How to Clean Windows Without Streaks
Streaky windows usually result from two problems: the wrong cleaning solution leaving residue, or using a cloth that's not clean enough to pick up what it just spread. Here's the method that reliably produces streak-free results.
What to Use
- Cleaning solution: A 1:1 mix of white vinegar and water is the cheapest and most effective option for most windows. For heavily soiled windows: add a small squirt of dish soap. Commercial glass cleaners like Windex also work, but the foaming spray version leaves more residue.
- Cloths: Two clean microfibre cloths — one slightly damp for cleaning, one completely dry for buffing. The buffing cloth must be genuinely dry and clean. Microfibre picks up residue without leaving lint; paper towels leave small fibres on the glass. Old newspapers used to work because of the texture and low-lint paper, but modern newsprint is not the same as it was and often leaves smudges.
The Two-Cloth Method
- Spray the window lightly with your cleaning solution — don't soak it
- Wipe in horizontal strokes with the damp microfibre cloth — this removes dust, grime, and fingerprints
- Immediately (before the solution dries) buff with the dry microfibre cloth in circular motions — this removes any remaining moisture and solution residue that would dry to streaks
- If you see streaks after drying: buff again with a fresh dry cloth, applying firm pressure — streaks are usually a small amount of residue that can be buffed off
Common Mistakes
- Cleaning windows in direct sunlight — the solution dries before you can buff it off, leaving streaks every time. Clean windows on an overcast day or when the sun is not directly hitting the glass.
- Using a dirty cloth — if the cloth already has dirt, oil, or old cleaning product on it, it moves residue around rather than removing it. Use a fresh cloth each session.
- Too much solution — a light mist is enough. Heavy application means more residue to remove.
- Cleaning the frame and sill with the same cloth — the frame and sill are much dirtier than the glass. Clean the glass first, frames after, with separate cloths.
Window Frames and Sills
Window sills accumulate significant dust, dead insects, and grime. Wipe with a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner, then dry. For painted wood frames: use a barely damp cloth and dry immediately — wood frames are damaged by excess moisture. For aluminum frames: wipe with soapy water and rinse.
Window cleaning (interior) is included in every Maidless deep clean. Book at maidless.ca.