To make sure you have a clear view, the windows need to be cleaned every now and then. Rain leaves unsightly marks and the sun brings the dust on the panes to light. But how do you achieve this without streaks and smears? How do you get your window panes crystal clear? There are lots of household tips on the subject, but not all of them deliver a streak-free view.
Timing is everything
Even though it may sound a little pointless, the time at which the windows are cleaned really does matter. When the sun is shining, you can see just how dirty your windows really are, even though this is barely noticeable on dark, rainy days. But even once you can see the dirt, you should wait until the sun is no longer shining on your window. Windows should never be cleaned in bright sunshine. The reason is easily explained. The sun is hot and dries the cleaning agent on the windows faster than you can wipe it away. And that leaves the unsightly streaks that instantly undo all your hard work.
Use vinegar against limescale
In most areas, the tap water contains limescale. This leaves unsightly marks on the pane, even after cleaning. Rain, too, which leaves droplets on your panes, is not free of limescale. So mix about three tablespoons of vinegar into your cleaning water; this dissolves the limescale and leaves the pane clean, streak-free and mark-free. There are even housewives who swear by adding the same amount of laundry starch to the water to get sparkling clean windows.
Use only cloths or leather for cleaning
Soft cloths or a chamois leather are ideal for cleaning the panes. Stubborn dirt is also best soaked beforehand with cleaning agent and water and removed after a while with a soft cloth. A scouring sponge should never be used on window glass to remove marks. It leaves unsightly scratches on the pane that can no longer be removed.
It goes faster with a squeegee
You will also get streak-free windows if you use a squeegee after wiping with a soft cloth. But it has to be used correctly, otherwise you will again see smears and streaks once it has dried. So you must not lift the squeegee off and must not work too slowly here either. The rubber blade of the squeegee is placed on straight and drawn briskly in one pass from top to bottom or from one side to the other. After each pass, the blade must then be wiped with a lint-free, clean cloth.
Using newspaper for cleaning is unfortunately a myth
Known as an old household remedy, many housewives still reach for newspaper today to get their window panes streak- and smear-free. This is actually not to be recommended at all, as the printing ink leaves ugly dark traces, especially on light-coloured uPVC frames. Chamois leather or microfibre cloths are better for polishing the panes after cleaning. Paper from the kitchen roll is also not recommended because of its linting properties, as it leaves dust behind on the clean windows.
