Here’s How to Keep Your Windows Looking & Working Great

Regular window care and cleaning are essential to maintaining your home’s value. It will lengthen the lifespan of your windows and help avoid costly repairs or replacements later on. Here’s some easy-to-follow tips and steps to help keep your windows looking great.

Window Cleaning 101

Over time, dirt, dust, and pollution combine to form a grime on your windows that can be hard to remove. When done correctly, window cleaning only needs to be done twice a year (spring and fall). Here’s a rundown of the tools, methods and materials you can use to keep your windows looking great.

Window Cleaners

There are many excellent glass cleaners on the market. Ammonia and alcohol-based cleaners are both very effective and can be purchased in convenient spray bottles. Choose scented or unscented to suit your personal taste. Ammonia-free cleaners are also available for safe use on tinted windows. Concentrated solutions are ideal for big cleaning jobs, while 100% biodegradable products offer environmentally friendly options.

DIY Solutions

You can also make your own homemade window cleaner using dish soap or white vinegar (also called distilled vinegar). The acid in vinegar helps break down the streaky film that accumulates on your windows. Simply mix half a cup of vinegar with two cups of warm water and pour it into an empty spray bottle. Some recipes also call for a dash of rubbing alcohol. For dish soap, mix one tablespoon with one gallon of water.

DIY Tip

Use distilled water for mixing your homemade cleaner as the minerals in tap water can leave streaks.

Window Cleaning Materials

Personal preference plays a role here. Try out these different materials to see what you’re most comfortable with and what gets the best results:

Multi-Purpose Cleaning Cloths: A long-time household standard, these familiar cloths often feature a zig-zag pattern and are great for sopping down dirty windows.

Microfibre Cloths: Super-soft and absorbent, microfibre cloths are ideal for drying and polishing but can also be used for washing.

Chamois: A favourite car-washing and drying tool, it works equally well on the windows in your home.

Sponge: Easy to handle, absorbent, and easy to squeeze out when saturated.

Squeegees: Professional window cleaners swear by them and extended models are great for reaching higher windows.

Paper Towels: Ideal for drying but choose a strong paper that won’t shred or leave lint on your windows.

Utility Pail: Look for a model with a handle for easy, spill-free carrying.

Safety Scraper: The straight blade allows for easy removal of stuck-on solids.

Removing Hard Water Spots & Stains

Minerals in rainwater can leave hard-to-remove spots on your windows. Spot-specific cleaners are available, but you can also try a paste made of baking soda and water, or rubbing the spots out with a slice of lemon.

How to Clean Your Windows Without Leaving Streaks

Debate over the best way to clean windows goes on but here’s some tried and true steps to follow:

Choose a cloudy day so the sun won’t dry out your window cleaner before you can wipe it off.
Pop out your window screens—it’s a great time to clean them too!
Remove any shades and blinds to avoid contact with dirty water.
Use a safety scraper to remove any tape residue, paint, sap etc. holding the scraper at a 45-degree angle and pressing gently forward.
Vacuum the sills, sashes, and frames before washing.
Hose off outside windows to remove excess dust and debris from the outside world.
Saturate your sponge or cloth with cleaning solution then squeeze it out so it’s not dripping wet.
Wash one window at a time using whatever motion is most comfortable (circles, up and down, back and forth or zig zag).
Wipe the window with your squeegee. Start at the top and apply horizontal, overlapping swipes, wiping the squeegee dry after each stroke.
Use a dry cloth or paper towel to dry excess water from around the edges of the window and sill.
Buff out any streaks with a soft, dry microfibre cloth.

Window Maintenance Made Easy

The right tools and materials can make home window repair an easy DIY job. Here’s how to tackle some of the most common issues.

Removing Scratches

Your windows can get scratched through everyday wear and tear, but there are various glass scratch remover methods available. Here's a few to try out:

Pumice Soap: Apply a small amount to a damp cloth and rub the scratched area with small, circular motions for about 30 seconds.

Toothpaste (the kind with baking soda): Again, use a damp cloth and rub the toothpaste into the scratch using a circular motion.

Metal or Glass Polish Paste: Follow the label directions, using sparingly to avoid causing new scratches.

Fine Steel Wool (#0000): Rub the steel wool over the scratch in a circular motion for several minutes, then rinse away residue and repeat if necessary.

Nail Polish: Apply a thin layer to the scratch, allow it to dry, then remove with nail polish remover on a dampened cloth.

Window Glass Repair

You can often fix a small window crack with two-part epoxy and a few basic supplies, but you need to fix it right away to prevent the crack from getting bigger. Here's how:

Wash the area around the crack thoroughly and allow it to dry.
Use a toothpick to mix your epoxy, following the instructions on the package.
Apply the epoxy over and into the crack with a putty knife and allow it cure for five minutes.
Scrape away any excess epoxy with a safety scraper.
Remove any remaining epoxy residue with acetone and a damp cloth.
Allow the repair to cure for 24 hours then polish the glass clean.

Caulking & Sealing

Cracked window sealant can let in water. It can also allow cold air to enter in winter and cool air to escape in summer, making your home less energy efficient. Inspect your windows once per season to see if they require window seal repair, especially in the bottom corners where caulking or weather-stripping issues are most common.

Inspecting & Cleaning Window Screens

Dirt and grime will build up on your window screens. Remove them once a year for a good wash and hosing off. They can also deteriorate over time so check if any window screen repairs are needed. Inspect them for rips, tears, or holes, and ensure the splines are still holding the screens firmly in place.

Repainting & Staining

Sun and wind will degrade the paint on wooden window frames, causing it to peel and chip away. You should paint or stain your frames every few years to seal out moisture and help extend their lifespan. Avoid painting any moving components like the ridges or the pivot bars, and keep the windows open till the paint has dried.

Regular window cleaning and maintenance are important, but eventually even the best-cared for windows will need replacing. We have a wide variety of energy-efficient, cost-effective window styles available to suit your needs. Browse our selection to get ideas on future window replacements.