This Is the 4-Step Method to Follow for Seriously Clean Windows (They’ll Be Streak-Free!)
Apartment Therapy’s Spring Cleaning Cure is a free 10-day program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 10 assignments in your inbox.
Yesterday we devoted time to dusting high-up areas in our homes, and today we’re going to set our sights on another high spot that’s sometimes overlooked: windows. When you think of welcoming spring, you might imagine yourself tossing open the windows to let in the fresh air. That’s why we’re going to dedicate some time today to getting them clean and sparkling.
Day 2: Clean your favorite window.
Carve out some time today to clean the window of your choosing — and don’t forget the window treatment, too. That’s not to say you can’t clean all your windows, but that’s a heavy lift and we’re looking for some instant joy here, right?
Here are four steps to follow to get your window seriously clean:
Step 1: Clean and dust the blinds, shades, or curtains.
You can vacuum or steam clean your window treatments if they’re the type of material that can handle that. For curtains, remove them from the window and give them a wash based on their care instructions. (The same goes for drying, too.) While they are off and drying, you can proceed with the other steps before putting them back on your window.
Step 2: Clean the window glass (and screen).
Depending on if you are cleaning just the interior or exterior side of your windows — it’s best if you can do both! — you can go about it many ways. When cleaning both sides, start by opening up the window and popping off the window screen if you have one, and giving it a clean. There are many methods to clean windows, so pick what’s best for you. Maybe you like using newspapers and a DIY remedy or prefer a dedicated window cleaner, like Sprayway. To leave your window streak- and lint-free, consider using a squeegee. Be careful to go in crisscrossing strokes, then follow it with a clean and dry cloth, going in one direction only.
Step 3: Clean the sills and tracks.
If you already opened your windows, leave them open for this one! Use a vacuum cleaner that can get into crevices, or if you don’t have one you can try this paper towel trick! Use an old toothbrush or a small scrub brush and all-purpose cleaner to scrub away at the tracks to pick up any hard debris.
Step 4: Wipe everything down.
Use a damp rag or microfiber cloth and wipe everything from the sills and frames to the tracks, then close up the window.
PRO TIP: If you don’t already own a squeegee, consider this MR.SIGA Professional Window Cleaning Combo, which won best Window Squeegee in our 2024 Cleaning Awards. The 10-inch squeegee has a thick microfiber cover so it makes cleaning windows a breeze.
Tell us where your favorite window is located — and the view it gives you! — in the comments below.
More Ways to Participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the 2024 Spring Cleaning Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Join the Apartment Therapy Cure Facebook group.
- Download the Spring Cleaning Cure calendar.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall progress here.
- See all the winners from our 2024 Cleaning Awards.
- Sign up for The Refresh, our weekly cleaning and organizing newsletter.
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.