How to Clean Windows?

Cleaning your windows regularly is an easy way to keep your home looking and feeling fresh. Plus, when you use the right cleaning products and accessories you’ll get a better result every time. This video shows you some clever tips to make cleaning windows even easier.

1. Remove curtains and blinds

Start by taking down curtains and blinds. If you can, take the opportunity to give drapes a thorough wash or spritz with a fabric freshener like Febreze. Use a dry brush or dusting attachment on your vacuum to sweep away any dust or cobwebs from around the corners of the windows and the windowsills.

2.Brush the window down

Give the window a quick dust down with a cobweb brush to remove all the loose spider webs and build up of dirt and grime. Start at the top of the window and work your way down. This way you can avoid sweeping any mess onto an area you’ve already cleaned. Then use your dust brush to clean off the windowsill.

3.Wash the window

Fill your bucket with water and add a bit of detergent. Then wet your microfibre window washer and start scrubbing the window. Always start at the top and work down so that dirty water doesn’t drip onto areas you have already cleaned. Generally, water and detergent works fine, but if you’ve got some more stubborn stains you might like to use a glass cleaner. For really stuck-on grime, add a capful of methylated spirits to your water instead.

4. Squeegee the window dry

For a cleaner finish, first wet the blade of your squeegee. Then wipe the water off the window, working from top to bottom. You can stop streaks from appearing by cleaning the squeegee blade with a rag between strokes. Now give the windowsill a quick wipe with your rag to clean off the last of the grime.

 Common Window Washing Mistakes

1. You choose a sunny day

"Do this job in the blazing sun and the cleaner will dry onto the hot windows before you get to wipe it off, leaving hard-to-remove streaks," says Forte. Instead, choose a dry, cloudy day. But if the sun's out and you're itching to clean, start with the windows on the shady side of the house.

2. You don't dust the sills and sashes first

Skip this step and any liquid that drips onto the window frames will create a muddy mess. Always vacuum the frame, sill and sash first before tackling the glass

3. You don't use enough window cleaner

Don't be afraid to generously spritz your windows with Hope's Perfect Glass, especially if they are extra dirty. "You need plenty of cleaner to dissolve and suspend the dirt so it can be completely wiped away — skimp and you'll be seeing streaks," says Forte.

4. You use newspaper to dry

Some folks swear by this trick, but Forte has never had any luck using newspaper to dry windows. She finds it messy, ineffective and prefers microfiber cloths. "They are super absorbent, washable and leave the glass shiny and streak-free," says Forte.

5. You dry with a weak, linty paper towel

But if a paper towel is still your cloth of choice, choose one that's up to the task. There's nothing worse than drying with a towel that separates in two or leaves lots of lint on the glass. In our last paper towel test, Bounty Regular ($8 for an 8-pack, amazon.com) held up best and didn't deposit lint.