Stop smearing on windows

[corrideo]

Help! My window cleaner has retired and I am left to do them myself! I have spent heavily on scrim, squeegee, lint free cloths and all sorts of fluid which claim to leave twinkly bright smear free glass. BUT nothing works. When the sun moves round and I can see my windows, they are covered with marks, wipe marks, smears, a kind of bloom I cannot avoid. What on earth is the secret????

[Cetti]

Many years ago I had to clean six huge picture windows every week. I was given a bottle of methylated spirits and screwed up newspaper - the result was - exhaustion, but no smears!! The secret apparently was the mixture of meths and the print on the newspaper.

If you want to try it, better check and see if meths is ok legally - so many good stuff has been banned.

[woodpam]

Sainsburys spray on window cleaner left on for a couple of minutes before being polished off with with a very old linen tea towel works for me.

[xyzzy@bok]

Why not watch a window cleaner at work? check out his tools, or ask him; i think they use plenty of soapy water, as soap kills grease, and that windscreen wiper gizmo :-)

[mikewall01]

Simple answer is to use a chamois leather rinsed in clean fresh water (no detergent). Less effort than other ideas, only cost is initial outlay for a good quality chamois leather (lasts for years). Result ... perfect streak free windows every time.

[porschebabe]

I agree with mikewall01. Good quality chamois leather and clean water, if the windows are particularly dirty then a small squirt of washing up liquid. Oh and a strong armed husband helps

[Lennon]

My dad is a window cleaner amond other things, and it really is a technique. He just uses warm slightly sopay water, which he puts on with the applicator (thats the furry one) then you use the blade to get rid of the excess (but thats a specific hand movement as well-hard to describe) and then use the scrims to wipe off the water you bring to the bottom of the pane with the blade. Like xyzzy says, you could try watching someone do it. Hope that helps - probably not :) But I'm also trying to say that you do only need basic equipment too. Good Luck!

[xyzzy@bok]

Chamois got feelings too you know - don't kill them all ;-) thx for star, do i get one for this?

[fraggle]

Hi! I've always been hopeless with windows till my sister showed me a bright green synthetic cloth made by Spontex (no cruelty to Chamois) called Window Wonder, its washable, costs a coupla quid from Tesco, etc, and is amazing used with a tiny drop of water. It so works!!

[corrideo]

Just to say a big "thank you" to all for helpful suggestions! I will try them all, especially now the weather is so gorgeous and it is a great excuse to be outside. Mikewall01 I have bought a brand new chamois and pre-prepared it for use, fingers Xd it works well, if not Window Wonder next on list then Sainsburys.... I did ask a real window cleaner for tips but will not repeat his answer, something along lines of not giving away tips of the trade and putting himself out of a job! Appreciate all the great ideas, folks. ;-)