Q. What’s the best way to clean windows in the house?
Rich Palermo
Grand Ledge, Michigan

A. Wash them on a cloudy day. Always avoid cleaning windows on bright sunny days. “Sunlight warms the glass, causing cleaners to dry quickly, leaving streaks,” says Amy Olson, a spokesperson for The Maids Home Services. Make a cleaning solution with a couple of squirts of degreasing dish detergent, such as Dawn, combined with a gallon of water. Apply the mixture with a soft sponge or a microfiber cloth using left to right, top to bottom, overlapping strokes. Then remove the excess liquid with a squeegee. But avoid pressing too hard, or it’ll leave streaks, says Paul West, President of the International Window Cleaning Association.

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