To get the best result with do-it-yourself window cleaning, you can use these 4 methods, which provide tips on how to get beautiful strip-free windows.
Method # 1: Wash windows with classic window soap (recommended)
You want shiny clean windows and therefore they need to be washed and plastered. This is easily done with a window soap designed for the task.
Follow the dosage ratio on the bottle (typically 0.5 dl soap for 10 liters of water in bucket). The water should be lukewarm, as it makes it easier for the soap to remove dirt and grime from the windows, leaving shiny strip-free panes. It is best to wash your windows when it is slightly cloudy but dry. If you do this in direct sunlight, the soapy water will dry faster and you will find it harder to look out the windows.
Wash windows with window cleaning equipment, including a soft sponge or scrubber, intended for washing windows
Use a scraper to remove the excess water from the window
Wipe the edges and frame with a tea towel or dry cloth
Method # 2: Wash with dish soap / sulfo
- Pour 5 liters of cold water into a bucket or tub
- Bland ca. 5 ml (1 tbsp.) Detergent in the water
- Make it foam lightly with a quick stir
- Use a scrubber or scratch-free sponge for soaping and washing
- Use the scraper to remove the dirty water. Avoid lifting the scraper when removing the water
- Wipe the scraper at regular intervals to remove excess water
- Wipe around the frame and edges with a tea towel or lint-free cloth
Disadvantage: Dishwashing liquid is incredibly highly concentrated soap, which means that your window water typically has a high soap concentration. Possibly soap residues will therefore typically be very evident on the pane. Therefore, be extra careful to remove all “holidays” and runners when using only dishwashing detergent. Since dishwashing detergent is not designed specifically to dissolve dirt on windows, you may well miss the grease and dirt-dissolving effect that is known from actual window soaps designed for the purpose.
Method 3 #: Window washing with ammonia alcohol and dishwashing detergent
- Pour 5 liters of cold water into a bucket or tub
- Bland ca. 5 ml of dishwashing liquid in the water (it does not have to be exact)
- Pour approx. 2 tbsp. salmiakspiritus in the soap mixture
- Stir in the dilution
- Apply the mixture with a scrubber / sponge
- Use a scraper to remove the excess dirty water
- Wipe the frame and edges with an old tea towel
Disadvantage: Depending on which dishwashing detergent you use, the method here can be quite effective. Some even choose to combine dishwashing liquid with water, ammonia and alcohol. Concentrated ammonia alcohol is corrosive, and can irritate eyes and mucous membranes. Furthermore, ammonia alcohol is not good for the environment. For these reasons, we prefer a classic window soap made for the purpose.
Method # 4: Window cleaning with dishwashing liquid and rinse aid
- Fill a bucket with approx. 5 liters of lukewarm water
- Bland ca. 2 tbsp. dishwashing liquid in the water
- Pour 2nd tbsp. rinse aid (what we know from dishwashers) in the water
- Make sure the solution is mixed well
- Dip the washer into the mixture and apply on the windows
- Wash and soap the windows well
- Use a scraper to remove the dirty water
- Wipe dry with a tea towel on the frame and edges
The rinse aid can help to break the surface tension of the water, which can facilitate window cleaning. For this reason, the method above is a bit better than cleaning with exclusively dishwashing water.
Plastering of windows and mirrors
If you want a quick cleaning of your windows and mirrors, it pays to use a pre-mixed Vinduespudser. They are available in eco-labeled versions as well as cheap and expensive versions. It usually pays to buy a slightly more expensive variant, as they leave the least streaks and require fewer treatments. In addition, it depends on how ‘ragged’ windows or mirrors are.
This solution is fine for a quick up shining, but is not preferable if you need to polish many windows. Likewise, it is more suitable indoors than outdoors.
