There are literally dozens of posts out there about cleaning glass without nasty chemicals, recommending everything from vinegar to metho to corn flour to Ammonia (which okay, arguably is a bit nasty, but better than some options).
But what’s the best way you ask?
Well, it’s simple really. The best option, the one that uses no nasties, leaves no residue (not even a vinegar smell), no streaks, and no dirt?
It’s high quality microfibre. Specifically, it’s what I like to call the Dynamic Duo of Norwex – the Envirocloth & the Norwex Window cloth.
The damp EnviroCloth is used first to wipe away dirt, grease, dog nose prints, child face paint prints… you get the picture. Then you use the (dry) window cloth to polish to a streak-free finish, in no time at all. Together, these are the Norwex window cleaning cloths. Use this same pair on mirrors, glass tables, shiny chrome fittings etc.
Use the EnviroCloth DAMP, fold in half and then in half again, so that you have 8 surfaces to clean with. This also ensures you are using it flat, which is important because this is mechanical cleaning, not chemical cleaning – so you want the maximum surface area to pick up the maximum dirt.
Wipe the window until clean, turning over for a new side as necessary (hint: on a bathroom mirror, you probably won’t need to do this, on a glass door with a dog on one side and a four year old on the other – you probably will!).
If you are cleaning a bunch of windows in one go, you might need to rinse your cloth somewhere in the middle. If so, just wring it out to damp, and go again.
After you clean a window, polish it with the window cloth. This should be used DRY, for a perfect streak-free finish. If it gets too wet it can leave streaks, which is one reason to use the EnviroCloth first. (If you are just polishing a few handprints off an otherwise clean bathroom mirror, you can just spray with some water and polish clean with the window cloth.) Don’t worry about getting it completely dry. Just rub the window cloth over the glass quickly and carelessly – you will be amazed how it still dries to streak free!
When you are using the window cloth, it likely will at first look as though it is going to be streaky. Just keep going until it’s dry and you will be amazed how clean it is.
Tip 1: Don’t let your glass dry out before going over it with the window cloth – it will then likely dry with streaks. If this happens, just spray the window with a little water and dry with the window cloth.
Tip 2: If you are doing outside or high windows, and you have the Norwex Mop, you can get clips to clip your cloths onto the mop, so that you can cover a larger space more quickly, and ditch the whole ladder issue.
Tip 3: There are actually two different Norwex glass cloths. The normal one is the Window Cloth, but the car cloth can actually be used the same way, and is MUCH bigger, so for clipping onto your mop, it can be better. The window cloth is not recommended for use on an after factory tint added to car windows, or on the car duco, but the car cloth can be used in those situations.
Tip 4: (Sorry, I keep thinking of more tips!) You can save money buy buying the enviro and window cloths together in the “basic package“: (15% off), or with some other items in one of the larger Norwex kits (which are up to 30% off).
All the Norwex cloths come with a 60-day, no questions asked, satisfaction guarantee AND a two year manufacturer’s warranty (as long as you buy them directly from a Norwex Consultant or their website). So for the initial outlay on your cloths, you have at least two years of never having to buy or make window cleaner again. And I know people who have been using their Norwex cloths for upwards of five years and they are still going strong.
So how much time and money is that going to save you?
If you would like to purchase these cloths in Australia, you can buy them online here, or just contact me to place an order. If you would like to buy the cloths online in New Zealand, you can do so here. For anywhere else in the world, take a look at Norwex.com and see if they are available in your country.
Over to you – have you tried the dynamic duo for windows or mirrors? What did you think?
Awesome tips for cleaning glass,without using nasty chemicals.I will try these tips definitely.Thank you so much for sharing such a precious article!
Using Norwex cloths and vinegar solution with proper procedure as mentioned above,produce much better results.Also using Dynamic Duo is best.Thanks for posting!
Cleaning glass can be the most annoying chore if you don’t have the right materials. Thanks for providing these tips, they’re a big help!
Cool little post! It’s handy to find another window cleaning technique.
Really it such an informative post. I’ve read so many amazing things about your article! I enjoyed reading it. By the way, I think you don’t need to clean your bathroom/shower mirror if you buy the fogless shower mirror. Shower mirror is an essential part of the modern bathroom.
Oh my goodness. Your tips are brilliant.
I like that you talked about how it is okay if you don’t have a squeegee. I have always thought that I wouldn’t get a streak-free window without one. However, I am super short so I would still want to have a professional service clean them for me.