Why Can't I Clean Windows Without Streaks?

[kcjodih]

ARGGG! I soooo hate cleaning windows and glass. We have four tables in our upper family room with glass tops (WHAT was I thinking) and tons of windows in our new home that need to be cleaned (winter residue and construction grime from building because I only got half of them done in the fall). No matter what I try I get streaks. I can clean mirrors no problem but NOT glass!! I've tried just water and papertowel, water and my magic cloth for windows, Windex and papertowel, Windex and newspaper, water and vinegar with a squeegee, water and vinegar with papertowels or newspapers and I have NO luck at all!!

I watch the window cleaners at work go from business to business with a bucket of soapy (?) water and a squeegee and the windows are beautiful in seconds Why oh why can't I get this right? I'm now looking at the work I did in the fall on the half of the windows I did have time for and they're all streaky!! I know to not do it on a sunny day and I make sure to wipe in one direction inside and one out so that I know which side I missed by the direction of the mark but still can't get them clean!

Does anyone have a tried and true method? And if you do use dishsoap or vinegar how much per how much water? Maybe I'm not using enough or too much. Also do use papertowels, newspaper, squeegee, or...?

Thanks for any and ALL help - from me AND my filthy windows

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

Oh man, I supposed to clean my windows?? I thought that's why I have curtains and mini blinds

Shall I state the obvious? How about a Pampered Chef microfiber towel?

 

[Kitchen Diva]

ARGGG! I soooo hate cleaning windows and glass. We have four tables in our upper family room with glass tops (WHAT was I thinking) and tons of windows in our new home that need to be cleaned (winter residue and construction grime from building because I only got half of them done in the fall). No matter what I try I get streaks. I can clean mirrors no problem but NOT glass!! I've tried just water and papertowel, water and my magic cloth for windows, Windex and papertowel, Windex and newspaper, water and vinegar with a squeegee, water and vinegar with papertowels or newspapers and I have NO luck at all!!

I watch the window cleaners at work go from business to business with a bucket of soapy (?) water and a squeegee and the windows are beautiful in seconds Why oh why can't I get this right? I'm now looking at the work I did in the fall on the half of the windows I did have time for and they're all streaky!! I know to not do it on a sunny day and I make sure to wipe in one direction inside and one out so that I know which side I missed by the direction of the mark but still can't get them clean!

Does anyone have a tried and true method? And if you do use dishsoap or vinegar how much per how much water? Maybe I'm not using enough or too much. Also do use papertowels, newspaper, squeegee, or...?

Thanks for any and ALL help - from me AND my filthy windows

Balled up pieces of non colored newpaper pages work magic!!!!!

 

[BeaLorene]

I heard that coffee filters are supposed to work well. I have a bunch from an old coffee maker that we don't use any longer. I do like using our microfiber towel.

 

[stefani2]

norwexI have never tried the PC Microfiber Cloth - I use the NORWEX Microfiber Cloth (damp) and their Window Cloth - no streak EVER!!! You can just use their Window Cloth if the window/mirror/table isn't very dirty. I have 2 little kids and I babysit - so I need the damp cloth to take off fingerprints, food, etc. and then just the window cloth to 'polish'

 

[peichef]

1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water. Works really well & chemical free

 

[pampchefrhondab]

I LOVE Cinch!!! It is by Spic & Span.

Unfortunatley it is very hard to find. The small grocery in my town carries it. They say people come in a buy a ton of it! I hope they are still making it or I will be really, really sad some day!!

It leave no streaks and is amonia free!

Good Luck,

 

[lkprescott]

I used to work at a used car dealership and we used newspaper and a regular window cleaning spray. Worked great - just had to mind the newsprint on the dash. Makes the hands black but the windows clean with minimal lint. I don't get a newspaper though so don't do that at home. I got a microfiber type cloth called a Green cloth or something like that... all I do is make it damp with clean water and wipe away and it works great on all surfaces. BTW, I think the magic to the professional window cleaners is the squeegie. Like a windshield wiper, they work very well. I know they make them for glass shower doors, perhaps you could find something like that to use on all the windows in your house? I don't worry about windows that face outside (the windows are old and 'smokey' so hard to tell when they're clean anyway) but I do have a set of pocket doors with tiny windows that I do once a year or so (most the year we never use the doors but it's amazing how dust can still get in there!).... and my cloth works great. No chemicals so I can get the kids in on the act too.

 

[chefann]

BTW, I think the magic to the professional window cleaners is the squeegie. Like a windshield wiper, they work very well. I know they make them for glass shower doors, perhaps you could find something like that to use on all the windows in your house?

I can sell you one - it's called a Handy Scraper, and it's in our catalog.

 

[daniellemorgan]

I use the method glass cleaner with the microfiber cloth specifically for glass. Works wonders!!

 

[Teresa Lynn]

I use newspaper and Invisible glass (its hard to find) I can sometimes find it at target in the automotive area & hardware stores