Dusty blinds and streaked glass are easy to see when the sun comes in, but windows are rarely cleaned each week. Below are the supplies and steps for cleaning them yourself, plus times when it is easier to hire someone to do it.
DIY Window Cleaning
What You’ll Need
- A microfiber cloth or squeegee
- A basic glass cleaner or a mix of water and a small amount of dish soap or vinegar
- A dry cloth for the final pass to prevent streaking
Technique
Clean on a cloudy day or away from direct sunlight, if you can. Sunlight makes the cleaner dry too fast and causes streaks. Start at the top of the window and use a squeegee in one long stroke instead of wiping in circles, which leaves fewer streaks. Clean the window tracks and sills separately. Use a vacuum hose or a damp cloth wrapped around a butter knife to clean the narrow spaces where dust and grit collect.
DIY Blinds Cleaning
Dust Blinds Weekly
A microfiber duster or a cloth wrapped around tongs works well for dusting each slat. Just doing this stops most dust from building up, so you won’t need a harder clean.
Deeper Cleaning
For horizontal blinds, close them all the way, wipe them down, flip them over, and wipe the other side. For thick dust buildup, use a damp microfiber cloth with a little dish soap on vinyl and aluminum blinds. Fabric and wood blinds should stay dry only, because water can bend or stain them.
Fabric Shades and Curtains
Vacuum with a brush attachment every month. Read the label before washing. Many fabric blinds and window coverings need dry cleaning only or professional cleaning, so they don’t shrink or lose color.
Common Mistakes
- Spraying cleaner directly onto blinds, it pools and drips rather than lifting dust, and can streak vinyl slats.
- Using abrasive scrubbers on window screens, which can stretch or tear the mesh.
- Skipping window tracks, where grit accumulates and can scratch the glass or track over time if left unaddressed.
- Washing wood blinds with water, which causes warping and finish damage.
Exterior Windows and Screens
Outside glass gets hit by weather, pollen, and dirt more than inside glass. It is usually the harder part of the job because you need a ladder or a long pole. Rinse dirt and grit off first with a hose before wiping. Scrubbing dry dirt on glass can leave tiny scratches over time. Take out window screens and rinse them with a soft brush and a little soap. Let them dry all the way before putting them back, so water doesn’t get trapped against the frame.
Best Timing for a Full Window Clean
Spring, after pollen ends, and fall, before leaves pile up, work well for cleaning windows in Northern Virginia. Cleaning windows right after heavy pollen makes a big difference, but people put this task off the most.
When to Call a Pro
Most people can clean windows and blinds inside their home on their own. It is smarter to hire someone for this when:
- Blinds haven’t been deep-cleaned in a long time and dusting alone isn’t cutting it.
- You’re preparing for a move, sale, or big event and want the whole home handled at once rather than tackling windows separately.
- High or hard-to-reach windows make ladder work impractical or unsafe.
- You’d simply rather spend a Saturday on anything other than window tracks.
How Windows Fit Into a Visit
A standard cleaning wipes down high-touch areas, cleans the outside of appliances, and vacuums and mops the floors. Cleaning windows and blinds costs extra, so ask about it when you call to book. See the cleaning checklist for what is included. A deep cleaning starts at $210+ for a studio. Doing your own dusting each month stops the slats from collecting dust between visits.