How to Clean Windows

Couple Sitting in Front of Clean Windows.

Cleaning Interior and Exterior Windows.

How to Clean Window Glass (Exterior and Interior)

Unlike many other items or areas you clean in your home, you can’t miss the windows. They stay in your peripheral vision, you can’t ignore them, they’re all around the house.

Windows wash your inside space with natural lighting that helps make living spaces more inviting. Now, let’s get to cleaning.

Window Cleaning Tips

Don’t clean windows in direct sunlight- wait for a cloudy day or wash them before the sun hits the glass. If you clean them when the sun is shining, the cleaning solution will dry on the glass before you have a chance to rinse and will leave streaking behind.

When cleaning exterior windows, start with top level windows and work your way down. Be safe and use proper equipment. I like the squeegee that has the scrubber and the squeegee combination. You can use the scrubbing bar to spread the cleaning solution around the surface of the window the flip it and squeegee the liquid off the glass.

Cleaning Exterior Windows

Tools Needed:

  • Bucket large enough for a squeegee to fit
  • Microfiber or lint free cloth
  • Squeegee or soft bristled brush
  • Extension pole if necessary
  • Hose with a spray nozzle
  • Sponge
  • Rubber gloves

The Cleaning Process

  • Hose down one window at a time.
  • Wash it with hot soapy water using your squeegee or soft bristled brush. If you are using a squeegee, be sure to wipe the blade off of excess water.
  • Hose it again to rinse the soap off the window. (Be quick, don’t let it dry).
  • Clean the rest of the window glass the same way.

Cleaning Interior Windows

Tools Needed:

  • Spray bottle with cleaner
  • Towels
  • Microfiber or lint free cloth
  • Squeegee
  • Rubber gloves

Indoor window frames don’t have to be cleaned every time, because they don’t get half as dirty as your exterior windows.

The Cleaning Process

First either remove or pull back window coverings then use a microfiber or lint free cloth and run this over the surface of the window, frame and window sills to remove dust, dirt, cobwebs, etc.

With a damp cloth, go over the window frame and sills. Before washing the windows, lay a towel on the window sill to keep water from dripping on the painted surface. Spray the window cleaner on the glass and using an S shape motion clean the glass. Start at the top and work your way down.

If you are using a squeegee, start at a top corner and pull down, overlap each stroke. Clean the blade after each pull.

Window Cleaner Recipes

Making your own glass cleaner is easy and only takes a few ingredients.

Glass Cleaner Recipe #1

  • 8 cups hot water
  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons dish soap

This is a good recipe to put in a bucket for cleaning outdoor windows.

Glass Cleaner Recipe #2

  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (at least 70% alcohol)

This is a good recipe to put in a spray bottle for cleaning interior windows.

If you don’t have the time, don’t feel the rush to get all windows clean in one day. Do as many as you can then more the next day.