Cleaning windows is certainly one of the household tasks that requires attention and research into suitable products, to avoid leaving streaks or making them opaque. But with the right methods and products suitable for the undertaking it is possible to obtain an impeccable result.
Here are some tips
It is essential to focus on finding the right products.
If we aim for cleaning based on natural products, the combination of the classic mixture of water and vinegar is certainly effective. Dilute a spoonful of white vinegar in a liter of water and use it to clean the windows with a microfibre cloth. Vinegar helps dissolve dirt and prevent streaks from forming.
You can opt for alcohol. Add a shot of rubbing alcohol to a liter of water for an even brighter solution.
Another alternative is to use dish detergent. With a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid in hot water you can reach a consistency sufficient to degrease very dirty windows.
There are those who, however, always prefer to use specific products for glass. There are numerous glass cleaning products on the market, which often contain anti-stains. Choose a product that suits your needs and follow the instructions on the package.
The products, whether natural or chemical, require the use of a support that helps in cleaning: you can therefore choose to use microfibre cloths, which are the most suitable cloths for cleaning glass without leaving streaks, because their microfibre structure captures dirt effectively and dries quickly, avoiding the formation of streaks. But you can also resort to a remedy that is still particularly sought after today, namely the use of newsprint. The ink contained in the paper has a light abrasive effect that helps remove stubborn dirt, while the sheet absorbs excess moisture.
But is there a specific technique for cleaning windows?
It can certainly be useful to start from the center. Work the glass starting from the center and proceeding towards the edges. This way you will prevent the dirt from moving towards the ends, creating streaks. Another move to facilitate glass cleaning is horizontal movements. If you’re using a microfiber cloth, you can also use circular motions to target stubborn stains.
To avoid getting lost, it is important to dry the glass immediately after cleaning it with a dry microfibre cloth or absorbent paper. This way you will prevent the water from evaporating and leaving streaks.
Also, pay attention to lint on the cloth, which could leave marks on the glass. If you notice any lint, change it with a new one.
Additional tips
Clean the windows on a cloudy day, because the direct sun causes the water on the glass to evaporate too quickly and this leads to the formation of halos. What matters is the use of demineralised water, because it lacks minerals, the main cause of streaks.
A piece of advice that is far from obvious is to regularly clean the sponges and cloths used to clean the windows to prevent them from accumulating dirt and bacteria.
