Aren’t Washing Windows A “Pane”?
Not With this Method
I cannot take credit for this discovery; however I can tell you that it works! In my opinion this is the best way for washing windows. A cleaning company shared this tip with me four years ago, I was using glass cleaner, vinegar and newspapers. Nothing I did completely cleaned the window. This is the only thing I use now.
Items Needed for Washing Windows
(All items except the Dawn were purchased at Dollar Tree)
- Dawn Dish Detergent
- Small Bowl or Bucket
- Scrubby Pads
- Absorbent Cloths
- Squeegee
- Dirty Windows
Place a few drops of Dawn in your container with a couple inches of water.
Dip the scrubby pad into the water and squeeze out.
Scrub the glass. The Dawn along with the scrubby gets the dirt off and does not leave a residue.
Squeegee the window, starting at the top and working down, wiping off the “blade “each time with a cloth.
Wipe around the edges to absorb any leftover water and dirt.
One Pane shiny and clean, look at the difference…AMAZING!!!!
Who would have known this is all it takes to get professional results? Give it a try and see if you like the Washing Windows like A Pro Method.
Check out My Back Door and More to see how shiny, sparkling windows just have to be the final touch in any DIY project.
Post and Pics by
Denise Aka “Mom”
Wonderful tip! Thank you so much! My windows are in need!!!
You’re Welcome! Thanks for stopping by come back soon!
What kind of scrubby pad do you use that doesn’t scratch the glass?
Hi Roxie, great question. I have used all types of scrubby pads and have not ever noticed scratches. However, I use ones that are not super abrasive. The one in the picture has netting type material on it. I use Scotch-Brite scrubbies to do pots and pans and when those wear down they are great to use as well. Thanks for stopping by.
does this also work on mirrors? I hate the residue glass cleaners leave (but of course they all claim not to leave a residue, ha ha)
I know exactly what you mean Cyndee about residue and yes this does work on mirrors. Just use a scrubby pad that is not too abrasive. Thanks for the question!
Nice! One trick I learned as a custodian, is to use Rain-x on the exterior of windows after you wash it if it gets hit by sprinklers-especially if you have hard water. It beads up the water so it doesn’t leave a film. Reapply every other month or so.
What an awesome tip! Thanks Pam.
Thank you! Seems Like Dawn is a miracle cleaner!
Thanks Sherry. It is a good product.
Its a great cleaner, BUT ever notice your sponges smell fast after using it when using at the kitchen sink? Its from Dawn. For dishes I use Palmolive and my sponges last forever without a bad odor. Just a tip so you don’t have to toss your sponges regularly.
Great Tip Nicole. I don’t use sponges, but I know alot of folks do. Thanks so much for sharing.
If you want to use Dawn and your scrubbies or sponges are getting smelly, try microwaving them for 10-15 seconds. This kills all the bacteria and quickly gets rid of the yucky odor.
You can also put the sponge or the scrubber attachment in the dishwasher. The heat kills the bacteria and keeps them fresh. =)
I can’t wait to try this window cleaning technique!
Hi, This is fantastic! I’m a huge fan of Dawn, and now even more so! I was hoping to join your email group, but the “go” button doesn’t seem to work. I entered my email address and clicked several times. I’d love to be added to your email list if possible. Thanks!
Stefanie
Stefanine, We love Dawn too. Thanks so much for letting me know about the problem with the email subscription. I will check it out today, it’s readers like you that keep me in the loop when something like that happens. I will try to get it up and working by tonight so you can subscribe! Thanks again!
My husband’s company uses this method and swears by it! He has the number one cleaning company in Sarasota Florida…
Mel, That’s Awesome. It’s amazing how something so simple works so well. Congrats to your husband in all his success! Thanks for letting us know how it’s worked for his company too!
Hate spring cleaning but love a clean house. I tried this tip and my windows never looked so clean. I will never use newspaper, ammonia, white vinegar again. They really sparkle. Just remember to wipe the squeegee blade after each pass.
Hi Susie, I know exactly what you mean. I really disliked washing windows, because they never looked clean. FRUSTRATING! That is what led me to question the professional cleaner. So glad he shared this secret.
Awesome tips!! I hate doing windows—mainly because it never looks great. I can’t wait to try your tips!
thank you for this.., I’m so gonna try this at home
more power and god bless
Diana, I am so glad you found it useful. Good luck and happy window washing.
Can’t wait to try this!
Hi Debra, yes, please try it. It works great!
HI guys, my cleaning lady also ditched the window cleaners for a soap formula with the squeegee but she uses Fabuloso,,,,,,and let me tell you it is fabulous-Oh. a very weak formula gets that film off windows and mirrors. i actually just use a paper towel because i don’t have a squeegee. But the benefits don’t stop there, mix it in your bucket for mopping floors, use a weak formula and nearly dry mop to shine and clean sealed hardwood floors. It makes granite shine like when you first put it in (if you dry the countertop completely) and to top it all off,,,,,,it smells good!
Thanks for the tips Heather, we will certainly check it out!
Heather, I just mopped my tile kitchen floor with Fabuloso and it worked fabulous! I love the smell. It smells so fresh and clean. Thanks again for the tip.
Heather, I’m 20 and STILL live at home with my family but I like to help out with the cleaning. I’m broke and they only buy Dawn. do you think it would work to mop your floor with that instead of Fabuloso? And how weak of a solution would you make to clean your floors?
Rebecca, Just in case Heather doesn’t respond, I use Dawn on my floors when I don’t have other products or don’t want to spend the $$$. Just a few drops. The only thing that the I can find on the net is that it may dull the shine on high gloss hardwood floors.
I tried this yesterday, and OMG. My windows will be cleaned more often (I might have cleaned them two years ago or so….) It took me less time to clean the windows than it did to dust the blinds and the windows look awesome!
That is great news Jennifer! So glad you gave it a try!
Instead of using a squeegee can you just rinse with a waterhose and let dry?
Melynda, I’m afraid that the water hose would leave a residue of dirt and water. The method of using the squeegee and wiping the blade removes the excess water and dirt from the window. Thanks for your question.
Isn’t there a need to rinse the soap off the window before using the squeegee??
Sharon, That’s the great thing about the squeegee method, it gets all the soap off. We’ve never had a need for rinsing
Hi Denise!!
Someone sent me this blog link and I want to thank you so much for the Dawn idea for windows!!!
I’ve also sent it along to others- thanks again
Sue
Sue, you are welcome and thanks for passing it along. I am also working on a post for the best way to clean the inside of your windshield. Stay tuned.
I live in South Africa and love what you have posted here, but am not sure of what I could use as a substitute for Dawn. Is it dish washing liquid?
Hi, Liesl. Yes, Dawn is a dishwashing liquid soap. It is known here in the US as the best for cutting grease. However, others have said that other types of dishwashing liquid work well too. Good luck and I’m so glad you found us all the way in South Africa!
What a great tip, thank you so much for sharing! I usually use Windex.. and then curse because the bottle promised me a “streak free shine” and once again broke that promise!! I have a feeling I will only be using your method from now on!
Thanks again,
Asia
Hi Asia. I washed my double patio doors with this method today. It was so easy and the windows sparkle. I don’t dread doing windows anymore. Windex is fine for touch ups like on mirrors and such, but for dirty windows, Dawn is the way to go!
I just took your advice and cleaned my huge patio windows! What an easy way to clean them! Took very little time, too!
Thanks so much for your hint.
Barbara in Athens, GA
I know Barbara, it is so quick and easy. No need to dread cleaning windows!
What works best in place of the squeegee for smaller windows where a squeegee doesn’t fit?
Hi Pat, I would use a micro fiber cloth or the windshield washing tool that we featured is great for smaller areas as well.
When your sponge starts to smell, pop it in the microwave on high for 20 or 30 sec. It will kill all germs. Your sponge will smell clean again.
Great suggestion Nana. Thanks for sharing!
I used this method on my windows last weekend and LOVED it. Thank you so much for sharing this method. My windows are spotless. I am so happy not to have to pay someone to clean my windows.
Tanya, how wonderful that you have clean windows and more $$$$$! Thanks so much for sharing your success with us.
I just cleaned 12 windows using dawn, a dollar store scrubber and a clean white towel. They are sparkling. I didn’t have a squeegee but I woke up motivated, and decided to try without one. worked perfectly.
Wonderful Cathy. Thanks for sharing!
I have used Dawn to clean the inside of my vehicle windows for years. It was one of those things that I just thought of trying because Dawn takes grease away so I figured it would work on smoke. Best thing I could have ever done. So much easier.
I know Kerstin, it just makes sense doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing your experience.
This worked really well. We are having a big birthday party for my daughter soon, and I was able to do every window inside and out in about an hour and a half. Luckily we have a one-story home. Thanks!
Wonderful Tammy! That’s another benefit to using this method. It is faster!
Wow! I usually clean my windows only once a year-right before my family comes in July. I’ve been procrastinating because it’s quite a job. I have an enclosed porch on the South side of the house, encased with 8 sets of slider windows, 4 sets sliding glass doors, along with the rest of the windows & doors on our first level. I’d seen your post on Pinterest so thought I’d get started tackling the job today. Much to my suprise, using the scouring pad with just a little Dawn in the water cleaned the fly specs off without all the scrubbing that it took with a wet rag! I got the squeegie from the shower & started cleaning like a pro! I didn’t tackle all of them today, as the temps here in the MidWest were in the 100 degree range this afternoon, but I got a good start on them & will get them all done by the end of the week. Perhaps my windows will now get to sparkle more than just once a year! Thanks so much for the tip!!
Woo Hoo Jean! So glad the information has helped you. You really have a lot of windows there! The sliding glass doors are a challenge, I am sure. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Happy window washing!
I have always used Dawn to clean my reading glasses also it cleans them so well and I just dry them off with a clean soft cloth after I rinse in the sink. It cleans better than the eyeglass cleaner that I have. I will be trying this on my windows also
I do the same Cindy. It is a great eye glass cleaner!
Your work is impressing. Thanks for share it with us.
Thanks for the compliment instashirt.com. Thank you for stopping by!
Some really good content on this website, thanks for contribution of good tips for home maintance.
Thanks so much, we really appreciate your compliments!
I just wanted to check if any dishwashing detergent would do or does it specifically need to be Dawn. I am from Australia and not sure if we have that brand here…it’s not the one I use.
Ros, you can try others but the main thing that “Dawn” is know for is it’s ability to cut through extremely tough grease. I would try to find a brand that is comparable to Dawn in that manner. Good Luck!
Thank You!
I have thought of trying these out but was afraid the scrubber would scratch the glass.
Dawn works beautifully on greasy stained engine oil jeans, and dishes, and car seats.Now it does windows too….*\o/* yeah DAWN*\o/*.
Good Susan, I’m glad it worked out for you!
Thanks for the great tip! I didn’t have Dawn, but had some Palmolive with aloe. I was concerned that the aloe might leave a residue, but I tried it anyway and it worked perfectly.
Also, I thought I would need a good squeegee but since you used a cheap one, I used a cheap old squeegee we had purchased for the shower and it worked fine. Thanks!
That’s great to know because we have lots of people asking from other countries if other soaps work, thanks for letting us know.
Hi,
I have used a lambswool covered (about 8″ wide) squeegee type handled device (that I can screw a pole in when I have to reach windows) with dish soap/water and then just use with a 8″ squeegee for years -ever since I saw what our window cleaner used — it’s so fast & easy. I’ve used this method on my vehicle windows too.
I bought them at the local vacuum/cleaning supply store.
I plan to try Dawn detergent to see if there are improvements. Thanks! (from Chilliwack, BC)
Thanks Joy, please let us know how it works for you!
So do you do this on the inside of the windows as well? How do you keep it from making a mess. Just asking!
Vikki,
Mom says that you just need to use less water. You can also place a towel across the bottom of the window and then make sure you still have one on hand as you squeegee. If you have squeezed out most of the water you shouldn’t have much more liquid than if you were using a spray on your window. Thanks for asking.
Pinned this – the streaks are killing me!
Kelly
Awesome. I haven’t tried it yet but Mom swears by it. I have my supplies now I just have to find the time because our windows are creepy looking!!!
Just curious to see if I could just use paper towels to wipe the windows or mirrors instead of a squeegee? If it would still work just as well, makes it seem easier than a squeegee.
Thanks for the great ideas! I can’t wait to try them tomorrow!
Vicky
Hi Vicky, it is actually much much easier to use the squeegee than paper towels. Just remember to wipe the squeegee off with each swipe. I have never had any success with using paper towels to clean windows. They smear and streak and leave behind fibers. Hope this helps!
Can’t wait to try this! Where did you get you squeegee? I just bought a large one and it doesn’t get all the water off. Thank you, cindy
Hi Cindy, I got the squeegee at the Dollar Tree and it works just fine for me. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for this advice! I have old windows with the separate panes and need this! I shared it on my FB page with a link! Thanks!
Awesome. So glad that you can use it. And thanks for sharing. My son demonstrated it for his 4-H class and won first place it works great and is so simple. (the teacher loved it, not sure about the kids lol)
I can’t wait for nice weather to try this! We moved into a new home … The former owners washed the outside siding on the house & never bothered to wash the chemicals off the windows. There is a film we can’t get off! Have tried everything including vinegar . Hopefully
this will work
Good luck! Let us know how it works for you!
Don’t know what I did wrong but I ended up with a smeary film on my sliding door. So I went back to my now-still-favorite method – plain water on a microfiber cloth. That’s right – just plain water. No odor, doesn’t irritate my skin and completely safe around kids and pets. But I’ll definitely grab the Dawn when I need some extra cleaning power.
Uh oh, Not sure what went wrong either. Maybe it will work somewhere else. We use this method all the time. Thanks for sharing your method as well!
I was bought here by Pinterest and tried this today. It works great. I’m in UK and used our version of Dawn dish soap – Fairy. It worked really well. I did use a micro fibre towel to dry off rather than a squeegy tho. I’d been using dish soap mixed with vinegar and water to clean the bathroom and that works a treat too!