Cleaning windows (the glass variety not the computer one)
By wickedangel
@wickedangel (1636)
Dominican Republic
March 15, 2008 7:16am CST
Please, please help - I need it!
Whatever I seem to do I just can't get those windows clean, they always have those horrible streaks on them. I have tried about every product under the sun. I've cleaned them with special cloths, with newspaper, with paper towels and aaghhh, I still have streaky windows!
They say that (white) vinegar works - before I go out and buy some as the last resort, is this true? We get the sun coming every morning (rarely a cloudy day in the Dom Rep) and bingo, shows up my streaky windows.
I have got the mother-in-law turning up on Monday and I need a miracle. Can anyone out there help me please!
1 person likes this
5 responses
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
16 Mar 08
Thanks for that, someone else has mentioned ammonia, so I will try vinegar, ammonia and water in a spray bottle (lucky for us we have one to hand!).
I don't really have a squeegee thing but perhaps a sponge with some newspaper with do? I shall try!!!
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@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
15 Mar 08
I read in a book that says to clean windows very well you should wash them over with soapy water, then rinse this off, next put on distilled white vinegar then dry the windows with newspaper. I tried this and it really does work. Yes, it is the white vinegar that prevents streaky windows. I used to try lots of window cleaning products on the market. I wish that I had tried the vinegar trick before because it really works.
Good luck. 
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@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
16 Mar 08
Thanks for that, I needed confirmation before I go out and buy some white vinegar (shops open on Sunday so off I trot!).
I have tried various products and I swear by them at the beginning but after a little time, I think, nah still has streaks!!
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@SeductiveAnn (39)
• United States
15 Mar 08
I've always found that ammonia works well. Put some in a bucket with hot water and wash with a rag. Make sure the rag is wrung out really well or you'll have a drippy mess all over the place. Having a second bucket of clear water right there to rinse the soap off may help. Before the water dries on and leaves water spots thoroughly dry them with a paper towel. If the windows are very large, try washing only sections of them at a time. Have you tried washing them while the sun is showing those streaks in all their glory?
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
16 Mar 08
Thanks for that!
In answer to your question, yes I have tried doing them while the sun is shining on them, to no avail. I was told that that is the worst time to do it when the windows are hot! In Spain I had no choice as they were always in the sun, I didn't find that they got too streaky but I certainly got very hot!!!
I will see what happens with the ammonia....
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Vinegar really does work. But one thing that will make it fail.........if there is a smoker in the house. Nicotine sticks to anything it touches like glue. You have to first scrub the nicotine off in order to clean the windows with anything. I don't know if anyone in your house smokes, but that stuff is really hard to get off. I'm not judging as I am a smoker myself and so is my husband so I know from experience. Good luck.
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
16 Mar 08
Thanks for that. Lucky for us we have given up smoking and we never smoked in the house. But thanks for the tip. We will continue to ask smokers to sit outside the house - with us on the balcony. And as we have wonderful weather all round, there is no harm done!!
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