For large-paned windows and sliding doors, use a good squeegee and the bang-for-your-buck solution of dish-washing liquid and water. If you are truly ambitious, clean the outsides of your windows using the same method. Make sure the squeegee you choose fits into the areas you plan to clean. "Wash your windows on a cloudy day, because sunlight will dry them too quickly and cause streaking,” says Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts (Scribner, $24, www.amazon.com.)
To Buy: Master Squeegee 12-inch-wide stainless-steel squeegee, $8, at home centers.