Even with the cleanest interior windows, exterior glass that's covered in road dust, pollen, bird droppings, and water mineral deposits makes the whole house look dingy. Exterior window cleaning is often put off because it seems complicated, but with the right tools and approach, you can get streak-free results on exterior windows without professional equipment. Here's how.
What You'll Need
- Bucket
- Dish soap or dedicated window cleaning solution
- Window squeegee (12–14 inch for large windows)
- Extension pole (for upper-floor windows you can reach safely)
- Scrubbing sleeve or strip applicator
- Microfibre cloths
- Garden hose or pressure washer (for initial rinse)
- White vinegar (for mineral deposits)
Step 1: Choose the Right Day
Clean exterior windows on a cloudy day or when the sun is not directly on the glass. Direct sunlight dries the cleaning solution too quickly, leaving streaks before you can squeegee it off. Early morning or evening on an overcast day gives you the best working conditions.
Step 2: Rinse the Windows First
Use a garden hose to spray down the entire window, frame, and sill. This removes loose dust, dirt, and debris before you apply soap. Without this step, you're just pushing grit around the glass with your scrubber, which causes scratches. For heavily soiled windows, a brief pass with a low-pressure spray setting is especially effective.
Step 3: Mix Your Cleaning Solution
Fill a bucket with warm water and add 2–3 drops of dish soap — just enough to create a light lather, not a sudsy solution. Too much soap leaves residue. Alternatively, use 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water for a no-soap streak-free solution, particularly effective on mineral deposits.
Step 4: Scrub with a Window Mop or Strip Applicator
Dip your scrubbing sleeve or mop into the solution, wring out excess, and wash the window in an S-pattern or overlapping circular motions. Apply firm pressure to remove bird droppings and watermarks. Use the edge of the scrubber to get into corners and around the frame.
Step 5: Squeegee Vertically
Starting at the top corner of the window, pull the squeegee in a straight line down (or across in an S-pattern). Wipe the blade with a dry cloth after each stroke to prevent streaks. Overlap each stroke slightly. Work from top to bottom so water doesn't run back over cleaned areas.
Step 6: Detail the Edges
Use a dry microfibre cloth to wipe water from the frame edges, corners, and sills. Any water left here drips back down the glass as it dries. Pay attention to the bottom frame, where water pools and leaves deposits.
Dealing with Hard Water Spots
Mineral deposits from sprinklers or rain on exterior glass can be stubborn. Apply undiluted white vinegar with a cloth to the affected areas, let it sit 2–3 minutes, then scrub with a soft plastic scrubber and rinse. For severe deposits, a commercial mineral deposit remover or CLR (used carefully and rinsed thoroughly) is more effective.
Professional Window and Home Cleaning in Toronto
Maidless deep cleans include interior window cleaning across the GTA. For exterior windows, our standard service covers accessible ground-level windows. Book your clean at maidless.ca.