Three Reasons Behind Persistent Window Smears
You've just spent your entire morning scrubbing windows, both indoors and out, and as the sun ascends higher, you notice all the smears. It's disheartening to put in so much effort and end up with smudged glass. Perhaps we can assist by explaining the reasons behind smudged windows and offering tips to prevent them, allowing you to appreciate spotless windows.
Common Causes of Smudged Windows
Utilizing Inappropriate Cleaning Solutions
Cleaning solutions that are overly soapy or contain harsh chemicals may leave streaks and a film that attracts dust. Solutions containing ammonia are particularly detrimental to window clarity. If using a commercial cleaner, review the list of ingredients and avoid those containing ammonia. An effective homemade window cleaner can be made with vinegar, water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Employing Unsuitable Cleaning Tools
While convenient, rolling paper towels should be avoided for window cleaning. They leave behind lint and smudges. The same can be said for cotton cloths and rags. The best window cleaning rags are made from microfiber, which absorbs four times more moisture than cotton, and its nubby texture helps capture and hold onto grime until it's washed away.
If a squeegee is your preferred method of removing cleaning solution, inspect the rubber blade for wear. Small nicks on the edge or stiff, curled rubber will produce smudges.
Employing Incorrect Cleaning Techniques
If you're a first-time window cleaner, you might not know the proper techniques to avoid smudges. Using an excessive amount of cleaner, leaving cleaning solution on the windows, or washing windows in direct sunlight and letting the solution dry can lead to smudges. To prevent smudges, employ the best techniques for gleaming glass windows.
Top Tools and Cleaning Solutions for Smudge-Free Windows
Microfiber Cloths
Without a doubt, microfiber cloths are the best for cleaning windows. They're lint-free, quickly absorb liquids, and their texture helps collect dirt instead of spreading it around. A handful of cloths can be useful when cleaning all the windows in your home. Fold each cloth into quarters. As one side becomes soiled, switch to a clean quarter to prevent dirt from being redistributed onto the glass.
Squeegee
Larger windows benefit from a squeegee to quickly remove the cleaning solution. To avoid smudges, use a measured approach: work from the top down and dry the rubber blade after each swipe. Many squeegees have lengthy handles that can reach high windows. Use them like windshield wipers, regularly checking the blade for damage and replacing it when it becomes stiff, curled, or nicked. Replacement frequency is typically every six months to one year.
Windows with small panes are best cleaned with microfiber cloths, rather than a squeegee. It's a more efficient approach for cleaning corners and tight spaces.
DIY Window Cleaners
You likely have all the ingredients for these two simple homemade cleaners in your pantry. Since they're so easy to prepare, mix them just before cleaning sessions and keep them on hand to clean mirrors and glass-topped tables. The vinegar-based cleaner is an excellent choice if you have white spots on the window from hard water minerals.
Vinegar-Based Window Cleaner
Combine equal parts distilled white vinegar and cool water in a spray bottle. To mask the vinegar's smell, add about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil to the bottle. For heavily soiled windows, add about 4 drops of dishwashing liquid to the bottle and shake well.
Isopropyl Alcohol-Based Window Cleaner
Mix 1 cup of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a clean spray bottle. Shake well to fully combine.
Distilled Water
If you reside in an area with hard water containing high mineral levels, consider using distilled water when rinsing off windows and creating cleaners. Hard water leaves white residue on glass, which cannot be removed once it has etched the surface.
Additional Tips for Smudge-Free Windows
- Clean windows on a tranquil, overcast day. If you clean windows on a windy day or work directly in the sun, the cleaning solution dries too quickly, resulting in smudges. If you must clean windows on a sunny day, begin on the shaded side of the house, then move in the opposite direction of the sun.
- Always clean the window frame and sill before cleaning the glass to avoid unintentionally spreading dust or grime on your clean windows.
- Ensure your microfiber cloths are freshly laundered before cleaning windows. Since fibers trap small particles, cloths used for other cleaning tasks may harbor grit that can scratch the glass. It's wise to set aside cloths specifically for cleaning windows and glass.
After discovering the benefits of microfiber cloths for window cleaning from Southern Living's guide, you decide to invest in a set for your home. You're excited to test out the DIY vinegar-based window cleaner, hoping it will eliminate the streaks that traditional solutions often leave behind.
Realizing that harsh chemicals and rolling paper towels are not ideal for maintaining spotless windows, you make a mental note to avoid them in the future. Instead, you plan to utilize the squeegee and microfiber cloths to keep your home's windows gleaming.
