Pre-Cleaning

• If your interior windows are dusty, use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner and vacuum all over the window, frame and sill. For the exterior, add a drop or two of dish soap to a bucket of warm water and wash the window, including the frame, with a cloth or sponge. Don't forget to open the window to clean all surfaces of the frame. Pre-cleaning will remove the worst of the accumulated build up.
  
  

The Right Tools

• Forget the paper towels, newspaper and coffee filters. They all work satisfactorily but will leave you with aching arms--you never see professional window cleaners rubbing windows with wads of paper. Instead, invest in a high quality squeegee. Buy the best you can afford; a cheap one costing just a few dollars is not as effective or long-lasting. You also need two microfiber cloths.
  
  

Cleaning

• Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray lightly on the window. Take your squeegee and wipe the blade with a dampened microfiber cloth. Hold the squeegee so the blade is vertical and drag it from the top left-hand side of the window to the right in one movement. Wipe the blade with the damp cloth. Hold the squeegee horizontally, and drag it from the very top of the window to the bottom, again, in one movement if you can. Repeat across the window. Remove excess solution from the bottom of the frame with the dry microfiber cloth.
  
  

Large Windows

• When dealing with large windows which require you to use a stepladder, treat the window as four smaller windows. Take the first horizontal swipe of the squeegee from the left to the middle and the vertical strokes to halfway down the glass. Get off the ladder and make a second horizontal stroke across to catch the cleaning solution from the first set of vertical strokes. Place the squeegee just above the bottom edge of the horizontal stroke and drag down to the bottom of the window. Repeat on the other side, working from the middle to the right side. Don't forget to wipe the squeegee blade after each stroke. Work quickly to avoid lines forming. Remove excess vinegar water from the bottom sill with a dry cloth.
  
  

Small-Paned Windows

• You can buy small squeegees for small window panes, but it is quicker to dampen a microfiber cloth in the vinegar solution and wipe the window clean. It is almost impossible to get small-paned windows and doors completely streak free.
  
  

Window Cleaning Tips

• If you have no white vinegar available, use a 1/4 tsp. of dish soap with water in the spray bottle. However, use vinegar the next time you clean the window, as the soap solution will leave an invisible sticky residue. Don't clean windows in bright sunshine. It hurts your eyes and the glass will dry too quickly. Once you have become used to using a squeegee, try using a reversed 'S' movement down the window, finishing with a vertical stroke down each side. This method is even quicker. Purchase an extension pole for your squeegee if you have hard-to-reach windows.