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How to clean windows without streaks

Q: Should I use newspaper to clean windows?

It is a popular tip, but Andersen advises against drying windows with newspaper because the ink may stain. A clean, dry microfiber cloth or a squeegee does the job without that risk.

Q: Why do I only see streaks when the sun hits the window?

Low-angle sunlight shows thin residue that is invisible in flat light. Consumer NZ notes that streaks often appear only once sunlight is on the glass. Check your work in good light, then buff the remaining marks with a dry microfiber cloth.

Updated October 19, 2026

Quick answer

Streaks are residue left on the glass: too much cleaner or soap, minerals from tap water, dirt spread by a dirty cloth, or solution that dried before you removed it. To prevent them, dust the glass first, use only a little mild cleaner, wipe with a clean cloth or scrubber, pull the water off with a clean squeegee from top to bottom, and buff the edges with a dry microfiber cloth. Clean in shade or on a cloudy day, so the glass doesn't dry before you finish.

What a streak actually is

Glass is smooth enough that almost anything left on it shows up as a line or haze when light hits it at an angle. The streak you see is rarely dirt you missed. It's usually something you added or left behind while cleaning:

Cleaner or soap residue. Too much product leaves a film. Tom's Guide notes that leftover soap is a common reason streaks remain, and Consumer Reports says some ammonia-based cleaners can streak or leave a film.
Minerals from tap water. When tap water evaporates, its dissolved minerals stay on the glass as spots. Consumer NZ points out that purified water, or a final buff with microfiber, reduces these marks.
Redistributed dirt. A cloth that's already dirty, or wetting dusty glass, just moves grime around in a thinner layer.
Uneven drying. Solution that dries before you remove it leaves its outline. Andersen says direct sunlight can make cleaning products dry on the glass and streak.

Diagnose your streaks

Different marks have different causes. Match what you see to the fix.

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
A hazy or rainbow film over the whole pane	Too much cleaner or soap	Rewash with clean water and a little fresh solution, then squeegee. Use less product next time.
White spots or rings after the glass dries	Minerals from tap water	Do a final wipe with distilled water and buff dry. If spots won't wipe off, they may be hard-water deposits that need a dedicated remover; test it on a small area first.
Lines and arcs that only show in sunlight	Solution drying too fast, or squeegee strokes that didn't overlap	Clean in shade, overlap each stroke slightly and wipe the blade between strokes.
Drip lines along the edges and bottom	Water running back out of the frame or off the squeegee	Clean the frame first, wipe the edges with a dry cloth and keep a towel on the sill.
Smears that move when you wipe	Grease and fingerprints spread by the cloth	Wash with mild soapy water first to cut the grease, then rinse and dry.
Lint and fibers	Paper towels or a worn cloth	Switch to a clean microfiber cloth.
Haze that won't come off either side	Moisture between the panes of a double-pane window	Not a cleaning problem. Tarion notes that condensation between panes means the unit's edge seal is broken; the glass unit needs repair or replacement.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

If the glass looks hazy rather than streaky, see why windows still look dirty after cleaning.

Which side is it on? Dry the inside with vertical strokes and the outside with horizontal strokes. A leftover streak that runs up and down is inside; one that runs side to side is outside.

What you need, and what to skip

Use

Two or more microfiber cloths: one for washing or wiping and one kept dry for buffing.
A squeegee with a clean, sharp rubber blade for anything larger than a small pane. A nicked or hardened blade leaves lines.
A bucket and a scrubber or sponge to wet the glass.
A mild cleaning solution. A few drops of dish soap in a bucket of water, a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water, or a commercial glass cleaner. Andersen lists the vinegar mix and several glass cleaners as suitable for its glass.
Distilled water for a final rinse or wipe if your tap water leaves spots.

Skip

Newspaper. It's a well-known tip, but Andersen advises against it because the ink may stain.
Paper towels on big glass. They leave lint, and Solar Gard warns they can leave fine scratches on window film.
Abrasives and metal razor blades. Andersen, Cardinal and Vitro all advise against them for routine glass cleaning.
Pressure washers on windows, which Andersen also lists among things to avoid.

Step-by-step: streak-free windows

Choose your timing. Work on a cloudy day or on the shaded side of the house. Cardinal specifically says not to clean tinted or coated glass in direct sunlight.
Clean the frame and sill first. Vacuum tracks and wipe frames so dirt doesn't run onto clean glass.
Dust the glass. Wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth to lift loose dust and grit. Grit dragged across glass can scratch it, which Vitro specifically warns about.
Wet the pane. Apply your solution with a scrubber, sponge or damp microfiber. Use enough to loosen dirt, not so much that it pours down the frame.
Squeegee from the top. Wipe a dry strip along the top edge, then pull the squeegee down in overlapping strokes, or in a continuous S-shaped path across the pane. Wipe the blade with a cloth after every stroke.
Detail the edges. Run a dry microfiber cloth around the edges and corners where the squeegee can't reach.
Check in good light. Look at the glass from an angle, ideally with light coming through it, and buff any marks with your dry cloth.

For indoor glass that's only lightly marked, you can skip the bucket. Mist a small amount of cleaner onto a microfiber cloth rather than the glass, wipe, then buff with a second dry cloth.

Check your glass before you clean it

Most household glass tolerates the method above, but some surfaces need special care. If you're not sure what you have, check with your window maker. Both Vitro and Cardinal recommend testing on a small area first.

Coated glass. Some windows have a coating on the inside or outside surface. Cardinal advises checking for exterior coatings and following the glass maker's procedures, because certain cleaning products can harm them. Andersen recommends only mild soapy water for its HeatLock coated glass.
Self-cleaning glass. Pilkington says its self-cleaning glass can be cleaned with warm soapy water and that abrasive materials must not be used.
Tinted window film. Solar Gard advises against ammonia-based or other strong cleaners on window film.
Tempered glass. Vitro notes that heat-strengthened or tempered glass can be damaged even by plastic scrapers, so don't scrape it.
Alcohol-based cleaners. Andersen lists ethanol and alcohol-based cleaners among products to avoid on its windows. Other makers may differ, so check yours.

Common mistakes

Spraying cleaner straight onto big panes, which puts more product on the glass than you can remove.
Cleaning in full sun on a hot afternoon.
Reusing the same cloth until it's grey.
Skipping the dusting step and turning dust into mud.
Using a worn squeegee blade.
Judging the result in flat light, then discovering streaks when the sun comes around.

Keeping big glass streak-free between deep cleans

The easiest streak-free glass is glass that never gets very dirty. A light, regular clean on the panes that get marked fastest means less grime, less product and less to remove each time. Our guide to cleaning a house with lots of windows covers how to build that routine without cleaning every window every week.

For homes with a lot of large, smooth glass, an automated window cleaning system can handle some of that routine cleaning. It sprays and wipes the pane while you stay nearby. Be realistic about the finish: no machine guarantees a perfect streak-free result. Consumer NZ found window robots can leave smears, especially on very dirty glass, and don't reach as far into corners as hand cleaning. They work best as maintenance on glass that's cleaned regularly, with clean cloths and plain water or a gentle glass cleaner in the tank rather than dish soap, plus a quick buff of the edges if you notice marks.

The Window Washing Robot we sell works that way: it's built for sliders, picture windows and other large, smooth glass, and it isn't meant for heavy buildup like hard-water deposits, paint or adhesive, which still need hand cleaning.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my windows streaky after I clean them?

Usually because something was left behind on the glass: too much cleaner or soap, minerals from tap water, dirt spread around by a dirty cloth, or solution that dried before you removed it, often because the glass was in direct sun. Use less product, a clean cloth, a squeegee and a shaded time of day.

Is vinegar or glass cleaner better for streak-free windows?

Either can work. Andersen lists a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water, as well as several commercial glass cleaners, as suitable for its glass. Technique matters more than the product: a small amount of solution, removed completely with a squeegee or dry microfiber cloth, is what prevents streaks. Check your window maker's guidance first, especially for coated glass.

Should I use newspaper to clean windows?

It's a popular tip, but Andersen advises against drying windows with newspaper because the ink may stain. A clean, dry microfiber cloth or a squeegee does the job without that risk.

Why do I only see streaks when the sun hits the window?

Low-angle sunlight shows thin residue that's invisible in flat light. Consumer NZ notes that streaks often appear only once sunlight is on the glass. Check your work in good light, then buff the remaining marks with a dry microfiber cloth.

How do I tell which side of the window a streak is on?

Dry the inside with vertical strokes and the outside with horizontal strokes. If a leftover streak runs up and down, it's on the inside; if it runs side to side, it's on the outside. If a haze or moisture won't wipe off either side of a double-pane window, it may be between the panes, which usually means the seal has failed and the glass unit needs repair or replacement.

Can a window cleaning robot leave windows streak-free?

It can do a good job of routine cleaning on large, smooth glass, but no machine guarantees a perfect finish. Consumer NZ found robots can leave smears, especially on very dirty glass. Results are best when the glass is cleaned regularly, the cloths are clean, and the tank holds plain water or a gentle glass cleaner rather than soap.

The bottom line

Streak-free glass comes down to removing everything you put on it. Dust first, use a little mild cleaner, pull it off with a clean squeegee, buff the edges dry, and work out of direct sun. If a mark survives all that, use the table above to find out what it really is.