Wash Your Windows Like a Pro

There’s nothing like opening the curtains in the morning to let the sunshine in. When your windows are sparkling clean and streak-free it makes all the difference. We’re on a mission to find out which method and products work the best to get those results! From old-school newspaper and vinegar, to an updated silicone squeegee, we put Chris to work trying them all and giving his honest feedback on the results.

Steps to Wash Windows

1. Wet the glass with your cleaning solution of choice. This could be hot soapy water, a commercial glass cleaner like Windex, or a homemade solution like vinegar and water. The cleaning solution can be applied either with a spray bottle or with a sponge.
2. Wipe down the surface to remove the dirt and grime. If you used a sponge to apply the product, you can scrub at your windows with it as well. If you sprayed your cleaning solution on, use a soft cloth to wipe the glass.
3. Remove the excess cleaning solution. This step is important to ensure your windows are streak free! Using your squeegee tool of choice, clean a vertical strip down one side of your window. Then starting from the top, make horizontal passes over the entire window clearing each section of water. You may want to have a spare rag on hand to wipe the squeegee dry after each pass.
4. Enjoy your sparkling clean, streak-free windows!

Testing and Comparing Window Washing Products

We’ve collected a variety of cleaning tools and products, and we’re going to test each of them out to see how well work on glass. We'll be looking at factors like ease of use, and if they leave any streaks behind. We’ll be using sponges, microfiber clothes, different squeegees, soapy water, Windex, and a vinegar solution. We used a similar process each time, by starting at the top of the window and working down.

Round One

First up is the classic squeegee and sponge with hot, soapy water. This tool has a sponge on one side and a squeegee on the other. We're using this tool by submerging it in a bucket of hot soapy water, then scrubbing the entire window clean with the sponge. To remove the soap and water from the glass, we flip the tool around to use the squeegee side. Start by angling the tool and making a vertical edge down one side of the window, then start at the top and work your way down in horizontal strips. This tool is a classic for a reason and got the job done without a lot of fuss.

Chris’ rating: 8/10

Round Two

Next up is this three-in-one device that has a microfiber cleaning head, a squeegee, and a spray bottle all together. We filled the spray bottle with some Windex and got to work. Unfortunately, this product was a bit of a flop. The spray bottle leaked while moving around, and the squeegee head was too rigid to provide a streak-free finish. Stick with separate, individual tools instead of spending your money on this!

Chris’ rating: 0/10

Round Three

The next product we’re testing out is a newfangled squeegee. It has a silicone blade and a small reservoir to trap the liquid you’re wiping away. For this test, we sprayed the window down with Windex and wiped it with a microfiber cloth. We then tried out the squeegee to remove the excess moisture from the window. This worked great, and the liquid ran into the trap instead of down your arm. If you’re going to buy a new tool for your window washing, this is a great option.

Chris’ rating: 9/10

Round Four

We’re going to use the same wash process as the previous tool, but this time we’re using a regular old squeegee with a flexible rubber head. This one doesn’t have any extra features like a water trap, but it worked just as well to remove all the water without any streaks. This style of squeegee is also great if you have glass shower doors you need to keep clean.

Chris’ rating: 9/10

Round Five

Our final test is an environmentally friendly option. We mixed two parts water with one part vinegar as our cleaning solution, and we’re using newspaper as our tool – no cloths or squeegees this time! It surprisingly cleaned well and didn’t leave any streaks. The vinegar helps to break down any minerals left from hard water, and the newspaper doesn’t leave any lint behind. The best part is it can go in your compost afterward.

Chris’ rating: 10/10

Window Washing Tips

• Pick an overcast or cool day for washing the windows. The hot sun can cause the cleaning solution to dry before you get a chance to wipe it off, which will leave you with more steaks than you started with.
• Spring and fall are the ideal times for window washing. Unless your panes get extra dirty (bird droppings or dirty pawprints for example), you should be fine with a thorough cleaning just twice a year.
• Make sure you’re using lint-free products, such as microfiber or newspaper. Products like paper towels can leave behind fuzz!
• If there are paint splatters or dried-on bird droppings, take a fresh sharp razor to the glass to remove these before washing

Now that you’re equipped with our best tips and tools, we hope you enjoy your sparkling clean and streak-free windows! Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can stay up to date with all our DIY videos.