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5 easy steps to clean your windows likes the pros

By: Matt Grocoff , Contributing Writer
In: Home Improvement Tips

If your old house is anything like ours, you've got a lot of windows and probably some storm windows to go with it. If you've got 20 windows, you need to multiply that times four to get the number of window sides you'll need to clean. One for the inside of each window, another for outside, then two more for the outside and inside of each storm. To have them professionally cleaned could cost between $200-300. No wonder window washing is the butt of so many jokes.

Here's some tips on how you can clean your windows as well as the pros:

Start with the right tools. The pros use only a few high-quality items. What you won't need is glass cleaner and newspaper. That will leave you doing all the work rather than the soap and squeegee doing it for you.

Stuff you'll need:

  • A bucket
  • A professional squeegee
  • A natural sponge and/or a strip applicator with a cloth head
  • Non-toxic dishwashing liquid like Method or Seventh Generation
  • 0000 steel wool for stubborn dirt
  • Plenty of soft micro-fiber cleaning clothes - like these on Amazon

You can also cheat and buy a complete professional window washing kit for $63.

How to:

  1. MAKE A PLAN: First, make a plan. If tackling all the windows at once sounds daunting, then do one or two windows whenever you have some spare time. You can do the insides anytime. Then, take care of the storms and exteriors on a sunny day or two (or ten).
  2. SOAP & WATER: Fill a bucket with water and add a very small amount of non-toxic dish liquid. You shouldn't have a lot of suds. Just enough to make the squeegee glide.
  3. WASH WINDOWS: Wash the window with a suds soaked sponge or strip applicator. I like the sponge for easily accessible windows because it allows more control for better cleaning.
  4. SQUEEGEE: Using the squeegee, clear the soapy water from the windows in a back-and-forth S-pattern.
  5. DRY & POLISH: Using the micro-fiber cloths, wipe the windows completely dry. Do yourself a favor and get a lot of cloths. They can be reused and washed in the washer. Always use a clean cloth, otherwise you'll be just smearing the gunk around and streaking your windows.
  6. ENJOY: Get yourself a cold beverage and enjoy the view.

Note: If you've got really nasty spots, you can use a fine 0000 steel wool to get into the grime. Then wash and dry the window again.

Find me on Twitter @mattgrocoff

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