Tips
How to clean windows
As the seasons shift, it’s time to learn the best window washing tools and tricks to give your windows a professional shine and keep them operating for the long run.
Windows are one of the most important assets in your home, and you don't want to neglect cleaning and maintaining them. Luckily, you don't have to worry about finding an expensive window cleaning service to get optimal results.
Ready to learn how to make your windows sparkle? To get you started, we’re sharing our top tips along with some professional advice from Micah Nijjar of Micah’s Window Cleaning in the San Francisco Bay Area.
When should I clean my windows?
We recommend window washing twice per year. Cleaning your windows in the fall will clear away debris from the summer days and doing it again in the spring can help get rid of road salt from the winter so you’re always making the most of your natural light.
What is the best thing to clean windows with?
There are a lot of window cleaners on the store shelves but making your own cleaner is a simple and cost-effective option that will still leave your glass glistening.
Best DIY window cleaning solution
- Nijjar recommends making your own cleaner by mixing 2 to 3 gallons of water with a 10-second squeeze of dish detergent.
- Vinegar-and-water-based solutions are another effective window cleaner using what you likely already have. Just mix one part distilled white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle.
Best window cleaning tools
Ready to start gathering your window washing equipment?
- Microfiber cloths are soft and useful at every step so stock up on these.
- A T-bar scrubber or soft sponges, without abrasive coatings, for washing the glass.
- A squeegee for wiping away water. Nijjar recommends a brass one because its extra weight makes it easier to maneuver. If you can’t find brass, aluminum or stainless-steel work well too. If you have very large windows, you might want an 18-inch squeegee.
- A bucket will be needed, if you’re using a homemade soap solution.
- A small brush or whisk broom to sweep away debris at the bottom of the window or in between the glass and the screen.
Some important things to avoid when choosing equipment are razor blades and abrasive cleaners or solvents as these can scratch or damage window glass. Pressure washing is also not advised because it may cause damage to parts of the window.
How do you clean the inside of your windows?
Here’s Nijjar’s proven method for washing the inside of your windows:
- Lay down a towel or drop cloth to catch drips.
- Use a small hand-held vacuum or large paint brush to clear away dirt and spiderwebs from the windowsill. You can fashion a tool for getting tight corners clean by wrapping a cloth around a butter knife. Finally, wipe the sill clean with a damp cloth.
- Being careful not to use too much liquid, begin washing from the top of the window glass using your scrubber and cleaning solution. Rub up-and-down and side-to-side using light to moderate pressure.
- Using a clean, dry cloth, wipe the top and edges of the window to break the bead of water.
- Squeegee the glass dry by starting in one of the top corners and swiping down in a straight line. Keep working your way across the top, wiping your squeegee dry in between strokes. Angle your squeegee slightly so it directs water toward the part of the glass you haven’t squeegeed yet.
- Wipe away any liquid that’s pooled at the bottom of the window.
