How to clean windows without streaks – a method that actually works
The fastest way to streak-free windows is lukewarm water with just a few drops of dish soap, a squeegee to remove the water, and a dry microfiber cloth for the edges. The most important thing: never clean in direct sunlight. The water will dry before you can wipe it off, leaving you with precisely the streaks you wanted to avoid. With the right equipment, a standard pane takes less than two minutes.
What equipment do you need?
You can get a lot done with four items, and none of them are expensive:
- Squeegee with a rubber blade – gives the smoothest result on large panes.
- Microfiber cloth – at least two, one for washing and one dry for polishing.
- Bucket of lukewarm water with a few drops of dish soap, or about 1 dl of vinegar per liter of water.
- A soft cloth or washing mop to evenly wet the glass before using the squeegee.
Forget paper towels and newspaper. Paper towels shed lint, and newspaper isn't what it once was – modern printing ink smudges rather than polishes. A clean microfiber cloth beats both.
Why shouldn't you clean windows in the sun?
Because the heat dries the wash water in seconds. When the water evaporates quickly, soap residue and limescale are left behind as white films and streaks, and you simply don't have time to run the squeegee over the entire pane before it starts to dry at the edges.
Therefore, clean when the pane is in the shade. On a sunny day, this means cleaning east-facing panes in the evening and west-facing panes in the morning. An overcast, mild day is the absolute best window cleaning weather – not the finest weather, but the right weather.
How to clean windows step by step
- Wipe away loose dust first. Go over the frame and pane with a dry cloth or brush. If you wash wet over dry dust, you'll only create mud and streaks.
- Mix wash water. A few drops of dish soap in a bucket of lukewarm water is enough. Too much soap is the most common cause of streaks – more foam means more residue.
- Evenly wet the entire pane with a wet microfiber cloth or mop. Dissolve the dirt; don't skimp on the water here.
- Use the squeegee. Start at the top in one corner and pull straight down in even, overlapping strokes. Wipe the rubber blade with a dry cloth after each stroke – this is where people get sloppy.
- Dry the edges with a dry, clean microfiber cloth. The squeegee doesn't reach all the way into the corners.
- Finally, polish by going over the entire glass with a dry cloth while it is still slightly damp. Hold it up to the light to catch any film you might otherwise miss.
If you don't have a squeegee, skip step 4 and use two cloths instead: wash with the wet one, and immediately follow with a completely dry and clean cloth in circular motions, then linearly at the end.
Inside or outside – is there a difference?
Yes, and it pays to know which side the streak is on. The outside of the pane collects wall dust, pollen, and limescale from rain; the inside has grease from fingers, cooking fumes, and dust from indoor air. A good trick: wipe the inside with horizontal strokes and the outside with vertical strokes. Then you'll immediately see if a remaining streak is outside or inside, and you won't have to guess.
Clean the inside last. The windowsill collects more dirt than you think, so give it a wipe with a cloth before polishing the glass.
Common mistakes – and how to fix them
Most streak problems come from three things: too much soap, too much sun, or dirty equipment. The table below helps you quickly find the cause.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Streaks after cleaning | Too much soap, or the water dried before you wiped it off | Use fewer drops of dish soap, and clean in the shade. Polish again with a dry cloth |
| White film / dull haze | Limescale in tap water or soap residue | Wipe with vinegar water (1 dl per liter), polish dry afterwards – but keep vinegar away from natural stone or marble sills, the acid etches stone |
| Condensation between panes | Punctured insulated glass – moisture between the glass layers | Cannot be cleaned away. The glass must be replaced by a glazier |
| Lint and fuzz on the glass | Paper towels, newspaper, or a worn cloth | Switch to a clean microfiber cloth, wash it without fabric softener |
| Fingerprints that won't come off | Grease from hands, common on the inside | A few drops of dish soap dissolve grease, or vinegar water for stubborn marks |
| Streaks only at the edges | The squeegee doesn't reach, and you didn't dry the edges | Always dry the edges with a dry cloth after using the squeegee |
One final point about the cloth: wash microfiber cloths without fabric softener. Softener leaves a thin layer on the fibers that makes them smear instead of dry – and then you're back to square one.
How often should you clean your windows?
For most homes, cleaning windows twice a year, in spring and autumn, is sufficient. If you live by a busy road, near the sea, or have smokers in the house, it may be worth an extra round in mid-summer. If you want a plan for the rest of your home too, we have gathered recommendations in how often you should clean your home.
When is it worth outsourcing the job?
Many second-story panes, large glass facades, or skylights you can't safely reach are good reasons to bring in professional help. This saves you ladder climbing, and professionals have telescopic squeegees and pure water systems that leave the glass spotless. If you're hiring someone, check that the company is registered in Renholdsregisteret (the Cleaning Register) – it's a legal requirement. Read more about legal cleaning help and Renholdsregisteret so you know you're paying for proper conditions.
If you're moving out, the windows are in any case part of the requirement for move-out cleaning. The same rules apply here – just with a bit more time allocated, because no move-out is approved with streaks in the sun.
