Window cleaning · 2 min read
Why your windows streak — and how to get them streak-free
Streaks come from dirty water, too much soap, the wrong cloth and cleaning in the sun. How professionals get streak-free windows, with tips for Cape Town's sunny, windy conditions.
Quick answer
Windows streak when dirty water or soap residue dries on the glass before it's removed. To avoid it: use clean water with very little soap, clean in the shade, take water off with a squeegee rather than a cloth, wipe the blade after every stroke, and finish the edges with a dry lint-free cloth.
The usual causes
- Too much soap. It leaves a film that smears.
- Dirty water. If the bucket is grey, you're spreading dirt around.
- Sun and wind. In Cape Town summers, water can dry on the glass in seconds.
- Paper towel or old cloths. They leave lint and push dirty water around.
- Dirty frames. Water drips down from the frame onto glass you've just cleaned.
The professional method
- Wipe frames and sills first, so nothing drips onto clean glass.
- Wash the glass with an applicator or microfibre and a weak soapy solution.
- Squeegee in overlapping strokes, top to bottom, wiping the rubber blade after each one.
- Dry the bottom edge and corners with a lint-free cloth.
- Check from an angle in the light and touch up any marks.
Timing in Cape Town
Clean the shaded side of the house first and follow the shade around. Avoid the midday sun and strong south-easter days. Stellenbosch summers are hot and dry, so work in smaller sections there.
When it's worth calling us
Big glass, upstairs windows, burglar bars and long sliding doors are where DIY streaks show most — and where a ladder becomes a risk. Our window cleaning covers inside and outside glass, frames, sills and tracks.
Rather have it done properly? Free quotations across Strand, Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
WhatsApp usQuestions
Is vinegar good for cleaning windows?
A weak solution of white vinegar in water helps with light mineral marks. Don't mix it with other cleaning chemicals, and rinse the squeegee well.
Why do my windows look streaky only in the afternoon?
Low-angle sunlight shows up film and streaks that are invisible at midday. Salt film on coastal homes is especially obvious then.