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How to Clean Windows: Tips for Washing Windows & Tracks

The sunshine is here {yay!} and when we look out at the beautiful spring day we don’t want to see fingerprints, smudges, or mildew. Today we are learning how to clean windows!

Materials needed:

Tutorial:

First we are going to start with washing our windows and wiping down our sills.  Traditionally you think of washing your windows with glass cleaner and some paper towels but today I’m going to challenge you to do it differently.
This is a super easy way to wash windows.  It will save you money, because you won’t use up all of your glass cleaner, and it’s environmentally friendly!  The best part is that it’s guaranteed to leave your windows streak-free!  I have been washing my windows this way for years and I love it!  It’s so easy and so satisfying when I’m done.
For this tutorial I had to use my large pot because I couldn’t find my bucket anywhere!  It worked nicely though because it had a handle on each side to hold my rag and my squeegee.
Step 1: Wipe down the entire window with soapy water. {I took these pictures at night in hopes that you could actually see what I was doing, instead of just seeing what was outside}.
Step 2: Use the squeegee to wipe the water off.  At the end of each swipe down, wipe the squeegee dry with the dry rag.  A little water will accumulate on the window sill but don’t worry, we’ll get to that.
Pretty gross!  My windows looked clean but I guess they weren’t really. :/
When you are finished with each window wipe the window sill clean with the wet, soapy cloth.  Now that your windows and sills are sparkly, I’m going to show you the best way to clean window tracks.
I had not cleaned them, since we moved in last June.  GROSS!!!  {For the record this tutorial was written in 2011.  My windows have been very clean ever since!}
Step 1: Dip your Q-tip in the white vinegar and wipe out the grime.  This is embarrassing but look at what came out of mine!

Step 2: Run the Q-tip along the whole inside of the  track…

and then wipe it out with a paper towel.
I had to show this because it is disgusting!  I thought this would make you all feel better about your houses, since I’m supposed to be the clean one!!!
Seriously gross!!!
Nothing a little white vinegar and paper towel can’t fix.
MUCH better now!
Don’t forget about the tracks on your sliding glass doors.  I vacuum mine every time I vacuum but I’ve never got down on my hands and knees to clean it out.
The easiest way to clean window tracks, to make them look brand new | Ask Anna

Now you know the best way to clean windows, window tracks and window sills and I’m sure all your friends will be asking you how you got them so clean!

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About Anna

"Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Ask Anna. I have always enjoyed cleaning, organizing, decorating and helping people, so I've put that all together on the pages of this blog. I truly hope my tips help you in your home and make sure to contact me if you have a question!"

Comments

    • sue says

      I use a toothbrush and vinegar or window cleaner but it’s STILL a huge job–takes a good day to do all teh windows and sliders of the house. My Milgard windows have very narrow tracks–so hard to clean out the gunk and old insect bodies!! eeewww gross.

  3. Holly says

    oh wow! I totaly owe you huge for this post alone! We rent a house that has slider windows and doors in almost every room and I hate cleaning windows period but this saves me so much time and energy! I never thought about q-tips ususaly i just vacume the tracks and they never are clean enough for my husband but i couldnt figure out how to get down in there 🙂 perfect thank you so much!!! Looking forward to seeing some clean sparkling windows and doors in my home this weekend!

  4. Maria says

    I’m curious about washing windows with soapy water and not rinsing. No streaks? Seems like there would be.

    • Anna says

      I’ve never had streaks on my windows! Just make sure you don’t put a lot of soap in your water, and use a good squeegee. 🙂

    • Suzanne says

      Try using regular newspaper when “drying” the windows & mirrors. It works remarkably well!

  5. norma says

    this tip is going to be a total life-saver! we just bought a house and it needs serious window cleaning.. thank you 🙂

  6. feebee says

    I live on first floor and I can’t figure out how to clean windows from outside. I don’t have access to reach from outside as that place is rooftop of neighbors laundry. So is there any way to do that?

    • Anna says

      To clean them I would spray them really well, from the outside, with a pressure washer. Make sure you do it on a hot day though so the windows dry quickly and you don’t end up with water streaks. 🙂

      • KJ says

        Lots of window companies advise AGAINST pressure washing your windows. That process can break the seal and lead to window failure. And NEVER on a hot day … fast drying actually causes streaks.

    • Mel says

      You can make a mix of dishwashing detergent, water and rinse aid (that you would use in the dishwasher) if you can get a broom to reach, dip in the mix, apply to window and rinse off with water. No streaks, the rinse aid has a drying component and leaves a film on the window, so when it rains the water runs off. (We actually used this mixture to clean the car and I couldn’t work out why we didn’t need the windscreen wipers when it was raining, it literally was just running off the window!!!)

  7. Erica says

    The smell of vinegar makes me physically ill. Do you have a suggestion for a substitute to clean my window tracks? They are far nastier than yours. ;o)

  8. Lori Hill says

    Do you have any suggestions on how to clean the gunk in the track of my shower door? I wasn’t sure if I could use the same “window cleaning” tips. It seems there may be some type of calcium build-up along with the crud and mold in the shower track. I’m also struggling to keep up with the mold on the caulking in our shower even when we squigee the shower every day. It’s easy to say that my shower is my nemesis 🙂

    • Anna says

      I would use the same method as cleaning the window tracks but I would use hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar.

    • Myra says

      If you have a shower/bath the residue dampness from the steam on your bathroom walls will attract mould. The best thing anyone can do for keeping their bathroom or laundry mould free is to open a window and close the door, fresh air is the nemesis to mould, that is if you have a window, otherwise you’d have to keep your bathroom door open. Down under here in New Zealand a lot of houses have mould troubles, but they just need to open their window.

  9. jasi says

    this is amazing. i’ve always hated nasty window tracks but struggle to get them clean. have you ever tried that tool on amazon, it’s a triangle shaped brush for maintaining tracks. i’ve always wondered if that worked in between. anyway. thanks!

  10. Sue says

    I use a small paint brush to clean out the loose dirt before it gets wet. Works well for me.

  11. Anne says

    Is there any way to clean between the double-pane windows in the sliding glass door, or front picture window?

    • Mark K. says

      You may be reffering to what is called a “leaking seal?” Most double panes windows have and air tight ceal that over time can begin to leak allowing air to enter between the window panes. The result are windows that begin to fog up. There is a technology that can now repair these types of windows, or as you mentioned “clean between the double paines. It can be costly and only restores the windows if they are not at the point of no-return. Many homes have windows that have fogged up and thus this issue is very relevant.

    • Leslie says

      Sounds like your seal is broken on your window! My dad’s had that happen he had to replace it. . . Good luck!

    • Carol says

      the airlock has been compromised on the window. the only thing you can do is have a window contractor put in a replacement glass pack for that side, or both if needed. Be sure to weight the cost vs. putting in a new door.

  12. Mihaela says

    Great Ideas. To clean the windows and sliding doors tracks I’m using my deep steamer to soften the grime and then just wiping everything with a wet, soapy cloth and drying with a clean rag.

  13. Judy says

    Hi! I just have to say… its a GOOD thing you had something to actually CLEAN when you did this tutorial! I just saw something on FB last week… about razor ads, should ‘shave a gorilla’, not a smooth leg to prove their point… so thats what you did! Shows that it really works! 😉

  14. Rebecca C says

    great ideas. i also like to use baby wipes to clean the window sill and the tracks. i buy the huge box of target brand wipes and they work really well. i use them to clean the seals and side of car doors too. i pretty much use them for everything, even changing diapers :0)

  16. olen says

    HI Anna,
    I just moved into a “new” house. The vertical blinds (they clip up the top to a rail and hang down, with a use of two strings they can either be rotated or slid off to a side of a window) need a major cleaning and whitening job. They are made of soft plastic (very bendable, almost like a tough fabric).
    I use vinegar and dish soap in a lot of my cleaning (cheaper and less chemicals involved). I had an idea of soaking the blinds in a bathtub. But I am not sure what is the best natural product to use to whiten them.
    Any ideas???? (I don’t want to have to repeat this exercise more than once as I have a job and weekends are my only times for cleaning.)

    thanks in advance,
    olena

    • Anna says

      Wow, I’m sorry that I am JUST seeing this comment! I hope I’m not too late. :/ There are a few good whiteners you can use, all of them are good: baking soda, borax, oxi clean.

    • shannon carroll williams says

      use a microfiber to get the dust of first, the take them outside, lay the on your picnic table and spray with Awesome. I buy it at the dollar store for $1.00. You can dilute it to your needs by following the directions on the bottle. I use the hose on ” jet spray ” feature on the hose. If there is mold or dirt left I spray with Clorox clean up. Rinse and lay over one of the out door chairs to drip dry.

  19. Lynn says

    So I saw this last night via Pinterest and it must really be in my brain because this a.m. I woke from a dream in which I was cleaning a window well and a friend showed up and she had a Water Pik ATTACHED to her hand. I thought this was the most BRILLIANT idea I’d ever seen–using a Water Pick to get into the nooks and crannies. Maybe you should incorporate that into this post as an alternative idea, LOL!

  20. Bonnie says

    We just moved into our house last month and after cleaning the 2 master bedroom windows & sliding glass door, I have come to the conclusion that there is no way that the previous owners ever cleaned them! YUCK! Thanks for sharing your tips! Now, on to the remaining windows :-/

    BTW – Anna & Lynn, I tried the water pick and it definitely helped get out the years of buildup in the corners. So, thank you Lynn & your awesome dream for that idea! 🙂

  21. carla bechtel says

    I have double glass windows and they are fogged and dirty in between the two panes of glass like the oven glass any ideas on what to do?

  22. Vashra Araeshkigal says

    Hey Anna….I just thought you would like to know the following:

    White vinegar as sold in the United States is 5% acid by volume. It contains chemicals which, upon drying, can permanently damage some vinyls and which weaken latex (including paints) and which can make some unfinished aluminum “rust” a powdery white color. It can also dry leaving that classic “vinegar” smell.

    Hydrogen Peroxide (the kind you get for like 99p a bottle in the pharmacy area) is 3% acid by volume (ever so slightly weaker). It can also cause problems with some aluminum, but doesn’t affect vinyl or latex or most color-safe fabrics (it’s not strong enough to bleach the way the peroxide used for some hair treatments is). When it dries, it leaves *no* residue and *no* odor.

    For this reason, I consider it the better choice for nearly all applications which call for white vinegar. (It’s inferior for grease-treatment)

  23. jenni says

    Hi Anna , marvelous idea will enjoy looking forward to your emails. keep them coming. Yes you are truelly blessed as well teaching people how to look after GODS KINGDOM……………May he continue to blee you. Regards Jennixx

    • jenni says

      was supposed to say may be continue BLESSING YOU ANNA.. Also fairy liquid was chosen by Which Magazine to get rid of dirty oils as well.. no acids or harsh chemicals and so so cheap….

  24. Ray Croskrey says

    As a professional window cleaner I would like to add this tip – A great way to sanitize and clean mold and grime out of the window and door tracks is by using a small hand held steam cleaner. There are a couple of good brands out their, such as the Bissell Steam Shot which is the one that I like to use.

  26. Liana says

    Wow! I have never thought of using q tips! What a good idea. My window tracks- especially at the sliding glass door where the firewood gets brought in looks totally gross. I get it mostly clean but have yet to get right into the corners. Thank you!

  27. Sally says

    Hi, Anna,

    Love your site. I have been using everything available in combination with vinegar, corn starch, salt, baking soda and blah, blah, blah. I can say with all seriousness that I am an expert in putting the stuff together to clean. When it doesn’t get the soap scum off my shower door/walls, I’m not a happy girl.

    But, at least I will have the cleanest sliding door tracks in the neighborhood. LOL. Thanks a lot for the tips!

  28. Annie says

    I sell Tupperware and for years they have a product they give away as a party tool but its the orange peeler This tool has a flat end that work perfect for cleaning the grooves in the windows alnog with your viniger and QTips

  29. Elaine says

    Just another hint that I have found useful through the years,. I always use a toothbrush or small brush and loosen all the dirt and then vacuum that out before I starting washing with water… If the dust and dirt are gone it much less messy when you start with the water.

  31. Robyn says

    Thank you Anna!!
    These are great ideas…as soon as it warms up I will try this for sure
    Robyn

  33. marles hess says

    I am going to try the oven door trick, I am a neat freak, if it works wow, I always have to take my oven door apart which is a big job…. thanks

  34. Joan Gaspard says

    I enjoyed the directions for cleaning between oven doors & windows. I’m 71 years & everything is hard for me, but I try to keep my house clean. any advice is good & helpful. Joan

  37. Dyanbg says

    Thank you for sharing this post, winter is almost a memory in this neck of the woods and so time to get the grime off the windows and get them shining , this great suggestion seems that it will make my life some what easier !

  38. shannon carroll williams says

    I have used vinegar and newspaper to clean and shine windows. 1st I wash the inside and outside with a product called “Awesome” diluted. It gets very soapy so I dilute it a lot and clean the soap off with vinegar.

  39. shannon carroll williams says

    I spray the sills with Clorox clean up spray and let it sit there for 5 to 10 minutes until the mold and dirt turn white

  40. Judy says

    I used these tips when we were selling our house, and it made everything look brand-new!
    Thanks, Anna

    PS It sold in 3 weeks!

  42. Teresa Tibbetts says

    it’s easier to clean window tracts with oven cleaner, that is if you can have the windows open in the whole house! Just spray a small amount on a sponge, wipe the sponge over the tracts and you are done… It gets everything off. You can’t use it on painted surfaces, it will take paint off quicker than any paint remover!

  43. Jody says

    I also find that if I clean my screen as well, when it rains my windows dont get as dirty as fast. You would be surprised how awesome your screens look after a quick scrub too. Use the same soapy water you use for the windows and give them a scrub and a rinse. Maybe in the tub.

  44. Penelope Oulds says

    I have a steam cleaner and I use that alot when cleaning the window tracks. We have a huge problem with stink bugs here in PA so I have to clean alot of dead ones out of the tracks too. Gross!

  45. Marjorie says

    Thank you. It’s like having a friend to clean beside you. I think you could pitch the ideas you have to propose doing a TV show for homemakers. They say the number of women staying at home to raise their kids is growing again, and it would be of interest to them and the new stay at home dads!

  47. Merilyn says

    This works really good!! I put the vinegar in a squirt bottle – and also have a separate squirt bottle with hot water in it. Spray the track with the vinegar, let set a minute, use the q-tip to loosen the dirt, wipe with a paper towel, then use the water squirt bottle with the tip on “stream” and spray out the corners and crevices and under the window where it meets in the middle with a firm stream. The squirt bottle works so much better with the “force” of the water to get those little spots that are hard to get. Continue to wipe with a paper towel until dry. I also use the same method on my shower door where it gets gooey and there are so many hard to reach spots. Again – that firm stream of water sprays the guck right out so you can rinse and wipe it away.

    • Nellie says

      I’ve tried vinegar + dish soap water for my shower door, amazing! The secret, warm it up in a microwave for a minute or two, works amazing!
      There is just so much to learn… it is exciting to be a first time home owner 🙂

  48. Nellie says

    Seems like a vinegar and dish soap can do pretty much anything! I’ll save lots of monies and keep the house eco friendly with all of your amazing recommendations… my windows are embarrassing dirty. I bet it’s not even healthy to have all that dirt sitting there…
    Thanks for sharing,
    Nellie

  49. Ang says

    Thank you for showing a pic of your windows and sills before and after cleaning…and mostly thank you for being honest, that no matter who you are, no one can have a perfectly clean home…we do what we can do! God bless!!!

  50. Rose says

    Thank you Anna,I will try to wash my windows today I will use your method I always use windex and leave lot of streaks thanks again
    Rose.

    • Bonnie Staffel says

      Wonderful ideas for cleaning. I have a planter box outside one of my windows and it draws tiny bugs onto the outside sill as well as in the track. Will try the vinegar and Q-tips to clean when finally spring arrives. I have another problem is how can I clean the shower floor so as to install the textured strips to prohibit my slipping? Seems that years of shampoo and soap interfere with the stickiness of previous strips. I used a shower cleaner and it didn’t do the job. Thanks.

      • Bethany Davis says

        Hello, Bonnie! I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. Anna recommended that you buy the blue Dawn (it’s famous for removing grease and build-up!) and mix 1 tsp. of blue Dawn with 1 cup of vinegar. Scrub the bathtub with the dawn/vinegar mixture really well at least one time, and more if there are more layers of build-up. Anna recommends the green and yellow scotch bright sponges since she finds them to be the most effective for this type of job. Hope this helps you!

      • Heather says

        Try adding course salt to what Bonnie said. Unfortunately, where we live now we get HEAVY lime and calcium build up quickly. I’ve tried everything I could think of including the steamer and even essential oils. The only two things I’ve found to work are:
        1) Cheap Lime Away from the Dollar store is one product that does work!
        2) Rejuvenate (Soap Scum Remover) AND its non-toxic. 😉
        3) For maintenance, I now also keep a Mr Clean Majic Eraser nearby and use frequently!
        I realize these are last resorts but understand this type of frustration! 😉

  53. Myreene says

    I use a spray bottle with vinegar in it and spray the tracks then scrub with a brush. Then use a cloth (which can be re used) and wipe it out. Works for me and it takes a shorter time.

  54. Anna says

    Thank you for your post, We just bought a repossessed house and the window sills have not been cleaned forever and they are DISGUSTING and filled with many dead insects that are now stuck in the sill. I am hoping this will really help make this house feel a little more clean!
    Thanks again!

  55. Donna says

    I live in an apartment and the windows are very old. They need a good cleaning right now. Have to take the windows out to clean them. Thinking about having someone do them. My question is this. The frames are metal and they have something on them that will not come off. I have even tried Comet Cleanser and it didn’t work. It looks like little black dirty spots but I can’t figure out what to try next on them. Any clue?

    • mreynolds says

      Donna – the black spots might be some kind of rust or maybe even a type of mold? Our best suggestion would be to have a professional window cleaning service come and look at it. I would love to know what you find out! Sorry we could not be more helpful!

  56. Lynda says

    My slider tracks get gross very fast since we live on 2.5 acres of dirt. I use a paper towel and screwdriver to get into the corners. After reading this, I will follow up with Qtips.

  60. Gretchen von Gustlin says

    I use a hose vacuum before I clean the window on the sills and the sliding tracks to get rid of much dust and dirt before it gets wet. I find it cuts down on the overall cleaning time and keeps the wet dirt out of the little corners. If you don’t have a hose attachment a swifter would still be a great improvement or a DustBuster might work. Also soft toothbrush before the q-tips to get out the first and second layer is faster. Good luck.

  61. lisa says

    believe it or not.. I just use a T of Cornstarch in a bucket of water to wash the outside windows…
    their clean , shiny & streak free !! :-0

  62. Sarah Hayward says

    Hi,

    I wonder if you can help. A little off the subject of windows but I have a huge issue with build up of scum on the bottom of our bathroom taps. We have recently moved into a house where it looks like they haven’t bothered ever cleaning the taps. Please if you have any tips on how I can get this off I would be so grateful I have tried so many different things but with no joy.

    Thank you

  64. Monika Smith says

    Some of the Hints i have been doing already but there are so many new ones. Very helpful ,Thank you.

  65. Pamela says

    i have a question. I need HELP!! How do I clean the glass shower door in my bathroom.
    Please help. I have tried just about everything!!!

  68. Leslie Adams says

    The white vinegar really cleaned my aluminum tract, I did heat it and poured it on the tract and let it sit for a while. Then I used a brush to scrub the dirt. I dried it with a cloth, it had never been so clean. Warming vinegar also removes smells in a stale room.

  69. lee zaremski says

    I have been using using this method for years, my Nana was the one responsible for giving me this tip. Another tip she told me was to wipe the sills with a little essential oil,eucalyptus, tea tree, or lavender helps keeps the bugs away. It also leaves the house smelling fresh and pretty.

  70. Tammie says

    Could you please give me advice for tile in a shower? And grout. It always looks like it has soap residue on the tiles. Thank you.

  72. Cari says

    Man I’ve been looking for some way to clean our window tracks without damaging the windows. We bought the house after the last owners installed some very nice windows and I had no idea how to clean the tracks without possibly damaging them! They’ve been bothering me for SO long. I’m excited to try this!

  73. Jenn Davies says

    I can’t believe it never occurred to me to use a squeegee on my windows. I’ve had one laying in my shower for years! I have a lot of windows in my house, and it bothers me when they have streaks after I try and wash them by hand. That squeegee should make a big difference to the way they look in the end.

  74. Melissa says

    I have white wooden blinds. What’s a good way to clean them. They get dusty so bad and I’m bad to not dust them but once a month. I know I’m horrible. Lol

  75. Donna says

    Hi Anna, great tip and I shall try it with my sliding wardrobe doors. I also like to use pipe cleaners for that area that the q tips just can’t quite get into.

  76. Danielle says

    i hope you can help me, I have a film on the outside of some of my windows. It’s the ones that get hit with the hot sun all day and the film is in the pattern of the screen. The part of the window that does not have the screen is clear, its only the part that has the screen that has the foggy film.

    • Bethany Davis says

      Hi, Danielle! I’m Anna’s Assistant, Bethany. Anna wrote a great post about 3 different and effective ways to clean windows here: I hope this helps and that you’re able to tackle that film!

  77. ginnie patchell says

    I have quite a few windows in my house that have black spots on them. Itried everything to get offeven a razor,It won’t budge any ideas please

    • Bethany Davis says

      Hello, Ginnie. I’m Anna’s Assistant, Bethany. I sent you an e-mail to see if we can help you figure out how to get rid of these black spots. Thanks!

  80. Mary says

    After you clean the sliding glass door tracks, spray the track with WD-40. It will side like new.

  81. Nanci says

    love all your ideas!! But, I am stumped on cleaning old soap scum build up on shower doors!! Please help!!

  83. Rosy de souza says

    Dust on window is very common problem but it’s very hectic to clean. May be your post help me to tackle this problem

    Regards
    Rosy de souza

  84. Nancy Stewart says

    To clean aluminum window frames, I wipe on wheel cleaner and then use a steam cleaner. Cleans & polishes in one easy step!

  86. Doris says

    I wash the outside of my windows without climbing by using a long handled sponge mop, water hose, and pail with dish soap added.

    For the rinse, I hose any suds away then add laundry softener to a fresh pail of water and apply that to the windows with the cleaned sponge mop. The laundry softener causes the clean water to “sheet away” and squeegying is hardly necessary!

    • Bethany Davis says

      Hi, I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. Unfortunately, there is no way to clean between those two panes. If there is fogging between the two panes, it means a seal is broken and there is moisture in there and you need to call a professional to advise on whether or not it can be re-sealed or needs to be replaced. I’m sorry I don’t have better news, but I hope it’s an easy fix!

      • Jenny78 says

        If the frames & casings are in great shape & you can reseal, it is worth it! Cost half the price of new windows, at least in my neck of the woods : )

  88. Dot says

    Just a tidbit: Spaces too small for a Q-tip (or cotton swab) use tooth picks. I clean around my cooktop with tooth picks all the time. Some places you may need to wrap them with a thin cloth or paper towel. I buy dollar store cotton swabs for cleaning.

  89. Loree says

    I’m doing my windows before the holidays, thanks loads.
    I really liked the comment section after. I, too have pull blinds that need cleaning.
    I figure the tub might be better than a jet spray.
    Thanks.

  90. Colleen says

    I found this article through a post on Buzzfeed and it motivated me to clean my windows, and they DEFINITELY needed a good cleaning. I love the Q-tip tip (haha). They look pretty darn good and it was a such satisfying work!

  91. Laura says

    anna I use a wooden screwer with a rag to do my window casings not a q tip the screwer is more pointed and really gets in the corners. Try it.

  92. Connie says

    How do you do your outdoor windows. ?. I do my doors but if I take off the screens they don’t ever go back on so part of my house has screenx znf and part dont…I read somewhere about spraying through the screens with dawn and you have no streaks. ? Have you tried this?
    Thanks

    • Bethany Davis says

      Hello, Connie. I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. Anna has never tried the Dawn soap method, but it may cause some streaks on the windows from the soap, so you may want to add very little soap to the water. Anna recommends then spraying down the windows with a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol to clean the Dawn/water mixture and leave the windows streak-free. Or, you could also use just a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol and see if that cleans them first before trying the other methods. Anna has written a helpful post about how to clean foggy glass using rubbing alcohol, here: https://askannamoseley.com/2014/02/how-to-clean-cloudy-glass-2/ Hope this helps!

  96. Jenny78 says

    Jeepers! I use q-tips to clean the truck and just about everything else with tight spaces, yet never once thought of using them on my window casings……Thanks for this post!

  97. Somedude says

    Do you ever go back and lubricate the tracks, like with some WD-40 or grease? I would think that would make sliding doors and windows not be sticky when opening them.

  98. Susan Asher says

    Thanks for the great tips. Any clues about cleaning gross air duct grates?

    • Bethany Davis says

      Hi, Susan! I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. Anna has written a great post about cleaning vents, along with a great little tip for keeping them dust-free throughout the year! Her vents may look a bit different than normal because they were from an older home, but the cleaning method is still the same for newer homes/vents. Here is the post, and I hope this helps answer your question!

  99. Kristen says

    When I met my husband 11 years ago he was a professional window washer. I got a kick out of the fact he repelled down buildings for a living 😉 He used this method, plain old fashioned dawn dish soap, a scrubber (it’s like a towel/sponge on a squeegee), and a squeegee. For getting off tough goo he would soap up the window, then take a straight razor or 0000 steal wool (dipped in the soapy water). As long as the window is soapy it won’t leave any scratches on the window. For dust and cobwebs he’d break out a wood brush, the standard kind found in the hardware aisle with soft bristles and wooden handle. Tracks were cleaned with toothbrushes or the wood brush depending on the size. The important thing to remember when weilding a squeegee is don’t lift it off the window while you’re cleaning. Start at the bottom left corner (or right if you’re left handed) wipe up then turn the squeegee as you’re wiping so only the end goes to the corner and the squeegee is now facing the top right (or left if you started opposite) corner, repeat the motion to end in that corner then continue sweeping left and right moving down the window horizontally now until the whole window has been squeegeed. it seems odd at first, but if done right it will not leave any streaks and only take seconds to complete a huge window after you get the hang of it.

  102. Jan says

    Help! I see tutorials on how to remove grout stains but that’s not my problem. My problem is the linoleum floor! My linoleum has imitation squares to look like tiles plus tiny indents all over the linoleum to give it texture. In Tucson there is so much dust flying in the air and I collects in these tiny indents. Is there something I can use to get the black dirt out of it? I’ve tried vinegar, baking soda, Dawn dish soap with a scrub brush and it won’t get the dirt out of the tiny indents! Desperately need a solution!
    Also, how do I get the ring from hard water in the toilet bowel out? I’ve tried so many different things and it won’t come out!
    Thank you! ….. Jan
    Could you email me if you have an answer please?

    • Anna says

      I’m sorry for the delay in my response!!! We just moved and it has been SO crazy! I will email you this week. 🙂