Window cleaning tips and tricks for sparkling glass

I got window cleaning so good that people used to clink my glass at the restaurant I worked at. In fact, it became such a problem that we had to put a sculpture on the patio glass to stop diners from hurting each other. So how did I manage to get the glass so clean it seemed invisible?

Well, it was many years ago when I was working in Abu Dhabi. I remember seeing a native cleaning the windows with crumpled up newspaper and boy did they shine. When I got home I tried it and the results were incredible. I have been cleaning windows and mirrors this way ever since. However, it’s not the easiest way to clean glass, and therefore won’t follow everyone. Therefore, I have given you many other helpful tips on how to make your glass sparkle.

The first and most important tip I can give regarding window cleaning is to prepare the glass before washing. This is especially important with exteriors. I have always used a soft, dry brush to remove loose sand, dirt, and cobwebs. Once you’ve cleaned the glass and sill area, it’s time to wash.

When washing, use only clean water. Granted, they all start with clean water, but when doing the outside, you need to change the water regularly. If you don’t change the water, it may contain sand particles that will mark the glass. Have you ever seen all those scratches and marks on the surface when the sun goes down? Well, this is because people are cleaning the old dirty water out of their glass. Keeping the water fresh and clean is the key here.

There are many great products out there today to make your washed windows sparkle and most of them are pretty good. It’s important to find one you like, like Windowlean, and stick with it. Some of the cheaper products will leave stains and no matter how many times you clean, you will end up pushing the stains. I often finish with a spray mist so I can get into the corners. Remember that the corners house most of the dirt particles, so watch out for scratches here.

If you can’t seem to remove the stains and your windows constantly look greasy, apply a little vinegar to the water or directly to the glass. I usually have a vinegar and water mixture in a spray bottle and dry it using the newspaper technique. Windows that look greasy are often the result of neglect, as glass that is cleaned regularly does not usually have this problem.

Avoid cleaning your windows in direct sunlight, especially in hot sun. The water will dry up before you have time to clean it up and it will be a nightmare trying to run against the hot drying glass. Also, when you clean your windows, start at the top and go left to right, right to left, or both. This technique will reduce streaking and lessen the work involved overall.

Clean the window frames with a damp cloth sprinkled with a little rubbing alcohol and they will come out looking delicious.

Getting windows sparkling clean can be easy or difficult depending on the initial state of the glass and how often it is cleaned. If you fix the windows regularly, the task will be easier and you will be the envy of all your lazy neighbors.