How to clean window sills and window tracks
To clean window sills and window tracks, start dry: vacuum the loose dirt and dead bugs with the crevice tool. Then loosen what's stuck with warm soapy water, or baking soda and a spray of vinegar and water, and give it a few minutes. Scrub the corners with an old toothbrush, wipe it all out with a damp cloth, and dry it so the track doesn't hold moisture.
Do the tracks and sills before the glass, or the dirty water runs right onto a clean window.
What do you need?
- A vacuum with a crevice tool
- An old toothbrush, or a narrow detail brush
- Baking soda, and a spray bottle of white vinegar and water, half and half
- Warm water with a drop of dish soap
- Microfiber cloths, and a butter knife or a flat stick wrapped in a cloth for the corners
- Rubber gloves
How do you clean window tracks, step by step?
- Open the window as far as it goes, or take the sash out if it tilts in.
- Vacuum the track with the crevice tool. Get the corners and the dead bugs.
- Sprinkle baking soda along the track, then spray it with vinegar and water. It fizzes and loosens the grime.
- Wait five minutes.
- Scrub with the toothbrush, working into the corners.
- Wipe it out. A cloth wrapped around a butter knife or a flat stick gets into narrow channels.
- Rinse with a cloth dampened in plain water, then dry.
- Check the weep holes, the small slots on the outside edge of some tracks that let rainwater out, and clear them gently with a pipe cleaner.
On sliding windows and doors, a vacuum and a dry wipe every month keeps the track running smoothly.
How do you clean window sills?
- Dust or vacuum first.
- Wipe with warm water and a drop of dish soap on a microfiber cloth.
- Stains and scuffs: a little baking soda on a damp cloth, light pressure.
- Dry it, especially wood.
Sills over a radiator or a window air conditioner unit tend to collect more dust and grime, so give them a wipe more often.
How do you get mold off a sill?
Black spots on a sill or in the corners of a track usually mean condensation that sits there. Wear gloves and open the window. Scrub with warm water and dish soap, then use a mildew cleaner made for that surface, following the label for how long to leave it. Rinse and dry completely. Never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners. If it keeps coming back, the window may need weatherstripping or a repair.
How often should you clean them?
Dust the sills weekly or every other week. Vacuum and wipe the tracks every month or two while the windows are open, and scrub both in spring and fall. While you're there, our window screen guide and inside window guide cover the rest of the window.
Want help with the rest of the house?
Book Deep Cleaning online. If window sills and tracks are a priority, ask about them when you book and put them in your booking notes.
FAQ
How do you clean window tracks? Vacuum the loose dirt with the crevice tool, then sprinkle a little baking soda in the track and spray it with vinegar and water. Let it fizz for a few minutes, scrub the corners with an old toothbrush, and wipe it out with a damp cloth.
How do you get black mold off a window sill? Wear gloves, open the window, and scrub the spot with warm water and dish soap, then wipe it with a mildew cleaner made for the surface, following the label. Dry the sill fully. If it keeps coming back, the window may have a condensation or leak problem worth having checked.
How do you clean old painted window sills? Use warm water and a drop of dish soap on a microfiber cloth, and skip scrubbing pads and harsh cleaners.
How often should you clean window sills and tracks? Dust sills weekly or every other week, and vacuum and wipe the tracks every month or two while windows are open. Give both a full scrub in spring and fall.
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.
