How Do You Wash Your Windows?
By Anna
@LadyDuck (471468)
Switzerland
January 7, 2016 9:28am CST
Reading some discussions, I realized that this is one of the household tasks that we dislike most.
I hated to wash the windows because I did it the way my Mom used to do.
I used wet paper towels or newspaper and elbow grease, a lot of work for a deceiving result.
Looking at professionals, I switched to a easier method to clean the glasses.
I use warm water and a little dish soap (or half water and half white vinegar), a sponge and a squeegee.
I wash the window glasses with the sponge.
I pass the squeegee on the window and finally, I dry the glass with a lint-free towel.
It's faster, it's easier and the window glasses look perfect.
This is how I wash my windows.
Do you have an easy and effective method to share?
59 people like this
66 responses
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32697)
• Calgary, Alberta
7 Jan 16
I use to use a large sponge to clean my Windows with a car cleaning soap and all the familiar shenanigans people do but I am now using a dirt proof and dust proof glass. They were kind of expensive but it helped me enjoy some laziness.
I hate Ironing my clothes, I also hate doing laundry. I don't have a dryer so I use a clothes line to dry my clothes.
8 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Jan 16
I have never heard of dirt proof and dust proof glass. Interesting.
4 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32697)
• Calgary, Alberta
7 Jan 16
@fishtiger58 Yup they do exist, there is also dust proof and dirt proof paint for people who are lazy to clean walls.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Jan 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker No kidding I am going to have to check this out.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I bought special cloths - you dampen one, wipe the window - once over, no drying...and your're done. No streaks, no mess very little effort. I got them from QVC.
When we did cabin cleaning a few years ago we were told 'clean the 'view' windows only. And I think that's a good way to do it. We have rooms we don't use, why clean the windows if no one looks thru them? Besides, that's my husband's job anyway.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
7 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill Thank you Abby, I am going to check immediately.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@LadyDuck Here is the link to them:
No soaps or chemicals required. These streak-free, spot-free, lint-free Bio Cleaner cloths help tackle stickiness, grease, and grime with just the addition of water! Use them to wipe down a variety of surfaces, including mirrors, windows, countertops, and
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82777)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@LadyDuck cleaning in the sun is what I always do. Never thought about the sun drying them too quickly
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Jan 16
We use a squeegee as well they make the job less hateful.
6 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82777)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I've always used paper towels and never thought of using a squeegee
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Jan 16
@LadyDuck No doubt it works really well.
4 people like this
@allknowing (136347)
• India
9 Jan 16
I have 31 louvre windows. Each glass pane is 5 feet long and 5" in breadth. Each window has 7 such panes These exclude toilet and bathroom windows which again have smaller windows. Cleaning them is done by merely going over them with a dry cloth. I also have venetian blinds for 24 windows and cleaning the blinds is labour oriented.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 16
I find cleaning windows a really boring and tiring thing to do. But then, they too are a part of the house and do need to be cleaned. So I stick to just once a year. Earlier when there were window doors (panes?) it was easier to clean them. But today, they have big glasses and at my place of stay, the grills are on the outer sides, making it almost impossible to clean them from the outside.
I use water with dishwash liquid with some old cloth and even newspapers to clean them. Not the best way to do it, but then there is not much choice. I like the ida of using the sponge and may attempt it (in case I remember it) when I clean them the next time as it is not going to be earlier than October.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Jan 16
@LadyDuck If these are glass only, it might be easier to clean them. But if they have grills (or railings or anything else for the right term), it gets messy for sure. And when you are done with cleaning and find a piece of dust at one of those edges of the rails, it does feel your effort was not all right.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
7 Jan 16
We hire a window washer. In between, I do the windows that flip down with Windex and paper towels. My husband does the others with panes the same way. We love sparkling clean windows. Outdoors, he hoses them, then uses a squeegee. When dry, he uses Windex and paper towels. I don't like him having to use extension ladders, but that's what he has to do. Our house is huge, and we have so many windows. That's why we hire a window washer. They also do our skylights which are too high to get to without a tall ladder or climbing onto the roof.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
7 Jan 16
My method is far easier and takes almost no time. I call a guy. He does a great job inside and out. He cleans the glass, frames and screens. He does a wonderful job.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@LadyDuck This guy and his helper were doing my neighbor's windows for years, so they were not pure "strangers". They did all our windows (three stories up) and it cost $70. I moved from there to a slightly larger place, but only one story. Costs the same.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
8 Jan 16
@ElizabethWallace We have to go through a company to ask for a helper here. The Laws are so strict and this is the reason why finally it becomes very expensive. It is the same if you need a gardener to mow your lawn.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
7 Jan 16
I have a window cleaner, obviously! However I do the insides myself but just use this glass cleaning product that came with Husband's car. It's probably not very environmentally friendly but it is highly effective.
2 people like this
@EugenesDDen (310)
• Ireland
7 Jan 16
Do you have to clean windows?
, well you learn something new every day
, well you learn something new every day3 people like this
@EugenesDDen (310)
• Ireland
7 Jan 16
@LadyDuck You could spray them with PTFE and dirt wouldn't stick to them.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112870)
• El Paso, Texas
29 Feb 20
I use vinegar and water most of the time but I haven't been able to get inbetween the window panes because it is too narrow for my arm to reach up into that crevice. I'm just glad few people visit, they might actually notice how dirty the upper part of the windows are.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
1 Mar 20
We have double paned windows, the very narrow space between the two glasses does not get dirty and in no way I could clean in between, the frame is sealed. I have many windows, I do a few every day when I start, I have 15 windows in the house.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I steam clean my windows here of course I cannot open them to do the outside..it is just a screen and the windows only open half way so outside never gets clean..live in 3 stories up..it bothers me that I cannot clean the outside.
2 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I don't do it as often as I should but I use windex and a cloth when I wash the windows.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5726)
• United States
22 Mar 23
Today, I went to your profile page, noticed the link to your blog, went there, and found a link to this discussion.
I washed my windows the same ways you have until I could no longer seethe dirt and smudges. Now I have someone else clean them for me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
23 Mar 23
@Chellezhere - I think I have another one and I should find the password.
1 person likes this
@Chellezhere (5726)
• United States
23 Mar 23
@LadyDuck I think I have a few unattended blogs out there, too.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35608)
•
7 Mar 20
I really don't but I like your idea a lot. I was using glass plus. That vinegar sure has a lot of household uses 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471468)
• Switzerland
10 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 They cannot get it under control now, it is too late. The stupid Italian Prime Minister minimized the gravity of the problem, now it can only spread more because they can contain the problem. It is dark and cold this morning. I should go out to buy food that can last some weeks, but I am scared.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35608)
•
9 Mar 20
@LadyDuck Yes, the situation in Italy and surrounding areas must be very bad. I hope they can get it under control soon. I am sitting out on my deck today and staying away from stores and crowds. I have been doing store pickup to avoid shopping. It is warm and sunny here a perfect spring like day. Enjoy your garden. 
1 person likes this
