Window cleaning

[rabbit]

I would welcome tips on window cleaning and preventing smears.
We have large patio doors and when I clean them they look fine - until the sun shines on them when they are very smeary.
I have tried a solution of water, white vinegar and detergent
Water and white vinegar
Water and detergent
A proprietary window spray
Cleaning with a micro cloth
Ditto kitchen paper
Where am I going wrong?

[L Austin France]

Many years ago we were having the same problems especially on our west facing kitchen which has about 6m2 of windows plus a glazed french door & shows every mark once the sun gets around.
I bought a 1 litre bottle of Unger's Liquid window cleaning soap which is diluted 10ml per litre of water & use that applied with a window brush & squeegeed off after. Seems to work very well with no streaks if you're diligent with the squeegee.
Still got half a bottle full.

[Hotrodder]

Whatever solution you use, a proper squeegee (professional quality if possible) makes a huge difference. Try to work quickly to remove the bulk of the water and go back afterwards with a clean cotton cloth if necessary to remove any lines between passes.

[Blaze]

I remember years ago a window cleaner told me that most people use too much water .... He used plain water and a chamois but then the windows he cleaned were done regularly (which ours certainly aren't .... )

[Lori]

Same problem here. I have found that a microfiber cloth can reduce the streaking, but it still isn't perfect.

I think I'll try the chamois with water and see how that works. Quite frustrating.

[Veem]

I have just accepted that window cleaning is something not everyone can do well and I fall into that category. I used to swear by good old-fashioned Windolene, but that leaves just as much smearing once the sun shines. Down to my rapidly becoming a doddery old lady, I now have someone in once a week to tackle the household jobs. She hates cleaning windows too but is making a better job of it than I ever did. Nobody paid me to do it though!

[MAD87]

Our lovely 'lady who does' did our véranda windows, but only once in the last year! I don't blame her, it's a helluva job. She didn't get any smears and I asked her how she did it. Vinegar and water, which is what I've always used but without her results. I noticed she was also using more elbow grease than I ever did.

[Antonia]

I use windscreen wash in a spray bottle with either newspaper or a microfiber cloth. No streaks.

[Liz]

I have a Karcher window squeegge thingy, which I use with water & vinegar with a drop of washing up liquid in a spray bottle and a selection of sponges, microfibre cloths and paper towel.
Smears do still appera but at least we can see out of the windows!

[Spectrum]

We have 14 Mts of glass just in the lounge to clean, looked online at a few videos, what a mixture, assorts of concoctions, even a dishwasher tablet, I now use a bit of white vinegar, and a drop or two of washing up liquid in some water, use the correct window mop and squeezy, finish off with a chammy, acceptable results, but hard work so a day rest in-between.