The short version
Streaks come from too much product, from cleaning in the sun and from a dirty cloth. With a little soap, a squeegee and two clean cloths, any window comes out clear, no special cleaner needed. A dash of soap in the water is enough.
Clean windows make a whole room brighter, and little is more annoying than a streaked pane after all the work. The good news: you need neither pricey glass cleaner nor a secret trick. You need the right order and a few simple moves.
The most common mistake is thinking more cleaner means cleaner glass. The opposite is true: residue of cleaning agent dries on, and that is exactly the streaks you see afterwards. Less really is more here.
Why streaks happen at all
Too much product
Excess soap or cleaner dries on the glass as a film. A small dash in a bucket of water is enough.
Direct sun
In the sun the water dries faster than you can pull it off. Clean on a cloudy day or in the shade.
Dirty cloth
A cloth with grease or detergent residue only smears. Use a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth.
The method, step by step
Dust off first
Wipe loose dust and cobwebs away dry, or water turns them into sticky grime that smears.
Wet gently
Lukewarm water with a small dash of soap. Spread evenly over the pane with a sponge or cloth.
Squeegee
Set the squeegee at the top and pull down in overlapping strokes. Wipe the blade on a cloth after each stroke.
Dry the edges
Soak up the remaining moisture at the edges with a dry, lint-free cloth. Done, no polishing.
Recipe · 1 minute
Mix your own glass cleaner
You need
- 500 ml water
- 1 small dash of mild liquid soap (really just a few drops)
- for a glossy finish, optionally 1 tbsp surgical spirit or a little citric acid solution against limescale film
How to
Everything into a spray bottle, swirl briefly. Spray sparingly, squeegee, dry the edges. On limescaled glass a dash of citric acid solution helps, more in our guide on removing limescale.
The right tools
One or two good helpers make it noticeably faster and cleaner. What matters:
- A squeegee with a soft, undamaged rubber blade
- Lint-free microfibre cloths, separate for glass and edges
- For high windows, a model with a telescopic handle
Frequently asked
Why do I always get streaks despite cleaning?
Does newspaper really help against streaks?
What helps against limescale spots on glass?
Clean through the whole house
From the window pane to the patio, we show the right product for every job.
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