Please tell me how you clean windows

[Justmadesourkraut]

Used to live in a dark house with little windows, which really didn't show the dirt. Our new house has much bigger windows and is much lighter, and the windows show every mark (and also all of the smears from my cleaning!)

What are your tips for cleaning (lots of) windows well please?? Can I get use a blade on a pole, like a window cleaner? And what do you use for a smear free clean? Windowlene? Soapy water? Any advice much appreciated.

Vinegar and newspaper is the traditional approach.

A wee bit of watered down fairy on a non scratch sponge and a squeegee. Perfect everytime.

Vinegar spray. Only way I’ve ever found that works.

Soapy water with a dash of vinegar. Wash windows and frames and dry off with cotton cloth( I use old t shirts or vests) or you can buy scrim cloth online. You may be able to clean the outside of the upstairs windows from inside if they have the extension bits which most windows have these days. You could use a blade on a pole but it won’t give as good a result.

Plain water and a microfibre cloth.

we have window cleaners who do outside once a month and twice a year we get them to do the insides!
Then our cleaner monthly does all the woodwork and the frames inside the shutters (and the shutters weekly).
i don’t really get involved at all with the window cleaning 🫣

But I remember my granny used to do hers with newspaper and vinegar. Even now decades later, when I smell vinegar I think of her doing the windows.

Me too

Has anyone actually used newspaper? Fine if you want a black mess on your hands. There are better methods now!

Whatever I do with mine they look ok until the sun shines on them and then its all smears. Where am I going wrong please you clever people?

I do! It gets the windows much cleaner than using a microfibre cloth.

Robot window cleaner

I used window spray or vinegar in a spray bottle then rub it off with newspaper. Best way i have found that doesn't leave streaks.

Even with vinegar added to the water? Are you using a clean cloth to wipe them?

Yes. It works. Use gloves, no black hands. But clean lint free cloth also works.

@Allseeingallknowing I am using an old cloth so that might be it. I'll buy a new one and keep it clean.

I use white vinegar and a drop of washing up liquid in hot water.

He's called Dave.

I think modern glass is really hard to clean. I use hot water & washing up liquid then dry off using blue roll

Standard window cleaner and kitchen paper.

Does it do the corners well? What is the name of the brand?

I use fairy liquid with a squirt of vinegar in some hot water and dry off with kitchen roll.

It’s not too bad at the corners. If you are a perfectionist then it’s not for you, but it does them better than I manage to. The brand was alfabot although I’m not sure you can get it anymore there are many similar on amazon. Does the shower glass too.

Thank you all. Will experiment with all methods. Dh used to do the old windows with vinegar/newspaper and get good results but a) he's much taller with a longer reach so it takes me twice as long and b)I hate the smell of vinegar and c) I wanted a house with more windows, so really need to do my share now . . .

Same.

You don't need anything else.

Completely agree with modern glass being harder to clean. It's as though there's a coating on it that doesn't want to shine.

I find the same with my specs. A bugger to keep clean.