Invite the brightness back into your home with sparkling clean windows. From making your own window cleaning solution to the trusted old newspaper trick, there are plenty of ways to bring the shine back to your window panes. Never underestimate the power of clean windows to transform your rooms, making them light, bright and good for the soul.
Here’s what you’ll need for cleaning windows in order to get a professional finish:
- Large dry brush or broom handle for removing cobwebs and dust
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Squeegee
- Purpose made window cleaning solutions or vinegar
- Brown paper or newspaper
- Microfibre cloth
- Dry lint free cloth or drying pad
1. Remove curtains and blinds
Start by taking down curtains and blinds. If you can, take the opportunity to give drapes a thorough wash or spritz with a fabric freshener like Febreze. Use a dry brush or dusting attachment on your vacuum to sweep away any dust or cobwebs from around the corners of the windows and the windowsills.
2. What’s the best thing to clean windows with?
We recommend washing your windows with soapy water. Fill a bucket with a simple solution of washing-up liquid and warm water, but avoid creating too many soap suds as these will leave further marks if allowed to dry. Start washing windows using a non-abrasive sponge. Alternatively, try a specific window-cleaning fluid, but be careful that strong formulas don’t damage surrounding paintwork.
3. How to cleaning windows without streaks – wipe off any excess cleaner?
To remove soapy water from glass, use a clean squeegee to work from top to bottom in a reverse S pattern. Periodically wipe the squeegee blade on a clean rag to avoid smearing dirt around. Remove remaining water with a damp chamois or microfibre cloth and dry the windowsill. Avoid paper towels or cloths that might leave lint on the glass. For exterior upper-floor panes, it’s worth investing in a gadget with a U-shaped pole to avoid reaching out of top-floor windows!
4. Try traditional methods
If you prefer to make your own cleaning solutions, add two tablespoons of vinegar to a small bucket of warm water (this won’t kill bacteria, though). If your windows need tough love, add two tablespoons of household ammonia, but wear rubber gloves. Buffing your clean, dry glass with crumpled newspaper gives windows a sparkling finish.
5. Get the timing right
While you might think you need a bright, sunny day to see the most streaks and grime that have built up on your windows, when you clean glass in the sunshine you’re actually creating more streaks — and that’s the opposite of your desired end result. What’s going on is this: If you apply cleaning solution to glass that feels warm when you touch it, those hot windowpanes will cause the liquid to dry too quickly, and that will leave streaks behind.
Find out more on our window cleaning service and packages here.
