How to clean windows yourself

As you know there are different parts to window cleaning. The main areas this content will focus on are, the glass, the tracks, the frames and the screens. The techniques explained (especially cleaning the glass) vary from what I actually do as a professional window cleaner. This is simply because the way I clean windows takes awhile to master and I just want to give you the quickest and easiest method that you can benefit from today.

You should follow this window cleaning order of procedures to save yourself a lot of time;

  1. Flyscreens
  2. Frames
  3. Windows
  4. Tracks
  5. Window sills
  6. Floor (If you dripped anything)

Window cleaning equipment

To start window cleaning properly you will need:

  • A good quality squeegee – I would only recommend purchasing either wagtail or ettore models. This is by far the most important thing you spend the money on when window cleaning. If your tight for cash, just buy a shorter squeegee, I always suggest a 14, 16 or 18 inch as your first one. Any shorter will make the job take too long, any longer and it becomes impractical for those smaller windows. Expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 dollars. You may want to purchase some extra rubbers at this point to save time later. You can expect a single rubber to last for around 4 to 6 hours of on the glass time.
  • An Applicator of some sort – I have heard heaps of different names for this from t-bar to a wand, but it’s just something to apply soapy water to the windows. You can buy one when you purchase your squeegee but professional ones are pricey. If your just using it to clean your own windows with a few times a year, this is something you don’t need to waste money on so just buy a cheapy.
  • An old cotton bath towel – Old ones have less lent and you don’t mind about staining them. I actually buy my towels from a dry cleaner that can no longer rent them to hotels and resorts because of a small hole or stain.
  • Detergent – There are so many detergents available and I have tried and experimented with a lot of them, but honestly nothing beats ‘morning fresh’. The detergent does help clean windows however its main job is to allow the squeegee to glide effortlessly across the glass.
  • A bucket – to hold water.
  • Others – a non-scratch scourer and a razor blade. I only ever recommend you have a professional window cleaner using a blade on your glass. But if you’re going to do it I might as well tell you the best way to do it. First make sure the blade is brand new, old ones where the blade is no longer sharp or is rusted will scratch the glass straight away. The glass has to be wet and you must only scrape small amounts at a time in a single direction. Never go back and forth with the blade in the same spot. Scrape then lift the blade, place it back at the start and scrape again. For more info on scratching glass click here

How to clean fly-screens

If your flyscreens aren’t very dirty you can just lightly run your soapy applicator over them and dry them off with a towel.

If they are dirty you should use a dust pan brush covered with soapy water and give them a good scrub, followed with a good hosing.

Now if they are extremely dirty you will have to combine both methods. Start by removing the screens from the frames, scrub them with the dust pan brush, hose it off, scrub them with the applicator, hose it off and dry with a towel.

If you have security screens, you will have to use the second method or a pressure cleaner. They are a real hassle to clean so just be patient


How to clean window Frames

Simply get a non-scratch scour covered with soap water and scrub the frames. Then hose it off or wipe them down with a towel, depending on how dirty they are.

How to clean windows

You want to half fill your bucket with clean cold water, generally about 5-7 litres. Add a decent squirt of morning fresh detergent to the water and gently mix, remember the less foam the better.

Always start on the outside of the house, as it is generally the dirtier side of the glass. This will also allow you to get a feel for window cleaning before you go inside.

Dip your applicator into the bucket and cover with the soapy water. It is a good habit to lift the applicator slightly out of the water and run your hand firmly down it to release any excess water. This will stop the majority of drips during the time it travels from the bucket to the glass, which is especially important once you get inside.

Place the applicator on the glass and wet the whole window. If the windows are quite dirty you will have to give it a good scrub. You can sometimes save a lot of time by using a non scratch scour on tough to remove things like BBQ grease, animal saliva, sticker residue, oily hand marks and baked on bird and insect poo.

Once the glass is wet, grab your towel and with one figure run it down the left-hand side of the window. Try to dry about a 1 cm wide channel of glass along the frame from top to bottom. Now place your squeegee up the top of the window in that dry channel and pull across to the right finishing with your squeegee touching the frame. As you pull it across you want the squeegee to be angled slightly forward. I.e. the top edge leads and the bottom edge trails behind. This is really important so you don’t leave streaks. Now wipe the rubber with your towel and repeat the process lower down on the window. You want to overlap the part you just cleaned buy about 3-4cm. Once again this is really important so you don’t leave streaks. Continue the process until you get to the bottom of the window. Finish buy getting a dry part of the towel and with one finger; wipe each edge of the window to remove any left over water.

Repeat this technique on all the exterior windows. Now move inside and do the same thing. It is a good idea to carry an extra towel around to lie under the windows as you clean them. Putting your bucket on this towel is also a great habit to get into so you don’t dirty the floor or stain your carpet.


Cleaning window tracks

It really depends on how dirty the tracks are when choosing the right method to clean them. If the dirt is dry and dusty I would use a track brush (an old tooth brush will do), give it a quick run over and vacuum it out. Alternatively if the dirt is damp and unsuitable for your vacuum cleaner, run a soapy non-scratch scourer through the track and dry out with a towel.