No, but if you avoid the most common mistakes and follow a few simple rules, you can get your windows looking good enough to make your neighbours stare.
Let’s be honest – unless you’ve trained as a window cleaner or have an industrial Reach & Wash system stashed in your shed (and if you do, I’m impressed), your windows won’t end up gleaming like the ones outside Harrods. And that’s perfectly fine. Your job isn’t to impress tourists – it’s to get natural light back into your living room without squinting past a patchy mix of dust, smears and pigeon art.
Most people, though, go about window cleaning the wrong way. They spray too much cleaner, rub it into hot glass, and use last year’s crusty newspaper like it’s a magic charm. Then they stand back, squint, and wonder why it’s all still streaky.
The good news is you don’t need a professional’s belt of squeegees and soap holsters to get decent results. A few careful tweaks to your technique, some realistic expectations, and a little insider knowledge can make a massive difference. I’ve cleaned enough windows across London to know which shortcuts work and which only make things worse.
Here’s how to give it a proper go – without turning the job into an afternoon of shouting at glass.
You’re Not Harrods – Set Reasonable Expectations
Before you even grab the spray bottle, have a word with yourself. Your windows are part of your home, not a high-end retail display.
A Little Dirt Is Normal
London air isn’t exactly crystal clean. Between the traffic, the trees, and the feathered wildlife, a bit of grime on your windows is inevitable. Even professionals don’t get them perfect every time – they just get them clean enough to make a difference. That’s your goal too.
Trying to polish your panes until they shine like mirrors often leads to over-cleaning, which usually makes things worse. A spotless window looks great, but a clean-enough window that lets in light and doesn’t glare at you with streaks? That’s already a win.
Perfection Is a Myth Without the Kit
Pro window cleaners have long poles, purified water systems, and squeegees made from space-grade rubber (probably). You’ve got a step stool, a spray bottle and two arms that get tired. Keep things in perspective and aim for clarity, not sparkle.
Avoid These Common Window Cleaning Mistakes
You could be using the best spray in the world, but one slip in your method and you’ll be back to square one. Here are the most common slip-ups that sabotage a good clean.
Using Too Much Glass Cleaner
More spray does not equal more clean. In fact, it usually just means more streaks.
When you drown the glass in cleaner, it becomes harder to wipe off evenly. Excess fluid mixes with dust and grime, making the mess worse. Then it dries before you’ve finished polishing, and you’re left with more smears than you started with.
Stick to a light mist over a small area. Less is definitely more.
Cleaning When It’s Too Hot
Sunshine might seem like the perfect setting for window cleaning – until your cleaner evaporates before you’ve had a chance to wipe it off. That’s when you get ghostly streaks and dried patches that refuse to budge.
Always avoid the mid-day heat. Cloudy days are ideal, but if the sun’s out, do the shaded sides of your home first and save the sunny panes for the evening.
Using the Wrong Tools
That old T-shirt from university? Chuck it. And no, newspapers aren’t magic either.
Smears and fluff come from poor-quality cloths or those that are too old and worn. Microfibre cloths are cheap and designed for streak-free finishes. Invest in a few and treat them well – wash them separately, no fabric softener, and keep them clean.
The Golden Rules That Actually Work
If you’re going to clean your windows, you might as well do it the right way. These rules aren’t fancy, but they’re the difference between “eh, that’ll do” and “wow, did I do that?”
Always Clean From Top to Bottom
Gravity is not your friend when cleaning windows. If you wipe the bottom first, water from the top will just drip down and ruin your work.
Start at the top and work your way down. It’s a boring old rule, but one that saves time and effort.
Spray and Polish in Small Sections
If you try to spray the entire window at once, you’ll end up chasing drying streaks. Stick to small, manageable sections. Spray a corner, polish it quickly, then move along.
This not only keeps things neater but also gives you more control. You’ll catch drips before they become trails, and you can spot any missed smudges as you go.
Use Microfibre Cloths – And Use Them Properly
Get two cloths per clean: one for wiping, one for buffing. Microfibre works best when it’s slightly damp for cleaning and bone dry for polishing. Swap them out if they start getting too wet or dirty. It might feel like overkill, but your windows will thank you.
Why Pros Still Do It Better – And What You Can Learn From Them
You can definitely get good results at home, but there’s a reason professional window cleaners make a living from it. They don’t just wing it – they’ve got tools and tricks that most of us never even think of.
It Starts With Better Equipment
The biggest game-changer is the Reach & Wash system. If you’ve never seen one, imagine a giant extendable pole that sprays purified water through a brush at the end. The water dries on its own without streaks, because it’s been filtered of minerals and impurities.
No ladders. No cloths. No sprays. Just water, technique, and reach.
They also use proper rubber-bladed squeegees, not those plastic supermarket ones that feel like dragging a ruler over glass. And they carry buckets with soap that cuts through grime like it owes them money.
Then There’s the Technique
Professionals don’t just wipe randomly. They follow set patterns – usually an S-motion with the squeegee – to cover the glass efficiently without leaving edges or marks.
They also pre-wash frames and ledges, so dirty water doesn’t drip back onto the clean glass. That’s a detail most DIYers forget.
And pros know how to check their work. A quick side-glance at an angle in the light can reveal smears that look invisible head-on. It’s these finishing touches that separate good from great.
Experience Counts for a Lot
You can’t fake experience. A professional knows which windows will give them trouble before they’ve even started. They’ve cleaned every kind of frame, battled with flaky paint, dodged wasp nests, and fended off nosey cats.
They know how to work faster and smarter. They’re not experimenting – they’re executing.
But the biggest takeaway? Their experience is built on doing it over and over again. You don’t need to match their speed or precision. Just take inspiration from their methods and aim to improve each time you clean.
Final Thoughts From Someone Who’s Done the Rounds
I’ve cleaned windows in Kensington flats, Hackney townhouses, and one unforgettable job where I had to squeegee around a parrot that wouldn’t stop swearing at me. And I’ll tell you this – the people who get the best home results are the ones who keep it simple, follow a system, and don’t expect miracles.
Set your sights on clarity, not sparkle. Avoid the common mistakes. Use the right gear and don’t rush it. You’ll still see smudges now and again – especially when the afternoon sun decides to expose every single flaw – but you’ll also see light flooding in through glass that’s genuinely clean.
And if that still sounds like too much faff, well… you could always give your local cleaner a call. Just warn them about the parrot.
