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Cleaning Windows (Inside and Outside)

41 Solutions

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December 29, 2005

Forget microfibre cloths and proprietary cleaners. Place a sheet of newspaper in a basin of water; if it doesn't disintegrate, it's ideal for cleaning glass (windscreens, mirrors, and panes).

 
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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

June 5, 2009

What can I use for cleaning windows? How do I use vinegar for window cleaning?

By Linda Walmer from Stockton, CA

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Answers


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June 5, 20090 found this helpful

Mix 1 part vinegar with 4-5 parts water.

 
June 5, 20090 found this helpful

I use about a quarter cup of vinegar and a few drops of dish detergent. i favor dawn. put it in a half bucket of water. vinegar cleans and helps to reduce streaks and the detergent will cut the grease and crud off the window. got stickers on the windows? use vinegar full strength and soak the paper. it will eventually come off. to speed it up, use a straight razer blade to scrape.

 
 
June 5, 20090 found this helpful

MCW has a good vinegar/water ratio for cleaning windows. I put it in a spray bottle then use newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe which saves a little money. Remember to FIRST put on some disposable gloves or you will end up with black hands. The newspaper leaves no lint or streaks unless the window is very dirty, so you may need a 2nd application.

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The last tip is wipe in 1 direction on the outiside, another on the inside so if it does streak, you can easily tell which side of the glass it's on.

 
June 5, 20090 found this helpful

Paper coffee filters also great for cleaning windows. I buy the absolute cheapest brand. I start my cleaning mixture as MCW makes it. For the outside and the kitchen, I also put in a drop or two a dish detergent.

 
June 6, 20090 found this helpful

Straight club soda in a spritzer bottle works well for windows and glass too, and its a good alternative if the smell of vinegar is too overpowering. For windows I use a squeegee and wipe up any excess with a microfiber cloth. It makes the job go a lot faster!

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If your windows are really dirty I'd use a dish soap and water solution first as plain vinegar might streak.

 
June 6, 20090 found this helpful

Use equal parts water, ammonia and rubbing alcohol. The alcohol helps to keep the window from streaking and drys quickly.

 
June 6, 20090 found this helpful

I put rubbing alchol and water together, and either get a towel or paper towel depending on what is in my reach. Considering prices now I tend to try to find Towels that way I can rewash. I just put a few drops of the rubbing alchol and put about a gallon of whater.

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It even cleans the counter tops and the sink. I put the solution in the sink so I don't have to search for bottles, and then that way I can clean the sink out.

 
June 6, 20090 found this helpful

I like the vinegar formula too and I have a ton of windows. My tip is an addition to the newspaper usage. My local newspaper sells 'end rolls' for practically nothing. Using the unprinted paper keeps the ink from being a problem on hands or painted frames. Also, the paper is super cheap for kids art work and for packing when moving. I have also recently discovered the magic of micro fiber towels. They leave no lint and can be used over and over (sparing the trees). Dollar Tree sells them in all shapes and sizes for $1 each. They are a real bargain!

 
June 6, 20090 found this helpful

I use a previous tip of the day from this site

1/2 tsp liquid dish washing soap
1/4 cup vinegar
2 cups water

Put it in a spray bottle and shake to mix.

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I don't subscribe to a newspaper...so I just use paper towels.

 
June 7, 20090 found this helpful

A much less expensive product is windshield washer fluid - works great for a whole lot less!

 
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June 1, 2017

I just moved into a new flat, but I have no idea how to clean these particular windows! They're double glazed and it seems like there is residue from a previous bad cleaning. However when I tried to get it off it seems like the residue/marks are inside the two panels!

I don't know how this is possible and I really need your help, the windows just look awful! Cleaning Residue on Windows - smudgy windows
 

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Cleaning Residue on Windows
 
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March 24, 2010

We have multiple dots developing on our low E windows. They are in the front and back of house, so it doesn't matter which direction the sun is coming from. We had the original installer out to look at them, but since they are beyond warranty, he just shrugged his shoulders and said he had never seen this problem and we were pretty much ignored.

Has anyone heard of this and what might be causing it? They spots are definite round circles as are polka dots.

By Laurie from Edmonton, Alberta

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March 25, 20100 found this helpful

It might be where acid rain hit them,we had that happen to our car windshield. We washed it several times with vinegar & a sponge mop. It helped, good luck.

 
March 26, 20100 found this helpful

We had new pella windows installed on our house a few years ago, we had large circles on windows. They said it was from the factory the way they move the glass, it took a few years to remove them, and when the sun is just right they still show. Pella did not stand behind the windows like they should have, the local window company that installed them messed up and the company said it was due to poor installation, and the local glass company said it was a fault of the pella 's manufacturing.

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That put us in the middle with no fix to problems. Loved the windows with the shades in between panes, but would not ever go through pella again.

 
March 28, 20100 found this helpful

Contact the window manufacturer.

 
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September 14, 2016

I need to clean my business windows. I'm on a busy main road were anything from farm vehicles, semis, cars, and so on are passing. There is lots of wind blowing dirt, chemicals, and more. I've cleaned the outside windows with Windex, ammonia, vinegar, and tried the toothpaste.

I still have these dirty not appealing spots on the window. What else do I try before paying $300 for my 9'x9' window to be cleaned by a pro.

Answers


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February 1, 20170 found this helpful

I would use some clothes or dish detergent, make a lather, and using some sort of brush or cloth, really build up a lather and scrape those windows. THen, rinse it off. YOU might also consider treating your windows with some special covering that eluded dirt.

 
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August 6, 2016

What is a good way to clean outside windows on a house?


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April 23, 2015

What can be used to clean tinted vinyl sunporch windows?

By Donna from South Daytona, FL

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July 28, 2010

I have just had new PVC windows installed and there seems to be some sort of scummy marks on the glass, it's like grease or something. Everything I have tried to clean the glass with just seems to wash over the scum and I have tried everything I can think of. Any ideas?

By Kathleen Dempster from UK

Answers

July 28, 20100 found this helpful

This works for me every time, first wash the windows with warm water with a few drops of dish washing detergent in it. Then while the window is still a bit damp but not dripping with water use kitchen paper and white vineger to polish to a sparkling finish.
To be even more frugal newspaper works well for the polishing stage too.

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 102 Feedbacks
August 4, 20100 found this helpful

Contact your installer and tell them your problem, could be a manufacturing defect.

 
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September 25, 2012

I do not know what is on my windows. Whatever it is it smudges and stays on them when I wash them. They actually look foggy when the sun shines in. It's on my new car windows, too. I've tried everything I can think of to remove it, but nothing works.

I live in a fairly wooded area and I think it's something from the trees. It starts out as a very very small white/clear dot and when I wash them it smears and nothing will touch it
help

By DB

Answers

September 26, 20120 found this helpful

My husband has to park his car under pine trees at work.(assigned parking places) The sap can be removed with rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or WD-40. Scrub the area with a rag soaked with one of these. When the window stops feeling tacky to the touch, wash with your usual method. Do not get on the paint of your car as it will cause damage. The rubbing alcohol and an old tee shirt seeem to work best for me, followed by Windex. The alcohol I use comes from the dollar store, making this the most economical method. Hope this helps.

 
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July 2, 2014

My husband sprayed hornet and wasp spray above a window and the drift left streaks on the window below. How can I remove wasp spray stains from our window?

By Lou L

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May 28, 2013

Two story house.Is there a method or gadget to clean the outside of your windows from the inside? My upstair windows are too high to do from outside.

By Bob Y.

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April 6, 2013

I'm a window cleaner and I've been cleaning my customer's windows this week and I've left black blade marks on my customer's windows. I just put Fairy in my water. Any ideas why this is happening or has any window cleaner had the same problem?

By Jeff

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November 17, 2012

How do I take old Scotch tape off a window?

By Bonzi

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April 30, 2019

It can be frustrating to wash your windows only to see streaks instead of clear panes. This is a page about washing windows without streaks.

A woman washing a window with lots of soapy streaks.

July 29, 2018

A little dish washing liquid added to water and ammonia work well to clean and leave you with streak free windows. This is a page about clean windows with joy dishsoap and ammonia.

Picture of a man outside washing a window.

July 23, 2018

Although it can be challenging to clean the outside of your windows, it needs to be done regularly. This is a page about cleaning windows outside.

Cleaning Windows Outside

March 2, 2018

Vinegar, water, and a drop or two of Dawn makes a good window cleaner. Use a soft cloth and rinse well. This is a page about cleaning sunroom windows.

A big beautiful sunroom.

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