How to Clean a Window

Window washing is often a chore that most of us don’t enjoy because it has to “fight” with dirt, dripping water, rolled up paper or newspaper, and obnoxious water stains. There are many techniques and methods that you can use to clean windows, so it can be a bit difficult to determine which is the most effective. However, if in doubt, it is always better to observe how professionals do window cleaning. After all, it’s their job to clean windows, and the quick, effective method they use includes a bucket of cleaning solution, a scrubber or sponge, and a rubber broom. .

Table of Contents

Preliminary cleaning of windows

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Cleans stubborn stains. Exterior windows are especially susceptible to stubborn stains because of exposure to hard water, minerals, bird waste and the elements that can deposit dirt and rust. There are a few methods that you can try to remove stains on interior and exterior windows:

Use a cleaning product that removes mineral deposits, such as CLR. Wet the sponge in the cleaning product and rub it on the window stain. Use clean water and carry out regular cleaning. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Spray pure vinegar on the stained area and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub the stain and carry out regular cleaning. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Make a mixture of water and a cleaning product containing oxalic acid, such as Zud or Bar Keepers Friend. ^{[3] X Research Source} Use a clean cloth to apply and rub the mixture on the stained area. Rinse the mixture with water and clean as usual.
Stubborn stains or scabs can be gently scraped off with a razor.

Remove stickers and decals. Whether you have small children in the house who love to decorate the windows with stickers or you put up decals to prevent birds from hitting their heads on the windows, it is very difficult to remove these stickers from the windows. However, all you really need is a spray bottle filled with water and a sharp-edged plastic scraper.

Spray water on the sticker and let it sit for a few minutes.
Place the scraper on the window at a 45-degree angle and press gently. Start from the bottom of the patch and scrape up. Use a towel to wipe off the water. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Remove and clean window blinds. For interior and exterior windows, you need to clean the plastic curtain every time you clean the window, which is about twice a year. Remove the plastic curtain and use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust.

Use a hose or spray bottle filled with water to lightly spray the curtains before and after cleaning.
Use a clean cloth or sponge dipped in warm water mixed with a little vinegar or dishwashing liquid to wipe away dirt. Allow window blinds to dry completely naturally before replacing. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Wash away dirt and rust on the exterior windows. Exterior windows are exposed to all sorts of slime, dirt, pollutants and other matter. For very dirty windows, you should start cleaning by using a garden hose to wash away the outermost layer of rust on the window and glass panels. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If you don’t have a faucet, you can use a dust-free cloth and water to remove dirt. Or you can use a pressure washer on a low setting.

Vacuum or dust the interior windows. Be sure to vacuum up the dust on the windows, door frames and corners. This helps prevent the spread of dirt during cleaning. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Before starting to clean the interior windows, you should arrange a large towel in front of and below the window to catch the dripping water.

Clean inside and outside the window

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Preparing instruments. Some tools to prepare to conduct window cleaning include:

Sponge or brush (or squeegee)
Rubber broom for drying
Dust-free cloth or absorbent microfiber cloth
Clean cloth or rag
Bucket of cleaning solution
Large towel to protect the floor inside the house

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Dilute cleaning solution. There are a few different products you can try to clean windows, but most experts recommend a basic solution of water and dish soap. Using a spray bottle and paper towels or newspaper will only spread the dirt and cleaning solution, leaving streaks of cloudiness on the windows. ^{[8] X Research Source} To make a window cleaning solution, you can make:

7.5 liters of water with 1 teaspoon (6 ml) of dishwashing liquid. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Water mixed with white vinegar in the ratio 1:1. ^{[10] X Research Source}
1/4 cup (60 ml) Isopropyl alcohol with 1/4 cup vinegar, plus 1 tablespoon (15 g) cornstarch (to prevent stains) ^{[11] X Research Source} and 2 cups (480 ml) water. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Window cleaning. You can use a sponge to clean windows with many small panes of glass, or use a rubber broom for large single-pane windows. Squeeze out excess water and then wipe the entire window, making sure to clean all the corners. ^{[13] X Research Source}

To clean overhead exterior windows without a ladder, you can attach a squeegee or brush to a long stick or broom handle. ^{[14] X Research Source} You can also use a dedicated window cleaner to spray up to second-floor windows.
After cleaning one window, you need to make sure it is dry before moving on to the next one. If the squeegee makes a squeaky sound when scrubbing or drying the windows, you can add a little soap to the water.

Dry the window. For windows consisting of many small panes of glass, use the blade of a rubber brush to wipe the water vertically from the top down. For large single-panel windows, wipe the wipers in a horizontal motion. Start cleaning the window from top to bottom. Each wiping movement should overlap by a few centimeters. Use a dust-free cloth to dry the brush blade between each window cleaning. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Make sure the brush blade is in contact with the window at all times.
One of the best ways to keep windows stain-free is to buy a good quality squeegee and make sure the blades stay sharp. ^{[16] X Research Source} In addition, be sure to use a cleaning solution that does not leave stains on the windows. Replace the wiper blade as needed as the dull blade does not adhere properly to the window and begins to leave streaks.

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Wipe off excess water. In places where water drips, splatters, or runs down windows, it’s a good idea to use an absorbent and dust-free cloth to dry. This can prevent stains on the windows.

To prevent damage to the door frame, you should use another cloth or rag to dry the water on the windowsill.

Advice

Unfortunately, it is not possible to clean the inside of a double-glazed window without damaging the seal between the two panes of glass. However, accumulated dirt or cobwebs appearing between the two panes of glass is a sign that it has been exposed and you should consider replacing the window. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Steps

Preliminary cleaning of windows

Clean inside and outside the window

Advice

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