The sun brings it to light: a lot of dirt has settled on the window panes. These simple tips for cleaning windows quickly ensure streak-free windows again.
For many, cleaning windows is a tiresome household chore. And unlike doing laundry and dishwashing, it’s all manual labor. The few cleaning robots on the market have so far hardly proven themselves and have not caught on. With the right tools, you can quickly get clear windows again by hand.
Safety first
In apartments with high windows and on upper floors, window cleaning can be dangerous. The upper areas of panes and frames can also be easily reached on a stable ladder. If you don’t want to climb a ladder, you can use a squeegee and squeegee on a handle.
Mixture of dish soap, spirit and vinegar for streak-free windows
The right mix in the cleaning water makes work much easier. A mixture of warm water and a dash of dishwashing liquid without balm have proven to be effective. The amount depends on the dirt on the glass, especially on the outside. In addition, some spirit ensures that the pane dries quickly and streak-free.
A dash of vinegar dissolves limescale deposits, and a few drops of glycerin should keep the Vinduespudser for longer. Attention: Liquid soap in the water leaves streaks. Commercial glass cleaners in spray bottles are more suitable for small windows, the inside or to clean fingerprints from panes or mirrors.
Protect floor and wash frame
Before the actual work begins, you should protect the floor with an old towel. This protects the carpet or parquet from ugly stains. Then first wash the frames and dry them with a cloth.
Clean window with sponge or cloth
If the water has already become dirty, prepare a new mixture for the discs. You also need a clean sponge, a sponge cloth, chamois leather or a microfiber cloth. Thoroughly wet wipe the pane from top to bottom, right into the corners and along the edges. A microfiber cloth removes stubborn dirt particularly well. Then use a squeegee to dry the pane horizontally or vertically, strip by strip, from top to bottom.
After each strip, dry the rubber or silicone lip of the squeegee with a cloth. Finally wipe the edges of the glass dry. As an alternative, there are squeegees that suck in the dirty water electrically. However, the devices are quite heavy.
Grandma’s tip: Clean with newspaper
If you don’t want to work with a squeegee, you have to clean the windows dry. Traditionally, newspaper is suitable for this, as it absorbs moisture well and does not lint. That doesn’t work with paper from magazines. However, the printing ink quickly leaves black stripes on light-colored window frames. Other drying options are tea towels or chamois leather. A streak-free shine is achieved if the pane is then polished with a dry synthetic fiber women’s stocking or a fine microfiber cloth.
