Streaks on glass rarely come from dirt itself. They usually come from what is left behind: cleaning spray residue, lint from paper towels, or dirty water spread around by the wrong cloth. The good news is that you can get spotless windows with nothing more than water and a good microfiber cloth.
What you need
- A bucket or sink of clean, lukewarm water
- Two microfiber cleaning cloths (one damp, one dry)
Step by step
- Remove loose dust first. Give the frame and sill a quick wipe so you do not drag grit across the glass.
- Wet and wring your first cloth. It should be damp, not dripping. Too much water is the number one cause of streaks.
- Wipe in an S-pattern. Start at the top corner and work your way down so dirty water never runs over areas you have already cleaned.
- Buff with a dry cloth. Go over the glass once more with a dry cloth to pick up any remaining moisture.
Extra tips
- Clean windows on a cloudy day or in the shade. Direct sun dries the glass too fast and leaves marks.
- Rinse your cloth whenever it looks dirty. A clean cloth means a clean window.
- Skip fabric softener when washing your cloths. It coats the fibers and makes them less effective on glass.
That is it: no sprays, no paper towels, and no streaks.
