The Easy & All-Natural Way To Leave Your Glass Windows Clean And Streak-Free

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Sometimes glass windows are the one thing in the house that you don't realize is dirty until they are really filthy. All it takes is the perfect sunny afternoon for you to walk past your windows and shriek in horror at the sight of them. Seemingly out of nowhere, they're covered with hand prints, dog saliva marks, and random smudges. In addition to this, it seems that sometimes no matter how thoroughly you wipe them, annoying streaks still seem to make their presence known. What do you do? One trick that works surprisingly well on windows is using a water and vinegar combination as a window cleaner and coffee filters as cleaning pads. Yes, those thin, crinkled-edged paper filters that you use every day for your morning cup of joe can be used to clean your windows. The key, however, is to dampen them only slightly.

Thanks to its acidic nature, vinegar is one of the best household ingredients that you should be using to clean glass in your home. When combined with the lint-free material of disposable coffee filters, you're guaranteed a mark-free shine without having to go to the store to purchase cleaning products or materials. For this simple hack to keep your home clean, everything you need is probably in your kitchen pantry or can be purchased for just a few dollars. You'll save money by buying coffee filters in bulk, especially if you have a lot of windows that you clean regularly. For example, you can find a 200-count box of Amazon Basics Basket Coffee Filters for less than $3.

There are so many creative uses for coffee filters around the house, and using them as cleaning pads is one of them. If you have big windows, buying larger coffee filters may be helpful. Once you have your pads and distilled white vinegar, grab a microfiber cloth or duster as well. You'll also need a spray bottle to combine a 1 to 1 solution of vinegar and water. Be sure to don a pair of protective gloves as vinegar can cause skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. 

To clean your windows, start by using a microfiber cloth or duster to remove any accumulated dust from the window and around the ledge. You don't want to smear wet lint balls all over the place as you clean the window with the filters. Next, lightly mist the window with your solution. Then, grab a coffee filter and wipe the window using a zig-zag motion, starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. 

After the first wipe, take a few clean filters and go over the window again using the same motion until it's dry. If you notice any stubborn residue, such as that from dried bugs, use a cleaning cloth for more traction, and then immediately go over it again with your solution and the filters. Finally, buff the glass until it creates a streak-free shine. You can use this trick to wipe down the window tracks and frame as well. Add more solution if needed, but remember to not soak the filters.