10 best glass cleaners and window cleaners for a streak-free finish

There may be nothing more satisfying than cleaning a dirty mark off your window or a smudge off the shelves in your fridge freezer, but while there are plenty of glass cleaners on the market, it’s not always easy to get a streak-free finish.

In fact, use the wrong product and you could end up with more marks than you started with. The best glass cleaner and cloth, however, will remove dirt and smears from glass surfaces, windows and mirrors to leave them looking spotless. From budget options to eco-friendly sprays and even special formulas for tackling tougher jobs such as oven hobs and cars, there's a solution for every task.

To help you choose the best glass or window cleaner for your needs, we've thoroughly researched some of the biggest brands on the market. We spent hours comparing bestseller rankings and searching the Mumsnet forums - the largest online network of parents in the UK - to find honest feedback from real people on the sprays they've tested in their homes. We also delved into numerous consumer reviews and researched expert opinions to ensure our list only features the very best glass cleaners on the market today.

Plus, for more kitchen buying advice, we've also rounded up the best toasters and kettles - as tried and tested by Mumsnetters and our team of expert journalists.

What do professionals clean glass with?

A professional window cleaner will always get your windows shining again, but once you have the right tools it’s fairly easy to do yourself too. Choosing the right day is key though – while a sunny day will reveal any hidden smears and dirt, it’s better to clean your windows on a cloudy day as the sun could dry your windows too quickly.

 1. Clean

Prepare your cleaning solution - many window cleaners swear by dishwasher liquid, such as Fairy Washing Up Liquid. For exterior windows, you can add approximately a teaspoon to some cold water in a bucket (for interior windows, use a spray bottle). Avoid making too many soap suds and use a sponge or scrubber (professionals also use squeegees) to clean your windows, making sure to squeeze out any excess water. Work in an ‘S’ pattern around the glass until it’s clean.

 2. Dry

Once all the dirt and dust has been removed, use a rubber squeegee to wipe the glass until it’s dry, moving it horizontally across the window to push the water down. In between wipes, use a microfibre cloth or towel to clean the blade and repeat until all the water has gone.

 3. Polish

To finish, a professional window cleaner will always polish the glass. To do this, simply use a clean microfibre cloth to wipe the edges of the window and clean the glass of any smears.

What is the best way to clean glass without streaks?

Whether you’re cleaning a glass window, shower screen, table or cabinet, there are certain steps you need to take to avoid streaks and smears.

But what are streaks? Streaks are residue that is left behind. This is why most professional window cleaners choose to clean windows on mild, cloudy days instead of warm, sunny ones because the sun evaporates the window cleaner quicker and causes streaks to appear. Streaks also appear on the glass when you use too much liquid or don’t successfully remove all of it.

To avoid streaky glass when using window or glass cleaners, we recommend you follow our step-by-step guide:

1. Choose your glass cleaner carefully

There’s a vast selection of glass cleaners available. Some are multipurpose, while others are specific for certain types of glass (such as car windows).

We recommend you choose a glass cleaner with either ammonia or isopropyl alcohol in it as these ingredients prevent streaks. Alternatively, you can make your own glass cleaner using white vinegar.

2. Spray the glass with your cleaner

Use a spray bottle and lightly cover the glass with your cleaning solution. Start at the top of the glass and work your way down, ensuring all of the glass is covered in the cleaner.

Avoid using too much glass cleaner as this may lead to streaks. If needs be, you can always apply more later.

3. Scrub the glass with a microfibre cloth

Using a microfibre cloth, start scrubbing the cleaning solution into the glass. Work your way from one corner to the other and then move the cloth down and scrub from side to side again. Keep scrubbing from side to side and moving down the glass, until you’ve wiped all sections of it.

If you prefer to, you can use a squeegee or even newspaper instead of a microfibre cloth. But don’t use paper towels as these will leave behind lint and streaks.

4. Buff the glass with a dry microfibre cloth

There are bound to be small spots that you’ve missed, so take a step back and examine any imperfections on the glass then scrub the stain in a circular motion using a clean microfibre cloth. Repeat the buffing process for each spot that you’ve missed.

If the glass still looks streaky or dirty, re-apply the cleaning solution then scrub and buff until the stains are gone.

Top tip: If you’re shining a mirror or glass with stubborn marks on it, such as hairspray or toothpaste, and have followed the above steps, you can remove the stains with isopropyl alcohol. Simply pour some isopropyl alcohol onto a cotton pad and dab or scrub at the stain until it’s gone.

How do I choose the best glass cleaner?

The first thing to consider when choosing the best glass cleaner is what you need it for.  Do you want a glass cleaner that works on multiple surfaces or only specific ones? For example, if you’re cleaning an oven hob then you’ll want the HG Hob Thorough Cleaner, which is designed specifically for hobs. Whereas, if you want a glass cleaner for multiple surfaces then the Astonish Window and Glass Cleaner is ideal.

Looking at the ingredients is another way to choose the best glass cleaner for your surfaces. Some people prefer to use products with ammonia in it, as this helps to prevent streaks and makes glass shiny, but it can also smell strongly and irritate your skin and eyes.

Other people prefer to use glass cleaners that use less harsh chemicals such as hexoxyethanol, isopropanolamine or sodium laureth sulphate. You can also find glass cleaners that are chemical-free, such as the Method Glass Cleaner.

You might also want to think about the scent before you choose the best glass cleaner. Natural ingredient glass cleaners often contain scents such as mint and eucalyptus, and you can also find ones that have added scents, such as Viakal Fresh.

Most chemical-based glass cleaners are unscented, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have an aroma, which may smell strongly and require good ventilation.

What is the best homemade window cleaner?

A popular homemade solution uses white vinegar to clean glass. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to water either in a bucket or a spray bottle then use a lint-free cloth to rub the mixture onto the glass and a second clean cloth to dry it and remove any smears.

The solution may smell for a while but shouldn’t last long. But be careful though as it can discolour some materials, such as wood. For very dirty windows, you can also add ammonia, but make sure you wear gloves. Instead of using a cloth, newspapers can also be effective at getting rid of smears.

How we chose the best glass cleaners

Fingertip-stained glass and dirt-smeared windows are not only unsightly but can increase allergens and encourage mould to grow in your home, which is why choosing an effective glass cleaner is vital.

To ensure we were bringing you the very best glass cleaner recommendations, we scoured Mumsnet forums to see which products were highly-rated by families who have tried and tested them in their own homes.

By relying on honest and unbiased recommendations from real people, we were then able to conduct in-depth research on each product, including the product’s efficiency at removing stains, ease of use and pros and cons. We also widened our search and compared consumer feedback on retailer websites, such as Amazon, to get a clearer picture of which glass cleaners were most effective.

About the author

Hannah Wilson is a freelance copywriter with over four years' experience writing for a wide range of publications and brands across many industries, including home, lifestyle, travel, health and business. As a passionate writer, who has two young nieces, she understands some of the struggles that parents face and is keen to save Mumsnet users time and money by finding the best products. In her free time, you’ll either find her walking in The Lake District, playing with her nieces, reading a book, attempting to write her own, or baking delicious treats.

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