Remove any window screens before cleaning the panes. Over time, these exterior barriers collect dust and grime. Hose them down with water from a garden hose and wipe them clean with a rag or cloth. Heavily soiled screens can be scrubbed with a lightly soaped sponge or cloth and then rinsed. Set them out to dry.


Spray each windowpane with water from a garden hose and then clean it using a professional-strength window glass and a large strip applicator or window washer/squeegee. You can also use a small amount of dishwashing detergent, a bucket and some water. Dip your cleaning tool into your bucket or apply the cleaner to the pane and then start at the top, working your way down, to decrease drips.
Helpful Tip
To avoid streaks, clean windows on a cloudy day or when the sun is not directly shining on them.
For multi-pane windows (for which a squeegee may be too large), you can use a sponge to clean each pane from left to right and then top to bottom.
Bird droppings or other stubborn particles can be removed from glass by saturating them with your cleaner and then scrubbing them away with a soft sponge. Don’t use abrasives that may scratch the glass. However, you can use a razor blade to scrape off anything that won’t come off with soap, water and scrubbing, such as dried paint or sticker residue.
Stains from mineral deposits, such as calcium, lime or rust can be removed using a commercial cleaner such as CLR®. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying.
Rinse the windows to remove debris from cleaning.