There’s nothing like clean windows to brighten your home. Whether you’re a perfectionist or not, streaks, smudges and cloudy film fogging up your windows can ruin even the nicest view.
Getting your windows streak free might sound tedious but these easy cleaning steps will see the sun shining through in no time.
1. Distilled water
One of the reasons you’re left with streaks on your freshly cleaned windows is because of the minerals in regular water. If you live in an area where your tap water is hard, it can be difficult to get those crystal clear results if you’re using just water and a dilution product. Using distilled water should produce better results.
2. Vinegar
It’s an old method passed down between generations. Many glass cleaners promise streak-free results, but the products are full of toxic chemicals and come at a pretty high price tag. White vinegar is highly recommended for being cost efficient and for removing stubborn stains and grime. Try mixing a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar – or experiment until you find the perfect balance – and use paper or a squeegee to wipe down the glass.
3. Newspaper
Once you’ve finished reading the weekend paper, use it to clean your windows. It turns out that when scrunched into a ball, newspaper is far more effective than using a paper towel – especially when paired with your vinegar and water solution. But be warned, newspaper ink is not standard across the industry and some ink may actually contribute to streaking.
4. Buff it out
Sometimes, streaks occur no matter which methods you try. In this case, some good old-fashioned elbow grease will do the trick. Use newspaper or a microfibre cloth to really get that shine on.
5. Jeweller’s rouge
What about those pesky scratches on your mirror and windows? One ingenious trick to minimise the appearance of those flaws is to use jeweller’s rouge, which is a polish designed for metal and optical glass.
6. Does time of day matter?
The experts say you should avoid cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day. That’s because everything dries so much faster, which means streaks are more likely to occur. The solution? Clean earlier or later in the day.
7. And if all else fails …
A window cleaning expert suggests wiping windows dry in a vertical direction on one side of the windows, and wiping horizontally on the other side. “This way, if streaks appear, you know what side they’re on,” she says.
There you have it – the best tried and tested tricks for streak-free windows. Bring on the shine!
What methods do you use to get perfectly clear windows? Share your tips in the comments section below.
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