My windows always have streaks after a cleaning. Just as I think I have one side clear, I stand back and see there are streaks on the other side. I go back and forth. It drives me crazy.
— R. McCleod, Rosemont
Running from one side of the window to the other would send us to the ledge too. Maybe a leftover streak isn’t all that bad. . . . But if you must clear things up, here are some tips:
First, wait for a cloudy or overcast day. Streaks are more likely to appear on sunny days because strong sunlight causes the cleaner to dry too quickly.
Next, consider your solution, equipment and technique.
Almost any commercial window cleaner (the best have ammonia in them) gets windows clean and bright. But to mix your own formula, use: 1/4 cup ammonia to 1 gallon water. You also can mix 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup white vinegar and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a bucket of warm water.
For equipment, use either a window squeegee, clean rags, heavy-duty paper towels or newspapers. We prefer newspapers because that’s what we used when we were kids doing Saturday chores.
Although some cleaning gurus claim newspapers leave an inky residue, our windows have been streak-free after cleaning them with pages of a certain newspaper for years.
Now, let’s talk technique: Use vertical motions on one side of the window, horizontal on the other. This way you can tell which side has streaks and you easily can correct the problem.
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