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What stands between you and that mythically sparkly, vitamin D drenched living room? Only a squeegee and scrubber, window cleaning solution, and a few panes of speckled, dirty glass.
Clean windows provide unimpeded sun exposure, which gives our plants the sun they need to grow and give us the vitamins we need to feel enriched. Cleaning windows can also remove harmful dust and dirt that could otherwise cause allergies.
While that bout of window washing you’ve been planning might be hard to get started, with the right strategy and steps it’s more than achievable. Here’s how to clean windows at home.
Window Cleaning Materials to Have on Hand
A scrubber brush, squeegee, and pack of microfiber cloths are some of the necessary supplies you need to clean your windows.
Squeegee
Most pros use a squeegee to clean windows. If you have lots of windows, then a good squeegee like the OXO Good Grips is worth it.
The OXO Good Grips is a stainless steel squeegee with all the maneuverability you’ll need to clean your windows.
Scrubber
A scrubber like the Ettore 50010 is the second thing you’ll need for window cleaning. However, a good non-scratch sponge will also do the job swimmingly.
A good scrubber is the main tool you’ll need for lathering glass.
Microfiber Cloths
Before you start your window cleaning job, we recommend having a pack of microfiber cloths like the Amazon Basics 24-pack.
A multi-pack is usually the best bet, as you’ll need one rag to wipe your squeegee with, one to clean the sill, and another to dry the window once you’re done. You could also use a fourth rag as an alternative to a scrubber for applying cleaning solution.
Microfiber cloths are useful for all parts of the window cleaning process.
The Best Window Cleaners
Dawn Ultra is our favorite dish soap for cleaning windows, add a few squirts to a bucket of warm water for a perfect homemade window cleaner.
White vinegar is another popular additive for a homemade solution. Mix it with warm water and put it in a spray bottle for a makeshift window cleaner spray.
A good commercial glass cleaner can also go a long way, too. At Reviewed we’ve tested a lot of window cleaning products. We recommend the top-performing Chemical Guys, which works in all types of settings without streaking.
A great pick for dishware, Dawn is also useful for cleaning glass.
Chemical Guys is a streak-free window cleaner with proven cleaning prowess.
Towels and Paper Towels
We recommend having a towel, like the Utopia Cotton Bar Mops, on hand for all parts of the window cleaning job. The towel can help protect the window sill and other areas from getting wet during the cleaning process. These affordable bath towel are absorbent enough for the job, but not so pricey as to be a liability if it should get dirty.
Keep a good set of towels on hand to clean your tools and sop up spills.
When is the Best Time to Wash Windows?
We recommend washing your windows once or twice per year, or on an as-needed basis. Interior window glass may need more frequent cleaning due to smudges and other gunk that can accumulate, whereas the exterior only needs a deep cleaning once or twice a year to remove dirt and other build up.
If you have double hung windows, which are common in many homes, you can clean both the inside and outside of your windows from the inside of your home. To avoid dripping, we recommend cleaning the top panes first, and then moving to the bottom.
Save window washing for a day where the sun isn’t shining directly into your window. Best case, wash your windows on a cloudy or overcast day during the spring and/or early fall when the weather is not too hot or cold, and there's no rain or snow in the forecast. However, avoid picking a sunny day, as you risk drying your solution too quickly and leaving streaks.
When you’re ready to start, mix a few squirts of dish soap into a bucket of warm water.
How to Clean Windows on the Inside of Your Home
Step 1: Drape a Towel on the Windowsill
It's best to use a cleaning spray and microfiber cloth when cleaning windows.
Prep the windows for washing by draping a towel along the lower windowsill, this can be clamped into place using the window’s frame. This will protect the space below the window from dripping water.
Step 2: Remove Dust from the Window Frame
First use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the window’s frame. Try to get any dust or dirt off the frame at this step.
Step 3: Lather the Window With Your Scrubber
Use your window scrubber or sponge. Dunk this in your solution and then spread it across the glass. Start at the top, coating the windowpane in its entirety as you work downwards.
Don’t drench the glass but do make sure to give it a lathered wash.
Step 4: Cut In the Top of the Pane
Once you’ve made this first pass with a scrubber, take a clean rag and run it along the top frame, creating a clean and dry edge. This ensures that built up water won’t run down the glass pane after you’ve passed by with your squeegee.
Step 5: Squeegee the Window
Then, use your squeegee, starting from this dry line, and dropping it in long steady strokes that move top to bottom. After each stroke, wipe your squeegee with a clean rag to remove any water.
If you squeegee horizontally, it’s helpful to hold the tool with a dry rag at its bottom to catch any fluid that might run down. Just make sure that it doesn’t drag on the glass while you swipe.
Step 6: Dry with a Clean Cloth
Finally, use a clean and dry microfiber towel to remove any residual moisture or water spots. It’s a good idea to keep this towel clear of your work at all other steps to ensure it stays dry and lint free.
Use this to detail the window. Check the top corners of the pane to make sure no water has beaded there and detail any potential streaking.
How to Clean Windows From the Outside
When you start in on washing exterior windows you may feel tempted to bring out the garden hose for some heavy-duty blasting.
While it will work to blast your windows, scrub with soap, and finish with a squeegee and rag, it will work just as well to reapply the same method used inside.
Hard or crusted stains like bird droppings or mud can be worked at with your scrubber or the back of your sponge. If these are especially persistent it’s often a good idea to saturate them and let them sit for a while before you start on the task.
A pressure washer can also do wonders at getting rid of crusty deposits, but can break a window if used improperly, especially older, more fragile windows. Our advice? Do not use a pressure washer unless you understand how to do so safely.
Window Cleaning Tips for Apartments
When you live high up, washing the outside of your windows isn’t as simple as going outside and using a squeegee. Before you affix a harness to yourself and lean out to scour the outer pane, remember that there are safer ways.
Check to See if You Can Pull the Window Inside
Many apartments feature classic double-hung windows. Double-hung windows feature two panes, each of which slides independently. If you live in a more modern home, then you’ll likely find that both panels can be pulled inward or removed. Because of this feature, you’ll usually be able to clean double-hung windows with little trouble.
To clean double-hung windows, look for a lip along the top of the outer window frame. Use this to pull the frame down, then look for a latch on the top of the frame. Slide these latches to retract the clips that hold the window into place in its railing. Once you’ve done so, you can pull the window in, enabling you to wash it while it’s still in place.
If you want to remove the window entirely, you may need to use a screwdriver to unlock the second set of pins on the window. Once you do, remove the window from its casement entirely and bring it inside. Then wash it as you would with a regular window and reinstall it.
Follow These Window Cleaning Tips for Hard-to-Reach Windows
If your apartment has casement or awning windows, then cleaning the outside might not be so accessible.
With these windows, there are still options. Some window cleaning tools like the Sudatek Aluminum Telescopic Window Cleaner are built to curve around the edges of these windows, allowing you to hit parts of the glass that you couldn’t reach with your arm. If your apartment has inaccessible awning windows, then one of these tools is a good investment.
A U-shaped telescopic squeegee helps you clean windows that you can’t reach with your arm.
Use a Magnetic Window Cleaner for Panes You Can’t Reach
Beyond hooked squeegees, there’s another innovative window cleaning tool that can help: A magnetic window cleaner like the Kokitea Double-Sided Window Cleaner will do the trick.
The Kokitea is a two-piece scrubber system. The interior piece guides the exterior scrubber using magnetism, with a dial on the interior half that lets you lock it into place when both sides are aligned. Both pieces have cleaning surfaces, so both sides of your window are cleaned simultaneously.
As a safety measure, a tether extends from the interior piece to the exterior magnetic cleaner, so if it disconnects from the interior magnet or drops before it’s connected, then the scrubber won’t fall to the street below.
Use the power of magnets to clean both sides of hard-to-reach windows at once.
How to Use a Magnetic Scrubber
To use a magnetic scrubber, soak both sides with a cleaning solution. The Kokitea’s instructions suggest soaking both halves of the scrubber in soapy water, but we found that saturating both sides of the pane with a streak-free window cleaner produced better results.
Place the exterior piece on a portion of the glass that you can reach. Before you let go, match the interior piece to the outer piece so that they connect magnetically, then adjust the dial until the outer half sticks in place.
Then scrub the glass, guiding the triangular corners of the scrubber into the corners of your window pane. The scrubber works by wiping the area in front of it down with sponges, which is then squeegeed dry by the wiper on the back, so it’s important to move in one direction making U-shaped turns to cover the entire window.
Check how powerful the magnets in your scrubber are before purchasing. Our test window has insulated panes about one inch thick, which is enough for the smallest Kokitea window cleaner, but thicker windows require larger versions.
If you need to clean your windows a second time, there are included sponge pads in the box. Don’t double dip after a deep cleaning, or you may end up scratching your windows with detritus in the pads.
How to Clean Window Screens
If possible, we recommend removing dirty window screens and propping them against a wall or chair outside. Use your hose or pressure washer to give them a good rinse.
Apply your cleaning solution liberally and give the screens another rinse with the hose and let them air dry in the sun.
Should you Use a Razor Blade for Window Cleaning?
You may have heard that pro window washers use razor blades to clean glass, but we don’t recommend using a razor blade for window cleaning.
A razor blade has its benefits for removing paint or sap, however, for the untrained it’s simply too risky. Secondarily, razor blades are never appropriate for the finishes on many common, treated windows and can cause damage.
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