Summer is the time when all the dirt and grime on the window glass is much more visible, but keeping your windows clean without leaving streaks can be incredibly tricky.
It is often difficult to keep windows clean, because dust and debris are blown into them from the outside, but grease, dirt, cobwebs and other traces accumulate on the glass inside.
Nancy Birtwhistle, the home improvement expert best known for winning the Great British Bakeoff, has revealed that there is a simple and natural cleaning method to keep windows clean without leaving unsightly streaks behind.
In her book “Clean & Green” Nancy said, “Eikka is great for glass because it cleans, cuts grease and erases all watermarks.
“Newspaper used to be the glass polishing grease after the vinegar wipe, but nowadays fewer people buy newspaper, so I’ve opted for a clean polishing cloth instead – both work well.”
The white vinegar that you would put on the chips is a very popular cleaner because it removes stains, but it is very effective at cleaning without leaving streaks behind as well.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is strong enough to dissolve the alkaline window residue that often causes streaks, but also evaporates cleanly, so it’s less likely to leave a residue.
However, the real secret to cleaning your windows is to clean them on a cool but overcast day where it’s not raining, but also not sunny, because the conditions are perfect to prevent streaks from forming.
Nancy explained: “My way is to choose a dull day – don’t try to clean the windows while the sun is shining on them, as they dry quickly before you can polish them, causing streaks.”
How to clean windows properly
You will need:
- A bucket of warm water
- Washing liquid
- White vinegar
- Empty spray bottle
- A brush with very soft bristles
- Dry polishing cloth
Method:
Start by using a soft-bristled brush to scrape off and remove any dust or cobwebs from the glass.
Nancy said, “Brushing off the dust while it’s dry makes cleaning much easier. Dust and cobwebs can be very difficult to clean once wet.”
Then fill a bucket with warm water with a few drops of dish soap and wipe down the window starting from the top and working your way down.
Dishwashing detergent is designed to break down grease while being able to rinse clean with water, so there is less chance of streaks and stains.
You may need to wipe the window twice depending on how dirty it is.
After the window is cleaned, fill an empty spray bottle with white vinegar, then spray it directly onto the glass and wipe the glass again with a damp cloth.
Use a dry polishing cloth or newspaper to dry the glass and the windows should be sparkling again.
Nancy said, “Exterior windows dry quickly, so polish with a dry cloth before the vinegar has time to dry.
“It’s the opposite on the inside, and windows don’t dry quickly, so careful polishing to dry is important for streak-free glass.”
