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Anonymous said
on 8/20/2007 I have personally cleaned over 10,000 windows. I've owned my own window cleaning company for over 4 years in Hawaii where sun, salt, hard water and dust are rampant. I've heard of almost every single household solution. And some of them may come close to being perfect; all are far from it. To clean a window perfectly:
Do not use ammonia, it stinks, it can burn your skin, and it will leave bleach stains on your carpet if you spill it. Do not use Windex and paper towels. Do not use newspaper. Some people swear by it, but in my professional opinion it is substandard. Step one - buy the right solution. Buy "Glisten" solution, it will literally make your windows sparkle. Next buy a decent squeegee. You'll only need one handle with two different sizes. Get 3 lint free towels, a washing bar (T-bar covered in cloth), razor blade holder, and a bag of steel wool #0000.
Wet your washing bar. Wet the window thoroughly. If your windows do not have a coating on them, take out your razor blade (make sure you have a new blade, change it daily, and sometimes 2x a day if your doing a lot of windows). Place the blade on the glass and go in one direction. If you hear anything -stop. You do not have to do the whole window, only where there is paint over-spray, sap, etc. Then wet the window again, and place your squeegee on the top and with light pressure applied, move downward. Take your squeegee and dry the end that will touch the dry glass. Apply second stroke, etc. When you are done with the squeegee, take your second cloth and wipe the edges where the water collects. Then take out your steel wool. (People will balk at this suggestion but #0000 steel wool will not hurt any uncoated window) Use your steel wool and touch up any remaining spots. Keep the wool dry or it is useless. Your window will now be spotless. Take some time and some practice, and you may just open up your own window washing business.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Add 1 tablespoon of lamp oil (kerosene) to 1 gallon of warm water. Wash with a sponge. Use a figure 8 motion to dry the entire surface without lifting the squeegee off the glass. Wipe the edges and corners with newspaper.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I have just spent the past hour trying to get my windows streak free. I was very frustrated, then I thought I would check e-How to see what people said. I tried the water mixed with a little dish soap and my windows are now completely streak free! I filled my sink with some hot water, added some dish soap. I used a paper towel to clean the windows and then another paper towel to dry them, now they are beautiful! This was so simple, no more store bought cleaners!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Use a solution of vinegar and ammonia to pre-soak. Use Zud powder to wipe the spots. I have found it works well where heavy spotting from a sprinkler system occurred.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Buy a cheap applicator and a squeegee from a hardware store. Never use Windex or ammonia, they both leave streaks. Use vinegar and water, or even better - use soap and water. Liberally add soap to an applicator or a mop. Scrub and dry with a squeegee - going from side to side as you work your way down the window. Never use Windex or newspaper. I am a professional window cleaner, that is how I make my living.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Don't clean windows when the sun is shining on them. The cleaners dry so quickly. Do windows when they are in the shade.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Always use a squeegee with a new rubber blade. Use a brass-handled one (which you'll find at Home Depot), not those car squeegees. They are designed for curved glass and that is why they flex. Learn the fan method, if your windows are large enough. A mixture of water, a squirt of dishwashing liquid, and some clear ammonia is all you need. Wipe the edge with blue surgical cloth to catch drips. I've been washing windows professionally for 15 years.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I use alcohol to clean my windows in my car and in my home.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Take about a half pail of warm water and add a teaspoon or so of cornstarch. Stir it around - mixture will be milky. Take a lint-free cloth, wring it out in this mixture and rub it on the windows. Dry with a paper towel. NO STREAKS!!!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I use a dash of ammonia with distilled water in a spray bottle. I wipe using flour sack dish towels and wash them in 6 drops of Basic H and rinse them 3 times in the washing machine. Don't have fabric softener residue in dryer.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Call a professional!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I use 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a bucket of warm water. Dip a rag or sponge in the water solution and wash window. Follow with a clean dry towel to dry. No streaks. Works great on glass and mirrors inside the house also.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 The same as yours but don't use paper towels; use newspaper.The shine is so much better.
Anonymous said
on 10/21/2007 Forget cleaning chemicals!
The new microfiber towels are unbeatable for streak and lint free windows - and you only need use water on the window.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 1 capful of Woolite laundry detergent to the hottest water you can withstand. Rub on to window with sponge and wipe down with a squeegie. Then wipe dry with lint free paper towels. What a shine.