(I was really surprised to find that I hadn’t already shared this advice, so it’s entirely possible that I just put it in a different section and I’m repeating myself 😅)
I have never found a window cleaning spray that is truly “streak-free” I always have to go back over the windows with a dry towel to buff the streaks off. Until now:
Two major updates:
- Mix up the best window washing solution yourself
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 tsp dawn liquid dishwashing soap
- Use a squeegee to remove the solution cleanly
I do all my own exterior windows a few times a year and it takes no time at all.
(This is also how I do my bathroom mirrors now—make sure to wipe horizontally to minimize future drips from the mirror fogging up—and if you’re the type to struggle with fogged up mirrors, try storing the squeegee in the bathroom and using it instead of a towel.)
I have this tool for the “scrubbing” part
(The cover is removable, but I was a little worried about pulling on the velcro repeatedly, and I live in a dry climate, so I just squish a bunch of clean water through it and let it dry while still mounted to the tool itself)
and I have this tool for the wiping part (mine actually measures 12”)
(One drawback is that this won’t really work on car windows, or at least not on windshields—it’s really meant for windows that are perfectly flat.)
This manufacturer also makes various extension poles for people with taller windows than I have. I think I might consider getting a (slightly more awkward) scrubber and wiper in one if I had to deal with the hassle of a pole. There are also joints to change the angle of the tools, but it literally takes me 10min to clean my windows, so it’s a non-issue for me.
And I use this perfectly sized 6qt plastic tub (from my favorite line of cheap & useful Plastic bins) to hold my suds and my tools (it won’t seem like 2 cups is enough, and maybe if you have a really dirty house you should double it to be able to sort of rinse your scrubber, but for me I mostly just need to make sure everything gets good and wet, and this does the trick).
