How to get smeary windows looking spotless?

[Southmouth]

I cleaned my windows and French doors inside and out the other day. Thought I’d done a good job, wasn’t until the shine was shining on them yesterday that I saw what a terrible job I’d made! They are just covered in smears and look even worse than they were before..

What’s the best way to clean widows? I used a microfibre cloth and stardrops vinegar spray.

Ok don’t laugh it works. Use a spray of vinegar and water and wipe off with newspaper. It’s a very old remedy.

Hot water - Stardrops with ammonia is good for cutting through grease, but you don't need to use any cleaning products really - and dry with a linen scrim cloth or a microfibre cloth designed for cleaning glass.

My mum always cleans her windows with newspaper and a water/vinegar solution....
I use the same as you and don’t have any problems although it’s a tedious job that I generally try to get OH to do!

Yes, definitely water/vinegar dry with newspaper and never, ever clean them when the sun is shining on them.

They look lovely and clean right now as it’s dull, but look terrible any sign of sun! I’ve heard about using newspaper before, I’ll give it a go.

Slightly depressed at the thought of having to clean them all for a 2nd time though

Warm water with a touch of washing up liquid...then rinse with just clear warm water and dry with an old hand towel. Works every time...I've never got good results with vinegar and newspaper.

I swear by using kitchen roll with a standard window cleaner

White vinegar and a micro fibre cloth

Warm water and a tea towel

Karcher window vac follow by buffing up with A microfibre cloth.

E-cloth. Life changing.

Invisable glass spray, it is amazing!

I bought a window vac which works really well

I think, like wowfudge said, hot water with a strong soapy cleaner to cut through the heavier built up grime, making sure you leave no residue, then a vinegar/water spray every week or so to keep on top of it. I don't think vinegar and water alone will be enough on its own to clean them.

I use a method I found online where you mix bicarb with a bit of water, put it in a spray bottle, then half fill with I think warm water. Then you spray the window, clean it with a cloth, then dry off with an ecloth or tea towel. Makes windows so clean they sort if look like they're not there - no joke!!

White vinegar spray and kitchen roll works really well, been using this method for years.

@emmy4 It really is. I used to buy it from B&M but haven't seen it recently, where do you buy it from?

Good squeegee technique.

So much quicker and better it's unreal.

So how do you find invisible window cleaner then??!!!!

Meant to add hee hee..

@Seasalted Yep, it appears it is invisible, bloody good stuff though if you manage to find it.

Sorry it’s cornflour, not bicarbonate - been a while since I’ve done them 😳

userxx, i have just bought it from QVC. Seasalted, that made me laugh!

@emmy4 thanks for that, just had a look and it's different stuff.

Yep I second squeegee!!
I am a cleaner and find it leaves much better results when I do windows, mirrors and shower screens. Oh and tiles.
Problems with cloths - used for other jobs, washed but residual remains that's oily. Like polish, fabric softner etc,.

Wet cloth, normal window cleaner spray or even washing up liquid and water, wash window. Squeegee clean. Any drips, use a towel on floor and a dry cloth for corners etc,. No streaks.