Different Ways To Clean A Window

Modern homes tend to have more windows and glass in general than they did, say, two hundred years ago. If you are one of the many Londoners who live in a very old house, you may notice that a lot of your windows are modern retrofits (possibly with double glazing for extra warmth and aluminium frames to stop drafts). There are several reasons for this. Firstly, we no longer have quite as many deep-coloured furnishings in our homes that might be damaged by sunlight. Secondly, we tend to work these days indoors, so we need that exposure to the sun and illumination indoors where we are working. Thirdly, since the Industrial Revolution, it’s easier to produce glass in the size, quantity and quality needed for today’s windows.

We don’t just have more glass in the form of windows, either. We also have French doors (glass doors), skylights, mirrors, conservatories and more. In shops, often entire atria and shop fronts are made of glass for better visibility.

However, while it’s lovely to have all that sunlight pouring into our homes – British weather permitting – all that glass does have some drawbacks. The more glass you have, the more you have to clean. And glass just won’t stay clean, no matter what you do, courtesy of the laws of physics about entropy and chaos.

Window Cleaning Methods

Different methods have been developed over the years, along with sizes and styles of windows. Here, we’re not talking about the different types of machines that professional window cleaners use, such as high-reach window washers, cradles and harnesses, but the things that average people can use to get their windows sparkling.

One note of caution is needed here, however. If you need to clean windows or skylights above the ground that are hard to reach and you don’t have a good ladder that gets all the way safely, it might be best to call in a professional, preferably one with a reach-and-wash window cleaning system, to do the job for you. Don’t be an idiot and risk your neck.

Window Cleaners Using One Ingredient

There are plenty of things that you can use to clean your windows that you can make yourself… if “make” is the right word to use when you’re just popping what you plan to wash the windows with into a spray bottle or onto a rag. The following all work:

  • Water. This is what a lot of professional window cleaners use to get windows sparkling, as it doesn’t streak, and it’s all you need to dissolve dirt.
  • Vodka and other strong alcohol. This kills bacteria and cuts through grease like nothing else. It also evaporates very quickly, meaning that there’s no streaking.
  • Vinegar. Vinegar is great a killing the mildew that loves to grow in condensation on windows, so it’s a good choice if your home is on the damp side and your windows are covered with filthy black spots (which happens to the best of us during winter!).
  • Nail polish remover. If you want something really strong, this really shifts dirt. It will get a bit expensive if you use it for every single window in your house, so save it for really tough jobs, such as when the painter has gone and splashed paint all over your window (or try turpentine).
  • Teabags. Yes, you can use an old teabag to clean your windows or mirrors. The tannins in tea can cut through grease and remove handprints. Make sure that the teabag is just damp rather than dripping. You can also use cold tea.

You can combine all of these ingredients to make your own spray if you wish. They don’t react with each other. Diluting the stronger ingredients with water cuts down on the strong smells but they still work just as well.

Window Cleaning Mixtures

There’s a certain satisfaction to mixing up your own window cleaning product. It seems instinctive that something that has a lot of ingredients will work better than one thing on its own. Most of these mixtures will be based on good old H2O, which is the closest thing we have to the Universal Solvent.

Recipes for home-made window cleaners abound. Most of them include small amounts of the following plus a blend of the ingredients listed in the “Window Cleaners Using One Ingredient” section above. Experiment to see what works best for you but please remember that “small amounts” is the key thing – if you use a lot, you will probably leave streaks on your window or pay far more than you have to.

  • Cornstarch
  • Washing soda
  • Borax
  • Ammonia
  • Kerosene
  • Dishwashing detergent

However, if you’re experimenting, there are some things that you should never use. Don’t use bleach: a bleach spray could get where you don’t want it and ruin your clothes, curtains or carpet; also, chlorine bleach reacts very nastily with ammonia. Don’t use soap, either, as it really streaks badly.

Window Cleaning Tools

As well as a spray, you’re going to need the right tools, even if you’re just using water to clean your windows. You need two tools: one to apply your cleaner and get it into the dirt, and a second to remove the dirt. Sometimes, these two tools may look identical. Sometimes, they come combined.

  • Rags. A staple of professional cleaners and can be washed and re-used. Make sure that they don’t shed lint. Rags can apply window cleaning product and can wipe it away, especially if they’re cotton. Cut up old T-shirts, cotton sheets and towels – they’re ideal! Use damp (not dripping) to apply product or dry to remove moisture.
  • Squeegee. This is for wiping off drips and is another staple of professional window washers.
  • Sponge. For applying your window cleaner. Use in conjunction with a squeegee. Make sure that your sponge is damp rather than dripping.
  • Newspaper. This is a two-in-one that applies and dries. Many people swear by damp newspaper for getting windows sparkling, as the ink helps remove dirt while the newsprint absorbs the moisture afterwards.
  • Microfibre cloths. The new kid on the block in the window cleaning world. These use minimal moisture and clean without streaking, as they dry as they go.