When it comes to keeping your home’s windows clear, sparkling, and streak and lint-free, there are a few important things to keep in mind. What should you look for in a glass cleaner? What’s the best glass cleaner for home windows? And how should you best clean your windows?
Keep reading to learn how best to clean your home’s windows!
What Makes a Better Glass Cleaner
A really good glass cleaner will clean your windows, of course, but it should do more than that. It should also leave your glass free of streaks and lint—without doing any damage to your windows over time.
For the best results, we recommend a glass cleaner free of ammonia or vinegar. These ingredients can break down water-repellent coatings or window tints over time, reducing their effectiveness and damaging your windows. Plus, ammonia-based cleaners leave streaks more than non-ammonia cleaners.
And of course, be sure to use soft materials to clean your glass. Avoid abrasive pads and steel wool, which can scratch your glass.
What’s the Best Glass Cleaner for Windows?
There are dozens of glass cleaners on the market for all different types of glass, from home windows to car windows to glass cooktops.
When it comes to home windows, our top recommendation is the Jack’s Glass Glass Cleaner, available for purchase at any of our stores. We know it works because we use it ourselves! Our cleaner easily removes dirt, grease, smudges, fingerprints, and more—without leaving behind any residue or streaks. You can use it on your home windows and on mirrors, ovens, car windows, and more.
If you’re unable to stop in to buy our cleaner, our next pick would be the Stoner “Invisible Glass” Glass Cleaner. This cleaner also promises to remove everything from dirt to fingerprints without leaving behind streaks. It’s also ammonia, scent, and dye-free.
Our third place pick—better for quick cleaning than tough jobs—is MiracleWipes for Glass. Using wipes likely won’t get your windows as clean as a spray, but it will do the job in a pinch! (Like with a spray cleaner, you’ll still need to dry your windows after wiping them down.) MiracleWipes are also ammonia-free.
If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly version of glass cleaner, you might consider ECOS Plant-Powered Window Cleaner. This cleaner is one of the better eco-friendly window cleaners and isn’t streaky. However, you should note that this cleaner does have acetic acid in it (a plant-based vinegar), so you shouldn’t use it on tinted or coated windows. For that reason, we can’t rate this cleaner higher: most people don’t want to buy multiple versions of glass cleaner!
Top Tips for the Cleanest Glass
When it comes to window cleaning, it’s not just about the cleaner. Make sure you follow our top tips below to get crystal-clear windows.
Check the Weather Forecast for Sun
Sure, you don’t want to clean your windows on a rainy day, but a sunny day? Why would the sun be a problem?
When it’s extremely sunny and hot, your glass cleaner will dry faster than you can wipe down the window. This leaves behind hard-to-remove streaks. Instead, try to wash your windows on a partly cloudy or cooler day.
Dust First
Fail to dust your windows before applying glass cleaner, and you’ll end up smearing the dust around the window. Make sure to take a minute to dust off your window before you apply cleaner! This extra step makes the process easier and results in cleaner glass.
Choose the Right Drying Material
In addition to the cleaner itself, it’s important to choose the right material to dry your windows.
Old-school homeowners often use newspaper to dry, but newspaper isn’t a great choice anymore: ink may not stick to glass, but it can stain wooden frames. Also, most people don’t have newspapers lying around anymore! Instead, go with microfiber cloths. Unlike newspaper or paper towels, microfiber cloths are reusable. Unlike regular cotton towels, microfiber cloths provide streak-free, lint-free drying.
Call Jack’s Glass for Your Home Window Needs
Jack’s Glass is here for your window needs, whether it’s glass repair or replacement, screen or storm panel installation, window films, pet screens, glass etching, and more!
Call us today to talk to the home window pros!
