One of the easiest ways to enjoy your outdoor home (especially if you don't have a lot of outdoor space) is to open up those windows and catch a clear view and some air.
While we tend to keep things pretty simple when window washing (paper towels and glass cleaner), there are certainly time-honored ways of attaining the cleanest windows on the block. We found this 10-step list on eHow and think these tips are worth knowing. We admit to never using a squeegee, but if the pros do it, then it must be a good thing, right?
Step One
Before washing interior windows, put a beach towel along the sill to keep the floor or wall from getting wet.
Step Two
Spray a commercial glass cleaner lightly on a clean, lint-free rag. Or mix your own cleaner of 1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) vinegar in 3 cups (24 fl oz/750 ml) warm water.
Step Three
For extremely dirty windows, mix 1 tbsp. ammonia and 3 tbsp. rubbing alcohol or vinegar in 1 qt. (32 fl oz/1 l) warm water.
Step Four
Gently wipe the rag across the window, using horizontal strokes to prevent dripping.
Step Five
Grab your squeegee. Wipe the rubber strip with a cleaning cloth to get started. Holding the squeegee firmly, press it downward. Start each stroke in a dry spot.
Step Six
Keep the squeegee blade dry by wiping it on the cleaning cloth after each stroke.
Step Seven
Use old sheets or towels that haven't been washed with fabric softener to dry the windows. For extra sparkle, polish the glass when it's nearly dry with a piece of newspaper or rub a clean blackboard eraser over it.
Step Eight
Using a small brush attachment, vacuum the window frame and sills.
Step Nine
Dampen a cleaning cloth with diluted rubbing alcohol. Rub along the sill to remove spots and smudges.
Step Ten
For exterior windows, start by spraying with a garden hose to loosen or remove grime and debris; then follow the steps above. Second-story and higher windows are best handled by professional window cleaners.
Any tips from you, ATers??
Image via Northwestern's Kellogg School magazine
i usually do a once-over with vinegar & warm-hot water on the outside of the window with a sponge and then clean both sides of the window (inside and out) with regular glass cleaner. i have newer, double-hung, tilting windows, so a squeegee on the outside isn't really necessary or all that helpful.
i usually use paper towels, though i'm a recent convert to microfiber and intend to used that at least on the inside of the windows from now on. outside tends to still be pretty dirty to the point where i think i'd ruin a microfiber per window if i did the outsides with one.
i'd also suggest doing the windows inside and out at least twice a year to make the whole process A LOT easier in the long run.
view nattles's profile
Rain-X on the outside of the windows really works to keep the dirt off by making the rain bead up. My windows stayed cleaner months longer when I used it.
view pelicolina's profile
I just did my windows a couple of weeks ago and had wondered about using the Rain-X. Thanks for posting that, Pelicolina.
I used the ammonia/rubbing alcohol solution on my windows this time - what a difference! I don't think they've ever been that clean. (Got both items at the dollar store, too!)
view oceandreamer56's profile
Dont need no commercial glass cleaner. The greenest solution is vinegar and water. Then wipe off with old newspapers. Works like a charm on windows and mirrors. But putting down the towel and vacuuming edges are the only good ideas mentioned above.
view Trumystique's profile
Trumystique:
i agree with the newspaper for wiping. it always amazes me that it works so well...
next time i'm going to try the vinegra/water combo. thanks!
view heather's profile
When you're doing one side of the pane, mark streaks that you see on the other side with little post-it notes so that you know where to clean on the other side.
view Rosali's profile
Or (as I've seen posted elsewhere), wipe one side horizontally and the other vertically so you know which side has the streaks. Not that I remember to do this ;-).
view oceandreamer56's profile