How to clean windows on the inside without streaks
To clean windows on the inside without streaks, start with the frame, sill and tracks: vacuum them, then wipe them. Then wash the glass with equal parts white vinegar and water, and squeegee it or buff it dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Pick a cloudy day, or a time when the sun isn't hitting that window, so the glass doesn't dry before you do.
Streaks come from three things: dirty cloths, too much cleaner, and the sun.
What do you need?
- A spray bottle of white vinegar and water, half and half
- Dish soap, for greasy or neglected glass
- A small squeegee, 10 or 12 inches, and a microfiber scrubber or a sponge
- Three or four clean, dry microfiber cloths, including a flat-weave glass cloth if you have one
- A vacuum with a crevice tool
- An old toothbrush for the tracks and corners
- A towel for the sill
Wash new microfiber cloths before their first use, and skip fabric softener on them. It leaves a film that smears.
How do you clean the frame, sill and tracks?
Always first. Wash the glass and then wipe the tracks, and the dirty water runs right back down onto it.
- Vacuum the tracks and sill with the crevice tool.
- Spray the tracks with soapy water or the vinegar mix and let them sit a few minutes.
- Scrub the corners with an old toothbrush, then wipe the tracks out with a damp cloth. Wrap the cloth around a butter knife to get into the narrow ones.
- Wipe the frame and the sill, then dry them.
In a Philadelphia rowhome, the front windows face the street. The sills and tracks on that side collect a gray film of street grit and soot that the back windows don't, so give them a little longer.
How do you wash the glass without streaks?
- Dust the glass with a dry cloth if it's dusty. Water turns dust into streaks.
- Wet the glass with the vinegar mix, or the scrubber dipped in it. Use enough to loosen the dirt, not so much that it runs.
- Squeegee. Start at a top corner and pull down in one smooth stroke, or work in a reverse S from side to side. Wipe the squeegee blade on a dry cloth after every stroke.
- Dry the edges with a microfiber cloth, where the squeegee leaves a line.
- Buff any spots with a dry flat-weave cloth.
No squeegee? Wipe the glass with a damp microfiber cloth, then buff it dry right away with a second, dry one. Switch to a fresh cloth as soon as the first one gets damp.
Windows near the kitchen pick up a greasy film. Add a drop or two of dish soap to the mix for those, and rinse with plain water before you squeegee.
What about old wood windows?
A lot of older Philadelphia rowhomes still have original wood double-hung windows, sometimes painted shut or close to it. Go easy:
- Use less water on the wood frame and sill, and dry it right away. Standing water gets into old paint and the wood underneath.
- Don't force a stuck sash. Clean what you can reach from inside.
- Don't scrape old paint off the glass edges or the sill. If the house was built before 1978, old paint can contain lead.
Can you clean the outside from inside?
If you have replacement windows with tilt-in sashes, yes. Unlatch the sash, tilt it in, and you can reach the outside of the glass from inside the room. Check the maker's directions first so you don't strain the hinges.
On the second or third floor of a rowhome, that's the way to do it. Don't lean out of a window, don't sit on the sill, and don't stand on furniture to reach. If you can't reach the outside safely from inside, leave it.
How do you clean window screens?
Late spring, before the windows go up for summer, is the time. Pop the screens out and lay them flat on a towel, or take them outside. Vacuum both sides with the brush attachment, then wash them gently with a soft brush and soapy water. Rinse, shake off the water, and let them dry completely before they go back in.
If you run a window air conditioner in the summer, wipe the window, sill and frame around it before it goes in, and wash or change its filter before you switch it on.
Do bedroom and living room windows need anything different?
The glass is the same job. The difference is what's around it. In the bedroom, take down and wash the curtains, or vacuum them with the upholstery tool, while the window is clear. In the living room, move the plants, the lamp and anything on the sill first, and lay a towel on the floor below. Blinds have their own method; see how to clean blinds.
How often should you clean inside windows?
Twice a year for the full job, spring and fall, plus a spot-clean of the glass in the rooms you use every day when it starts to look hazy. The kitchen window and the ones kids and pets press against need it more often.
Want help with the rest of the house?
Book House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online. If windows are a priority, ask about them when you book and put them in your booking notes. For the rest of the front room, see how to deep clean a living room.
FAQ
How do you clean inside windows without streaks? Clean the frame, sill and tracks first so dirt doesn't run onto the glass. Wash the glass with a mix of white vinegar and water, then squeegee it or buff it dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Work when the sun isn't shining straight on the window.
What is a good homemade window cleaner? Equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle works on most glass. If the windows are greasy or haven't been cleaned in a while, add a drop or two of dish soap, and rinse with plain water before you dry.
How do you clean window tracks? Vacuum the loose dirt with the crevice tool, spray the track with soapy water or vinegar and water, and let it sit a few minutes. Scrub the corners with an old toothbrush, wipe it out with a cloth, then dry it.
How do you clean the outside of upstairs windows from inside? If you have tilt-in replacement windows, unlatch the sash and tilt it in so you can reach the outside of the glass from the room. Don't lean out of an upper-floor window, and don't sit on the sill to reach.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
