For shower glass I just use Shower Power spray (environmentally friendly) and a scrubber (has a swivel head on an extendable handle) I don't even rinse it off just let the next shower do that for me. I'm in Australia so don't know if you can get Shower Power in the US. It doesn't even need to be scrubbed, but I do to make sure it's spread all over the glass.

I'm another Norwex fan. They're AMAZING. You don't even have to use product. Completely natural and makes the job a piece of cake.

I use the phone to call someone to do it

To all those people with all those recipes for cleaning windows - please consider all the comments here about microfiber cloths. I use both Norwex and e-cloth. Both work well, the latter is cheaper. You don't need any chemicals or soaps at all. Wet the washing cloth, wipe the window, dry with the polishing cloth. If there's lots of dirt, spray water on or wipe with any old wet cloth or rag first. Way easier than paper towels or newspapers and works better than Windex. Toss the dirty cloths in with a load of towels and they're ready for next time. You need never buy Windex again. Often environmentally-friendly means more work or not a good result, but here it's the opposite!

Hire professionals. It is not that expensive, and they do a wonderful job.

Has any one used RainX to finish outside of windows?

No, but my hubby will use it on the glass in the shower. Works pretty good and of course, for auto windows.

@susan lh2010, I think it would be a waste of time for the windows if you have wind and dust blowing. It's not going to keep the dust from sticking and it will just stick to the screens anyway, so there goes your view.

We have professionals clean not only our windows and sunscreens but the house as well. In the desert the dust sticks to everything and needs a good washing down every year.

ksmisii, my husband put Rain X on my car windshield after we got married. The first time I had to drive in the rain, it made it impossible to see out the windshield. I was on my way to school early in the morning, and had to turn around and go home so I could wash it off so I could see to drive!! He heard about it that night, but claims it's the greatest stuff ever. We came to an agreement that he wouldn't put it on my car wndshield. This was about 23 years ago, and he came across the stuff a few weeks ago and this incident came up again. He'll never live it down, and I'll NEVER agree to have that junk put on any window I have to be able to actually see out of for my safety!

I use Windex and microfiber rags on my glass storm doors to keep down the canine nose art (scrub them with one rag then buff with a dry one). The exterior windows of my home I do once or twice a year -- Windex and microfiber rags inside, and the powerwasher and/or long-handled car brush on the outside.

I write a check twice a year and come home from work to sparkling windows, clean screens no streaks, clean ceiling fans too.

Norwex is the best. We just added on and did all true divided lights, yup, that's 384 squares X 2 (inside and outside) - I never would have done if I didn't know of Norwex. Best thing - you don't spend any $$ on products, and even better, you don't have to have a place for all those products. Up front they are more costly but saves big $$ and TIME in the long run. If I had time, I would sell them because I believe in them so much and love to HELP others.

Yesterday I used Windex Outdoor to clean all my sunroom windows and it was great!! Never have all those windows been cleaned so well and so easily. I did use a squeeze but apparently it is not necessary.

windex outdoor on your hose is great IF you rinse a lot.

People clean their windows??

Ha! I don't do it often but it is truly amazing what a difference it makes!!

Couple gallons of hoy water, dash of Dawn dish soap, and about 2 cups of vinegar. Mop it on with a rag and squeegee it off, wiping the squeegee after each time you use it. Used to clean windows for a living with this.

Does anyone know how the rinsed off ammonia, windshield wiper solution and/or other solutions recommended here, might affect perennial gardens planted below? I'm always concerned about that... Thanks in advance!

Only wash my windows once a year. Windex and elbow grease does the trick. :)

I'm with laurene49. Get a big pack of microfiber cloths at Sam's. Launder them in cold water without fabric softener and dry them without dryer sheets. Get a big old bucket of plain hot water. Wash with a wet rag, dry with a dry rag. There must be something magical about the microfiber material because they wash windows so clean that birds will be flying into them left and right. Never any streaking. Seriously. Try it. Couldn't be easier, makes window washing fun. Almost.

I use Greg Serrano at Kleer View windows. Never a streak and 42 windows of shine when he is done!!

Norwex is the only way to go! Use a wet Envirocloth and follow with a window cloth to polish. No streaks, removes the toughest grime with just water, no chemicals. On my daily doggie nose prints, a spritz from a water bottle and window cloth do the trick.

Isopropyl alcohol, white vinegar and a drop of Dawn mixed well in a spray bottle. Works great.

Use a swiffer wet cloth on dirty outside windows in a pinch

I leave streaks. I just hire people now. I have large wall of glass windows in my kitchen plus french doors, with morning sun. Looks awful if I do it! I have found vinegar works better than windex though. I use that for glass tabletops.

Hire someone. It'll save you so much time and it should look way better than doing it yourself, Trust me! :)

green alcohol and water will not smear and I have new windows and I love to wash them I do at least monthly, If you not let them get to dirty they clean really easy. I also wash my car windows with 1 pt water to 4oz green alcohol.

What do I use to wash windows? A window cleaning service.

Anything with ammonia is abrasive and will slowly scratch glass. I would never use anything with ammonia in it. Also, most commercial liquid window cleaners are way too strong and can be deleted a lot and still work fine.

A drop of Dawn dish detergent, 2 Tbsp white vinegar, then fill the spray bottle with water. Spray the window, squeegee it off, wipe spots with microfiber if there are any. Clean the sills (inside and out). Done quarterly. If you have to use paper towels, use single ply only if you don't want streaking and use vertical strokes on one side if the window, horizontal on the other so you can tell where the streaking has occured.

Learn to use a GOOD 12 inch squeegee. Go to You Tube and teach yourself how to do it like a pro. 60 minutes of practice and you'll have the neighbors asking you to do their windows. BTW most window washers earn $50 a hour!

For outside, I use hot water, vinegar and dish soap. Dip a squeegee in, scrub with the padded side then squeegee it off. Works like a charm!!

Used to use Windex and newspaper. Now that I no longer get the paper, I use Windex and paper towels.

Hire someone every 6 months

Professional window and carpet cleaning every six months, vinegar and water or windex for quick smudge clean ups in between.

I clean my windows twice a year ... Spring and fall. In the spring, I do a thorough clean ... Grooves, frames, glass etc. I use a little dawn detergent in a bucket of water and a little dishwasher rinse aid. Then I polish with a Norwex glass cleaning cloth. In the fall, I don't clean quite as thoroughly, but after I clean, I spray my frames with concrobium (Home Depot) to keep mould from forming, especially on my north facing windows. Works very well!

An expandable squeegee/with attched sponge and 50/50 vinegar and water. I just wipe the
edge of the squeegee with a paper towel as I go. I have major glass doors and windows
facing the ocean, also frameless shower doors, and porcelain tiled walls. They get messy. This is the easiest for me. No rinsing or streaks from wiping.

I have found that peroxide is wonderful for mirrors and glass and does not streak. Straight from the bottle.

I use a local window cleaning service. They are fast, thorough, and very reasonable.

A wet bar, good squeegee, warm water and a squirt of dawn is all it takes. the rest is skill at using a squeegee.

Lucky enough to be able to pay good company to clean ours outside once a year--and they do the tall lights in foyer entry--like 25 ft tall and inside of windows over front door...
Our cleaners does them regularly on the inside...

Wow! People actually worry about how often to clean windows! I'm impressed!

The tip I got from the pro window cleaners we used at the bank I worked 20 years ago was water with a drop of Dawn dish soap. I haven't used anything else since then. Also it is the only thing I have found that will easily take off the film on the inside of car windows.

@shanandee. With a tablepoon of ammonia.

abigail822. Thanks! Sounds like they left that little detail out, ha ha.

I've tried everything. The BEST is some ( 1-2 ounces depending on how dirty) New Dawn dishwashing liquid and a Gallon of water. No streaks and gets everything off.

Water - small amount of dish soap - cloth & squeegee.

I was in the industrial cleaning biz for 15 years and hired a service to clean some of the most important windows at the GM Tech Center. He used Dawn and a squeegee. The rags were only used to dry his squeegee. Sadly, my own windows are a mess from years of bug spray which they claim will rinse off with a power washer. Nope. It doesn't. We quit the service 5 years ago and the windows are all still hazy. It's something to do with the pyrethrum and I've asked around - yep, it's bad for windows but you can't help to get the overspray when they spray your entire house.

When I clean my windows I use Dawn, cleaning vinegar, and a nice squeegee and only a towel to dry my squeegee. You don't go up and down or from one side to the other. You go in a big hairpin turn type of swiping with the squeegee. It's hard to describe, but, it's how it's done.

Yes, it's time. I haven't cleaned mine since spring, mostly because I haven't been here much. Our windows at our vacation home are bad as well, right now.

I've been there as much as I've been here.

Vinegar and water! I used this for first time the other day and was amazed!

OK, I'm weighing in with all the options I have. Here is the path to get those windows clean. Use what you think will work for you. Brand name window cleaner or your own mixture of any of the following ingredients: ammonia, vinegar, dishwashing soap, water, etc......

If that fails, try using your favorite cleaner with a Mr. Clean magic eraser.

If that fails, use 0000 steel wool. Do not use water. It must be on a dry window.