, start by spraying them down with an adjustable hose to remove dirt and debris from the surface. This method is particularly effective in difficult-to-reach areas. Before cleaning, soak a sponge or brush in hot soapy water, filling a bucket with hot water that dissolves the soap without causing skin damage. Add your preferred cleaning solution, such as dish soap, which is gentle on glass and can effectively cut through dirt and grime. For a natural solution, mix equal parts white vinegar and water. This step ensures that the cleaning process is thorough and efficient, even in difficult-to-reach areas.
Can you clean outside windows from inside?
A u-shaped telescopic pole is an effective method for cleaning outside windows from inside. It allows easy access to high windows without climbing a ladder or risking falling. A squeegee and cleaning solution can be attached for quick cleaning. A magnetic window cleaner, which attaches to glass with powerful magnets, is another useful tool for cleaning hard-to-reach windows without requiring additional tools or equipment. Both methods can effectively remove dirt and grime from windows.
📹 Best Way to Clean Windows and Mirrors
Learn the best way to clean windows and mirrors and what supplies you’ll need as Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru, …
THANK You again for sharing an amazing article! Gotta game changer for y’all- ooo steel wool for glass! Spray cleaner, light circles with 000 – you have to be so careful with temperd glass, like avoid razors- steel wool cut my time in half, just light circles- make sure area is wet-use drying towel – fantastic for shower doors- watch articles on it to see WOW!!
I am a retired owner of a window cleaning business (20 years experience). 90% of my customers were homeowners so I’ve cleaned a lot of mirrors. Frankly I always used an 18″ squeegee to wipe off the water as it is much faster and leaves the mirror super clean. However, I did use her method to clean leaded glass and I think I will try it to clean the inside of my trucks windows.
I would like to offer up my cleaning process for glass (used for the last 50 years) for alternative consideration. Like the presenter I just use water – but I use a plain Terry face cloth for washing and another for drying off. The key is TO NOT USE Fabric softener when washing the cleaning cloth – then just hang dry.
Be sure to wash the micro fiber towels correctly, heat is there enemy. Wash them separately from other clothes, use a good free and clear detergent, use warm water, air or tumble dry (no heat)! Also if the micros are very dirty your can add like a 1/4 cup of vinegar (in either the bleach/or softener slot) and be sure to do, if you can an extra rinse. Never use regular detergent, fabric softener to micros and again warmish ..stay away from heat. This is coming form an ex auto detailer ..care for your tools….and the enviro around us.
I was getting tired of the amount of paper towels I was using from both a landfill and financial standpoint. What a waste. Literally. So about 8 months ago I quit buying paper towels. I invested in microfiber towels and different e-clothes. I now use them exclusively for absolutely all my cleaning. With most of my cleaning now being done with just plain water, instead of chemicals. Considering how many paper towels I was going through, as well as various chemicals, both the microfiber towels and e-clothes have proven to be a good investment.
Your article had very good info. I would like to comment on your choice of wiping materials ie coffee filters, newspapers, paper towels etc. As I understand, your reluctance in using newspaper was due to the fact that they are more scarce now than in the past. If you have a source, that would not be an issue. I’ve used newspapers for window cleaning for many years and I’ve experienced no better wiping material. Just be sure to use the actual newspaper itself and not any glossy inserts. Newsprint ink actually has a small amount of abrasive added to it helping to polish glass.
I put a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle fill it with water and spray on then wipe over with wet microfibres cloth. Then with a bucket of water. Wet another rag and rinse window then wipe off or use a carcher. You have to wash the dirt off window products don’t work you have to wash it with soap comes up brilliant and streak free
I like the idea of the cloths but I have found when doing exterior windows or extremely dusty or dirty glass you need a rag that’s used to get the heavy dirt off. That rag gets quite dirty fast so I carry a bucket of water to rinse it in and reuse. Or a cloth squeegee can be used. Then I can use the wetting rag method. Otherwise my wetting rag becomes caked with dirt too fast. With that said I’m talking about washing pretty dirty windows. Not mirrors!!
You should have your own merch, cuz I’d rather buy these cleaning products from you than from Amazon. I love your articles, they have changed my life for the best. I began with your ‘depression’ article when I couldn’t get out of my own way. Now I am walking everyday and getting far more accomplished than I had believed possible. I am so very grateful to you!
My house cleaner retired so house cleaning is back to me. I found this program about cleaning mirrors (something I have never had success doing) and couldn’t believe you could clean mirrors without chemicals. So this morning I got two microfiber cloths and followed your directions. I was amazed that it works!! I also watched the program about cleaning showers and decided to work on the glass doors. I am ashamed to say they were awful. I found a scrubber pad to us and used windex to use up my supply. Again I followed your directions right down to drying the glass. OMG!! The doors are beautiful. I keep going back and looking at the bathroom because it looks so great. And, a bonus is that I worked smarter rather than harder. Thanks so much for your advise to a little old lady.
I’m so glad to hear you promote just plain water. I use just water for nearly everything, very few cleaning products. Only really stubborn or greasy stuff needs product or anything that needs sanitation. Large appliance surfaces generally only need water. Do you have a article on cleaning outside, really dirty windows and those unreachable from the ground? (You must live in a mansion with over 50 windows – nice!)
Hey Angela, we’re window twins! We also have 55 windows. High 5!!! I was ready to give you my secret weapon for cleaning them, but you already knew it so I’ll just contribute to your algorithm instead. 😂 Discovered it during the paper towel shortage last year, but I’ve never heard of drying cloths. If anybody else said you only needed water to clean windows I’d have unsubscribed, but you’ve never steered me wrong so I’m gonna give it a go. ☺️ Those microfiber cloths are great for cleaning so many things! Kitchen appliances and countertops are so much easier to clean with those cloths too. Hope you have a great weekend!
No mention of squeegees? If a window (exterior side) is 10 feet above the ground, I’m going to be using an extendable squeegee, not any type of cloth. Especially if it’s a large window because a cloth would take forever. The dirt on many windows is too thick to use water alone, not to mention that higher windows can make reach prohibitive. I think you missed an opportunity, there, Angela.
I worked my way through college as a professional cleaner we used this method and it worked great. Another tip is to start at the top and wipe horizontally from side to side working your way downward. This ensures that you’re moving the dirt away from the area you just cleaned-this goes for walls and cars as well.
Thank you Angela! I’ve started doing this since working with Norwex. E-cloth is similar. Nothing cleans my glass on my car or in my home better. You always are so knowledgeable and helpful. I know you’ve done a lot of articles but have you done one about properly cleaning wood furniture? I watch a lot of cleaning articles and seem to keep seeing lots of furniture that is damaged and likely to being cleaned improperly. I was always taught not to use liquid cleaning products. I use Pledge or dry dust only. What is your advice about wood care?
Yoooooo. Hi from Australia. So, I have been perusal glass cleaning YouTube vids for about 3 weeks trying to work out if there IS actually a streak free method. I have copied to the letter so many different methods, I pretty much had to take a 2nd mortgage on my house to pay for the various cleaning sprays, tools, gloves, clays, razor blades, and sweet Jesus the list goes on. This has become an unhealthy obsession now. My therapist said I should get a hobby but all I could do was point out the streaks on her office windows. Clearly she is not a very good therapist because it’s 3.20am here now and I am sitting beside my car once again staring at streaks on my windscreen. I am beginning to think I am in some kind of Truman show and streak free glass is just a myth the producers concocted because they knew it could so easily push me over the edge. Can you imagine I have never once in my life had a totally streak free windscreen to gaze through? I have done so much research that I am considering writing a book about how to get the perfect non streak free windscreen. I even went to the local Specsavers store and asked them to order me 5000 boxes of those tiny glasses cleaning spray bottles. They said I was crazy and need therapy. My therapist told me I left out a zero on my last cheque and that I should go to Specsavers. Clearly they are in cahoots! Yours is the final method I will try. If this does not work I am going to remove my windscreen and drive without one and have the fresh air in my face wherever I go.
Pro cleaner here. Save yourself a lot of time. Use an amonia free window cleaner like Ettore Sqeegee Off, a good quality squeegee and applicator… if you’re doing a lot of windows and mirrors, splash out on some pro gear… you won’t regret it. Have a quality teatowel or surgical cloth on hand and a lint free glass cloth. Wet glass, wipe top edge with tea towel, squeegee left to right or right to left, wipe blade dry with tea towel repeat until crystal clean. Use lint free cloth in the event you need to clean up any missed bits around the edges or around hinges and handles on glass shower doors etc. With a bit of practice, you can have a large mirror like in the article completely clean within a couple of minutes…. no elbow grease required. Amonia free cleaner is important for mirrors, so you don’t, over time, take of the coating that makes the glass a mirror.
Yup. But I also buy car window chemical and use that along with microfiber. Other times, it is just a small dip of soap in water to remove dirt. However be careful about your microfiber. Some of them do leave lint. Even high quality ones. So I only used worn microfiber or the kinds that don’t have the super softness. For big windows, a squeegee might work best.
Some of the haze or dingy look isn’t really “cleanable”, why? It’s not dirt or grease but dirty caulk or silicone and potentially even mortar or grout. If you carry a small razor blade scraper with a horizontal blade. You can clean up that dingy look in a minute or less and change how it looks and is viewed by the resident/owner.
May I ask how to deal with streaks left by spray on glass cleaners? I cannot get the mirror clean in my rental from whatever has been used on it in the past. It leaves shiny streaks that kind of glow in the dark. I want to get rid of the chemicals, and just clean using vinegar and water. Obviously it is now full of chemical cleaner and doesn’t want to come glistening clean.
I had a mirror that had gotten some kind of oily residue on it. I tried to clean it with everything I could find, window cleaners, vinegar, microfiber towel, even a rubber squeegee, you name it, nothing would remove all the oil and it left the mirror with a sort of smeary haze on it. I finally tried cleaning it with a steam cleaner and BOOM! it worked instantly. Took me maybe 2 minutes total. So, when nothing else will do it, try steam, it is amazing!
Not all paper towels are bleached mine are not so not white slightly grey white brown colour and the covering is also either paper or bamboo. However I agree paper towels are still a cost that we throw away. Personally I burn mine on my fire. I can still get free newspaper which I use Still think it does a great job cleaning windows
Hi Angela, so I did this test at home & so could you please tell me if I did something wrong? and or any other tip regarding window cleaning?, so what I did was: I Tested the Sprayway foam cleaning spray on a bathroom mirror. I First sprayed the cleaning spray onto the mirror then I used a Microfiber rag to quickly wipe it = The results were ok but not to satisfaction/ Then I used Sprayway again but this time I sprayed the Mirror and I used a squeegee to wipe away the cleaning spray = This time it was near perfect and much better. What did I do wrong there when I used the Microfiber rag? Would you say there is time to use a squeegee but also a time not to use a squeegee and why? Thanks! 🙂
Oh my gosh—sometimes it’s the simplest things that “elude” me and your 8 sides to a cloth was one of those. For forty-some years of cleaning my home, I’ve gone through TONS of cloths cleaning windows, etc.. Geez, now I’m embarrassed I was this ………silly. But, grateful I watched this. You really have great methods and the more I watch, the more I learn. I’m only a housewife, but gosh, this is helpful . Thank you.
I thought microfiber cloths shed micro plastics when washed, thus contributing to the explosion of plastic micro fibers in the water cycle. The septic treatment does not filter out the micro plastics. They go right out into the water released back into the environment. Not exactly environmentally friendly. The choices seem to be: cotton terry cloth which releases biodegradable lint, paper towels which are biodegradable, microfiber which releases micro plastic fibers. Then add chemicals, some of which are biodegradable with a short half-life, and some which persist in the environment. It’s always the trade offs, which are difficult to parse for the optimal solution. I personally often compost my paper towels. I admit I do like using microfiber towels. I am thinking about adding a filtering system to my washer to capture the micro plastics. Maybe that is something that will become standard in the future for washing machines and dryers.
My question to you is, do you ever get any dislikes? I am happy to not see dislikes anymore, never saw the point in it for most posts, if you don’t like the article move on. Just curious because i can’t imagine anyone couldn’t like your articles. You have every bit of information that anyone could possibly want if they need to clean something. Anyhow, thank you!
Here in Croatia we have preatty afordable prices of wetting and drying clothes…. sometimes they come together with some other clothes also…. i used tge drying cloth for glass but i sometimes used it just with spray, also sometimes just a bit wet, but thank you for your advices, i think it will be more helpfull… Ps: drying cloth ive seen comes in yellow 🙂
I dint know where she lives but there are still newspapers in the stores. Just get the Sunday paper and you will have enough. I wouldnt use newspapers because I remember how my hands got so dirty delivering them as a teenager and think the ink would get all over the windows. Microfiber cloths work great for me with just water.
Best glass cleaner is vinegar! Wet a rag with plain white vinegar and wipe over your glass surface. Then take a clean dry cloth like the cheap Terri cloths from Costco and wipe dry. No streaks and sparkling clean! Use vinegar as your cleaning solution on all glass surfaces like computer screens, mirror closet doors, windows, glass top stoves, etc.
Hello you don’t clean and dry with the paper towels . You only use the paper towels as the final step to get rid of the streaking . One paper towel can be the final step for at least 10 windows or more . You use a micro fiber for the cleaning and drying steps but the final step should always be the untreated paper towel .
My previous landlady works as a house cleaner and she swears by those Norwex silver-infused microfiber cloths as the wetting cloth, and the Norwex glass cloth to dry/polish glass and mirrors. I bought 2 pairs and used them to clean greasy hand prints from glass doors on a window cleaning job I was doing. Gotta say I’m impressed by this method. I even use them on car windows if I’m detailing. Sadly, the Norwex are pretty expensive, but I searched online and found cheaper alternatives to the silver-infused cloth….sweet!
What is a high quality micro fiber towel? And what kind of mesh bag? Where do you get mesh bag? And why do you have to seperate the two? Why will it pick up lint? Can you just wash in pail instead of using small load of laundry wich is more watter then you need. And what do you wash them with? Peroxide?
Hi Angela 🙋🏻♀️ I’ve contacted you a couple of times and what I like about YOU is… YOU take the time to reply back. So I’ve decided to subscribe. . I have a microfiber cloth but when I DRY my shower glass it leaves lint on it, it’s not really meant to dry glass, like your blue one . but can I use it for a wet one, for the glass . Or will it still leave lint . ?? Diana from Australia👩🇦🇺🇦🇺
I purchased the recommended Brite Wipe cloths and I must confess, I did not like them for mirrors or glass. Even in your article, I see the same thing happening to you as it did me. The towel does not slip across the surface. My hand slips off and the cloth balls up. It is impossible to fold it and use for drying. What am I doing wrong? Thx.
I must say a better way to clean windows is to use the very hottest water you can bare with a spot of vinegar in the water..use a window leather..I promise you, you will get streak free beautiful shiny windows… I buy and sell houses, and when people come to view my house, they always mention my beautiful windows
Thank you for the advice, Angela. I have a whole batch of microfiber towels I bought on QVC. However, I have a home with four dogs, two of which are German Shepherds. My windows, not to mention walls take beating from the dust from their coats. So if I use just water, I get nothing but streaks. I found a product, Bio Cleaner, that I use on virtually everything and it works equally as well on the windows. Cuts through dust, film, dirt, — and it’s eco friendly — just a tip.
For a very short period of time, I’ve worked for a cleaning company and we would clean windows with a squeegee. I purchased a proper one from a commercial store (The ones made of golden metal) and have always washed my windows and mirrors with this! Amazingly quick! small bucket of water with a drop of dish soap. “Scrub” the window/mirror down and the squeegee away the water. You’ll never have washed a patio door so quickly in your life!
Also in decalsifying or removing the combination of calcium deposits and soap scum the absolute best and 100% effective way is to scrape it while it’s dry. If you try to scrape it while it’s wet no matter if it is just water or a cleaning product you’ve slickened the surface and made it very hard to remove any of it as a scraper or scrubbing pad is now just sliding over the top of it and not removing it. People say use steam, well yeah that’s very effective. Once you’ve actually scraped it while it’s dry. These are just basic physics and the chemical properties of liquids, solids and gasses. Why do you think those foaming bathroom cleaners want you to spray it on while it’s dry and then wait till it’s dry again to clean it off? It embeds itself in there and then when it’s dry again you can actually wipe it off. That is if it’s a thin layer and not a compounded buildup over much time.