How to Clean Windows Like A Pro [EASY GUIDE]

When you compare a clean window to a dirty one, you can see the difference. Streak- and grime-free windows provide a lovely way to enjoy the outdoors while also providing an uninterrupted path for sunlight to enter your home’s interior. 

However, many people avoid this task because they do not know how to clean windows. Fortunately, it only takes a little forethought and elbow grease. 

Clean windows, both inside and outside, provide a better outlook, a better view out, and a good impression for those looking out the window. Allow the light in with our expert window cleaning tips for sparkling panes!

The Structure Of A Window

With a better understanding of window parts and functionality, you will be better prepared to clean them! 

• Glass panes is a framed sheet of glass that makes up a window. It is built into your window frames to create a pristine view, eliminate airflow, and insulate your home. 
• The framework that surrounds and supports the entire window system is referred to as the frame. It is divided into three sections: the head, the jamb, and the sill. 
• The casing is a decorative finish that covers the gap between the window frame or jamb and the wall. 
• Tracks, also known as window sills, are the main horizontal components that form the bottom of a window’s frame. 
• Screens are typically woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass covering a window opening to allow air and light but not insects to pass through.

Interior Window Cleaning

Depending on the window, a mesh screen may cover the opening pane of glass. Mesh screens keep things from getting into your home or falling out the windows. They also prevent fingerprints on your windows and can be easily removed to clean the glass. 

Use a glass microfiber cleaning cloth and a spray bottle of equal parts vinegar and water to clean windows. This cloth has a flat weave and no texture, so it won’t catch debris or scratch the surface. 

Spray the window with the quartered cloth in an S pattern from top to bottom, left to right. Use the same solution to clean the frame inside the casing. 

It’s vital to know the finish you’re working with. For older wood, you may want to use a more cautious substance. You can even dust it rather than use any liquid.

Inside Windows: A Quick Note 

One thing to remember in colder climates. If you’re heating your home and it’s freezing outside, condensation may form on your windows. 

Consistent drippage from the window cell causes streaky paint, or it can build up and cause mold and mildew buildup.

Exterior Window Cleaning 

Pick a good time and day to clean your exterior windows. It’s best to clean your windows on a cloudy day because direct sunlight or heat can dry product onto the window. 

Let’s look at some tools and techniques for cleaning windows. Exterior windows get filthy quickly, so don’t use a microfiber cloth to clean them. In this case, a squeegee with two sides is ideal; they come in various sizes; choose the one that fits your windows.

Cleaning windows with a gallon of warm water, white vinegar, and dish soap is simple. Adding too much dish soap can leave streaks and make cleaning your windows more complex, so start with a spoon and only add if necessary.

Swipe your squeegee across the paint from top to bottom. Three or four swipes suffice. Then switch to the rubber side of the squeegee’s tip and repeat.

Cleaning the outer frames and casings is possible. Using a pressure washer is ideal, but you can also do it manually. To clean the windows, use a nylon-tipped dish brush dipped in a diluted solution of soapy water and vinegar. Fill the brush, scrub the sides, and rinse it. 

Cleaning 2nd Story Windows

You can easily clean the windows on the first floor. You may only need a step stool, but you should be able to do this safely. You should buy an extending pole if you want to clean second or third-story windows.

To use them, screw them onto your squeegee and extend and retract as desired. If you have high windows or a large window cleaning job ahead of you, now is the time to hire professionals with ladders, scaffolding, and other equipment. 

Windows & Sliding Door Tracks

Start by cleaning the window and door tracks with a brush attachment or a shop vac if you have one. Next, clean the exterior window casing with the same brush.

Scrub the brush with the soap-filled body and the nylon head, then rinse it. They will look much better but will quickly become dirty.

Mold & Mildew

Mold and mildew can build up on the frame track or sill of a window or sliding door because the window is an excellent place for mold and mildew to grow. So, watch out for mold and mildew around your windows.

Here’s how to get rid of them! First, open the window or door and brush it. Next, please make a small container of equal parts borax and vinegar and apply it to the moldy surface with a cleaning toothbrush. Leave it for 10 minutes if it’s a big stain, or start scrubbing right away if it’s not. Rinse with a paper towel.

To protect it from mold and mildew, use a mold and mildew treatment spray, give it a quick zap, let it dry, and return to this area every month or so to keep it clean.

Screens

Windows screens don’t need to be cleaned often, but when you do, do it right. Pop them off first. If it’s cold outside, you can do this in the bathtub or take them out. If they’re not too bad, use a showerhead or a hose to clean them. There isn’t much dirt there, just cobwebs and larger particles that can be rinsed away.

If filthy, use the same window cleaning solution: water, vinegar, and dish soap. Also, use a non-iron scrub brush, contrary to popular belief. We don’t recommend pushing too hard, as the mesh is quite delicate.

Now that you know how to get a flawless finish on your windows, you’re in the know. Despite the “pain” of cleaning windows, having unobstructed views… and letting the sunshine in are well worth it!

What are your best window cleaning tips? Please share your thoughts with us.