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How to Wash Your Windows

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You Will Need

  • Soft-bristled brush
  • 2 tbsp. dish washing liquid
  • 1/4 c. TSP
  • 1/4 c. white vinegar
  • Bucket
  • 3 gal. hot water
  • Gloves
  • Sponge
  • Squeegee
  • Extension pole
  • Lint-free cloths
  • All-purpose cleaner
  1. Step 1

    Choose the right time of day

    Wash your windows during a time of the day when direct sunlight isn't shining on the windows. The heat from sunlight can prematurely dry the cleaning solution and cause spots and streaks.

  2. Step 2

    Brush the frames

    Brush the windows and frames, including any hinges and sills, with the soft-bristled brush to remove cobwebs and debris.

  3. Step 3

    Mix solution

    Mix the dish soap, TSP, and vinegar in a bucket with the hot water. Wear gloves, as TSP can cause skin irritations.

  4. Step 4

    Wash the window

    Wet the sponge in the solution and scrub the dirt off of the window, being careful not to get the frame wet.

  5. Step 5

    Hold the squeegee

    Hold the squeegee in your right hand with the blade vertically in the upper left corner of the window. Draw the blade horizontally across the window to the right, arcing the blade to come down horizontally on the right side of the window.

  6. Tip

    Wipe the blade of the squeegee with the sponge before you start -- a dry blade will skip across the window.

  7. Step 6

    Make another pass

    Position the squeegee vertically on the left side of the window, slightly overlapping the first pass, and arc down to the bottom right side of the window. Continue squeegeeing until the entire window is done.

  8. Tip

    Wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth in between passes.

  9. Step 7

    Use the extension pole

    Wash high windows that you can't reach by using the extension pole, making horizontal passes from left to right.

  10. Fact

    The squeegee was invented by Ettore Steccone in Oakland, California, in 1936.

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