How to clean inside windows without streaks
To clean inside windows, dust the frame and sill first, then wash the glass with warm water and a few drops of dish soap, squeegee it from the top down, and dry the edges with a clean microfiber cloth. Clean when the sun isn't on that window. Use less soap than you think. Extra product is what leaves streaks.
A typical window takes 5 to 10 minutes. A big living room picture window takes longer, so work it in sections.
What do you need to clean windows inside?
- A bucket of warm water with 3 or 4 drops of dish soap
- A spray bottle of half white vinegar, half water, for hard water spots
- A squeegee sized to your panes (a 10-inch blade suits standard panes)
- A sponge or strip washer
- Three or four clean microfiber cloths, washed without fabric softener
- An old towel for the sill
- A vacuum with a brush attachment
Skip paper towels and newspaper. Paper towels leave lint, and newsprint can leave ink on white frames.
How do you clean inside windows step by step?
- Clear the sill. Move plants, frames and toys. Pull the curtains to the side or tie them back.
- Dust and vacuum. Vacuum the frame, sill and tracks with the brush attachment. Dust that gets wet turns into gray streaks.
- Lay a towel on the sill. It catches the drips so they don't run onto the wall or the floor.
- Wash the glass. Dip the sponge, squeeze it until it's barely dripping, and wash the whole pane, corners included.
- Squeegee. Dry the top inch of the glass with a cloth so the blade has a clean starting line. Then pull straight down from the top, overlapping each stroke by an inch. Wipe the blade after every pull.
- Detail the edges. Fold a dry microfiber cloth over one finger and run it around the edge of the glass, where water collects.
- Check from an angle. Step to the side and look across the glass toward the light. Buff any streaks with a dry cloth.
- Wipe the frame and sill. Dry them last, because water left in the corners of a sill is where mildew spots start.
No squeegee? Spray lightly, wipe with one damp microfiber cloth, then buff right away with a second dry one. It's slower on big panes, but it works.
Why do windows streak?
- Too much soap. It leaves a film you can see in the light. A few drops per bucket is plenty.
- Dirty or linty cloths. Use clean microfiber, and wash it without fabric softener, which coats the fibers.
- Direct sun. The glass dries before you finish. Do the sunny side of the house later in the day.
- A nicked squeegee blade. One nick leaves the same line on every pass. Blades are cheap to replace.
- Hard water. If your tap water leaves spots on dishes, it can leave them on glass. Finish with the vinegar spray, or use distilled water in the bucket.
What changes from room to room?
Living room windows. Big picture windows and sliding glass doors are the ones guests see. Work a large pane in two or three sections, top section first. On sliding doors, the bottom 3 feet usually needs a second pass for hand, nose and paw prints.
Bedroom windows. In winter, condensation collects on the inside of the glass and runs onto the sill. Wipe it off in the morning when you see it, and check the corners of the sill for small black spots. If they wipe off, keep the sill dry. If they keep coming back, the room has a moisture problem worth looking into.
Kitchen windows. A thin layer of cooking grease builds up on the glass over the sink and stove. Wash it with the soapy water first, then squeegee. Vinegar alone won't cut grease.
Kids' rooms. Fingerprints on glass are a weekly thing. Keep a spray bottle of the vinegar mix and one cloth up high, and spot-clean between full washes.
Is window film or tint a special case?
Yes. If your windows have an applied tint or privacy film on the inside, skip ammonia cleaners and abrasive pads, and use the mild soapy water. Check the film installer's care instructions.
How often should inside windows be cleaned?
Wash the glass every few months, and do the full set in spring and fall. In South Jersey, spring pollen and summer humidity both show up on glass, so those are good times to do the whole house. Spot-clean prints as they show up. If you also do the outside, see how to clean outside windows.
What a house cleaning covers at the window
Interior window glass is an add-on on Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, on Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, and on Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning, CleanStart. It covers reachable interior glass only, with screens not included and no ladders.
Window sills and ledges are wiped on Standard House Cleaning and on Deep Cleaning. Deep Cleaning also dusts blinds. Exterior windows and anything that needs a ladder above a two-step stool aren't on any of our cleaning checklists.
For the rest of the window, see how to clean window sills and tracks and how to clean window screens.
FAQ
What homemade solution works for cleaning windows? A few drops of dish soap in a bucket of warm water handles fingerprints and film. A spray of half white vinegar and half water works on hard water spots and is easy to keep under the sink. Too much soap is what causes streaks.
Why do my windows streak after I clean them? Streaks come from too much soap, a dirty or linty cloth, or the glass drying in direct sun before you finish. Use less product, switch to a clean microfiber cloth, and clean when the sun isn't hitting that window.
Should I clean windows with newspaper? It's an old habit, and today's newsprint can leave ink on the glass and the frames. A dry, clean microfiber cloth does the same job without the mess.
How often should I clean inside windows? Wash the glass every few months and spot-clean fingerprints and nose prints as they show up. Windows near the kitchen or at kid and dog height may need a wipe every week or two.
Does a house cleaning include inside windows? Interior window glass is an add-on on Standard, Deep and Move-In / Move-Out cleaning. It covers reachable interior glass only, with screens not included and no ladders.
Book a cleaning
We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.
