Streaks usually come from three things: too much cleaning solution, a dirty cloth, or glass that dries before you wipe it. Fix those and most windows come clean in a few minutes.
The short version: dust the frame first, use a light solution, work from top to bottom with a microfibre cloth or squeegee, and dry the edges before the glass air-dries. Avoid cleaning in strong direct sunlight, which dries the solution too quickly and leaves marks.
This guide covers interior windows, glass panels and window tracks you can reach safely. For high or hard-to-reach exterior windows, arrange proper help rather than using ladders or leaning out.
Safety first
In high-rise homes, never sit on the ledge, lean out of the window or stand on furniture beside an open window. Keep children away while windows are open, and close them again when you finish.
While you clean, look at the hinges, stays, fasteners and rivets. BCA advises home owners to check their windows regularly and to replace loose or corroded parts, and cleaning day is a good time to spot problems.
What you need
- Two or three microfibre or lint-free cloths
- A squeegee, if you have one
- A bucket or spray bottle
- Glass cleaner, or water with a few drops of dish soap or a splash of white vinegar
- An old toothbrush and a vacuum with a crevice tool, for the tracks
If your glass has tinted film, avoid ammonia-based cleaners and abrasive pads, which can damage the film. Keep vinegar off marble or granite sills.
Cleaning the glass
- Clear the area. Move ornaments, plants and small items away from the window, and lay a towel on the sill.
- Dust first. Wipe or vacuum the frame, sill and grilles before any water touches the glass. Otherwise the dust turns into muddy smears.
- Apply a light solution. Spray lightly or wipe with a well-wrung cloth. Do not soak the glass.
- Work top to bottom. With a squeegee, pull down in straight strokes or an S-shape, and wipe the blade with a dry cloth after every stroke.
- Dry the edges. Use a clean, dry cloth on the corners and along the frame, where solution collects and leaves drip marks.
- Buff. Look at the glass from an angle and buff any remaining streaks with a dry cloth before adding more solution.
- Finish the sill and tracks. Wipe them last so dust is not carried back onto clean glass.
How to avoid streaks
- Clean on a cloudy day, or when the window is out of direct sun.
- Use less solution, not more. Too much soap leaves a film.
- Change to a fresh cloth as soon as one gets dirty or too wet.
- Keep one cloth only for the final dry buff.
- Avoid paper towels and old fabric, which leave lint behind.
- If the glass still smears, wipe it once with plain water to remove old cleaner residue, then dry it.
Sliding window tracks
Sliding window tracks in Singapore homes collect dust, grit and dead insects, and stay damp after rain.
- Vacuum loose dirt with the crevice tool.
- Scrub the corners with an old toothbrush and a little soapy water.
- Wipe out the loosened grime with a damp cloth, then dry.
- Check that the small drainage holes along the bottom of the frame are clear, so rainwater can flow out.
Black spots on rubber seals are often mould. Wipe them with a mild cleaner and dry well. If they keep coming back, the seal may need closer attention.
Grilles and screens
Wipe grilles bar by bar with a damp cloth, then a dry one. If your mosquito screens are removable, take them down, rinse or brush them, and let them dry fully before refitting. For fixed screens, brush or vacuum gently.
How often to clean windows
Homes near main roads or construction sites gather dust faster. As a rough guide, wipe interior glass every few weeks, clean the tracks monthly, and give frames, grilles and screens a thorough clean every few months.
If window wiping is part of a wider home routine, our residential cleaning service covers dusting, mopping, bathrooms, kitchens and reachable glass wiping where arranged. For heavily stained glass, mould, high-rise exterior windows or unsafe access, check the scope before booking so the right service can be arranged. Before a festival or guests, spring cleaning can add reachable windows and balconies as an optional task, cleaned only where it is safe.
