DO NOT PUBLISH- CONVERTED- How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

By: Joe D'Agnese, This Old House magazine (Page 2 of 7)

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Brent Weingard of Expert Window Cleaners demonstrates pro technique

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Wash the window

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Wipe the window

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Dry the edges of the glass and the windowsill

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Customize the squeegee

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Scrub the panes

Photo: Kenneth Chen

Wipe the windows clean

Photo: Kenneth Chen

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Cleaning a Picture Window

Wash
Picture windows call for large tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator soaks up a lot of soapy water and knocks dirt loose without scratching the glass. For a cleaning solution, Weingard uses just a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water — the less suds, the better.

Wipe
Starting at the top left, pull the squeegee over the soapy pane in a reverse-S pattern (left- handers would start at the top right). At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee's blade clean with a lint-free rag. Cloth diapers or old linen napkins are perfect for this task.

Detail
Remove any water remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag.