Let’s get crystal clear on how to clean your windows
Pros use a combination of commercial cleaners and DIY window cleaning solutions.
Window cleaning pros also have the supplies and techniques to get a streak-free finish.
Consider hiring a professional, especially if your windows are on a second story.
Cleaning your home’s windows is simple and straightforward—in theory. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, as you may end up with streaks and smudges that make your windows look worse than before you ‘cleaned’ them. In this guide, you’ll learn what professional cleaners use to clean windows, including their cleaning solutions, tools, and techniques.
Professional window cleaners use a variety of window cleaning solutions, depending on the situation. There are a few options you can consider, including simple DIY window cleaners and commercial products.
Believe it or not, one of the most common and effective window cleaning solutions that is used by professionals is a mixture of dish soap and water. Simply mix one gallon of water with two teaspoons of liquid dish soap, and you have a professional window cleaning solution.
You can apply the mix to your windows using a sponge and tackle tough spots using either a scratch-free scrubby pad or a grade #0000 fine steel wool pad. Avoid using a coarser steel wool pad, as it could scratch your glass.
"A dish soap solution is the most cost-effective and efficient cleaning solution for removing dirt and grime from windows without streaks behind,” said Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters, a family-owned and operated janitorial company in Williamsport, PA.
If you prefer to use a chemical-free window cleaning solution, or if your windows have streaks from hard water mineral deposits, some professional window cleaners use a vinegar-based cleaning solution that is mixed with liquid dish soap and water. This solution can also cut through tough oil and grime.
To make a batch, combine one gallon of water, one cup of white distilled vinegar, and one teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Shake gently to combine, and use a squeegee or gentle scrub pad to scrub your windows before drying them.
“A vinegar dilution is one of the most available and cost-effective solutions, and it’s underutilized,” Biddle said.
In some cases, professional window cleaners will use commercial window cleaning solutions to remove grime and reduce the risk of streaks. These cleaning solutions may provide better results, but they are more expensive than the DIY solutions.
Just as important as the cleaning solutions used are the tools the pros use to give your windows that super-clear sparkle. Before cleaning your windows, here are a few items you should consider picking up from your local home improvement store.
A squeegee is a must-have tool to make your windows look like they were cleaned by a pro. Squeegees have a rubber piece attached to them that removes moisture as you drag it across the surface of your windows. Using a squeegee is a key tip for a streak-free shine on your windows.
A sponge with a scrubby side or a scrub brush is one of the best tools for removing gunk from windows. Insects, bird poop, tree debris, construction debris, and/or caked on dirt are no match for a gentle scrub pad.
For more stubborn, stuck-on debris, you can use a grade #0000 steel wool pad, but make sure you buy the right one. You don’t want to scratch your window or the frame around it.
A professional will sometimes use a steel wool pad or scrub brush to clean window screens as well.
Another tip for streak-free windows after cleaning is to make sure you remove all lint, moisture, and residue from your cleaning solution. There is no better way to do this than by using a clean cotton towel or microfiber cloth once you are finished cleaning your windows.
If you decide to hire a pro to clean your windows, the cost of professional window cleaning is based on the number of windows and window panes, the size of windows, and the number of stories in your home. Professional window cleaners use a few techniques and tricks that you can replicate for a professional look.
If you have hard water in your area, you will have minerals in your tap water that will likely remain on your window—even after you clean it. Unfortunately, minerals like calcium and magnesium are the primary culprits of large, unappealing streaks left on recently cleaned windows. To avoid this issue, use distilled or bottled water—not tap water—when mixing your cleaning solution.
You may have seen your grandma use a balled-up newspaper for a streak-free shine. It’s a classic for a reason, and why it’s still a popular trick of the trade for professional auto detailers. Newspaper is super absorbent, so it will soak up all water, oils, and cleaning solution off of your glass after cleaning.
While this won’t work as well as a professional window squeegee (yep, we just wanted to say it again), it’s a great alternative if you don’t have one or if you’ve got a lot of Classified sections to recycle. Only use black-and-white newspaper, and make sure your paper uses petroleum-based ink rather than soy. Otherwise, it may leave a residue behind. If in doubt, test a small area to be sure.
No squeegee handy and no newspaper to be found? Try the professional house cleaner’s trick: spray your vinegar solution or DIY window cleaner, then rub the glass down with a clean cotton towel. Flip the towel to its dry side to remove any remaining moisture.
When wiping down your windows, avoid making small circles. These will leave you right back where you started—or worse. Instead, use a continuous side-to-side swooping motion, creating the shape of a figure eight (gracefulness is optional). Try to cover as much surface area as you can with each swipe, and gradually move down after you’ve completed a section.
Once you’ve got the entire surface clean and mostly dry, allow the window to air-dry for a few minutes before tackling any remaining lint. In the meantime, you can clean the windowsill, window tracks, and surrounding areas for an extra-satisfying result.
If you see any leftover fuzzies from your cotton towel, give the window a once-over with a clean cotton towel or microfiber cloth. Take a break if need be, as lint can be extremely sneaky and frustrating. You’ll get the rest of it when you come back.
Window cleaning is one of those things that any homeowner can do themselves, but if you don’t have the right tools or cleaning solutions, then you’re unlikely to get that professionally-cleaned and streak-free appearance.
However, if you don’t want to purchase and store professional window cleaning supplies, or you can’t seem to get the clean look you want, there’s no shame in hiring a window cleaning service near you. A professional will make quick work of the cleaning and is more likely to get a crisp appearance with no streaks or residue left on your windows.
We should also mention that cleaning the outside of second-story or third-story windows can be challenging and dangerous, especially if you don’t have double-hung windows that tilt inward. If you’re dealing with window cleaning that requires the use of a ladder and safety equipment, we recommend hiring a window cleaning service for the best results.
A professional window cleaning service costs on average $220, based on a home with around 20 windows. If you have more windows, a second story, or require both the interior and exterior of the windows to be cleaned, expect to pay closer to $300 or more.
One of the best professional cleaning solutions that won’t leave streaks is one gallon of distilled or bottled water mixed with 2 to 4 teaspoons of dish soap. Apply using a sponge in a figure-eight motion, and then use a squeegee to remove the majority of the water and soap. You can finish drying with a piece of old black-and-white newspaper to remove any residue for a streak-free clean every time.
Professional window cleaners typically use either a white vinegar solution or a commercial hard water stain remover to clean hard water stains on windows. A common vinegar solution for this purpose consists of one cup of white vinegar mixed with a gallon of distilled or bottled water. The pro will spray the mixture and lightly scrub the window with a scrubby pad before cleaning with a standard cleaning solution. Alternatively, they may use a commercially available hard water stain remover and a scrubby pad, followed by a complete cleaning.
Avoid any abrasive tools, like rough cloths or steel wool, which can permanently scratch and damage your windows. Hard water can leave spots or streaks, so distilled or filtered water is usually preferred. Finally, check if your windows have any special features, like tinting, as this may impact what type of cleaning solution to use.
