Cleaning windows is a thankless task. It can be messy and time-consuming and it’s necessary to clean both sides – meaning double the work – to really make a difference.
Plus, once you’re finished, it’s easy to spot dreaded smears when the sun shines and in just a few days, it can feel you need to start all over again.
However, having grime-free glass makes a huge difference to a home. Of course it looks more attractive both inside and out, but it also prevents the degradation of the windows and helps light shine through for a more pleasant living environment. It’s a great way to spruce up your entire house in one, especially during the summer.
Window cleaners can be costly though, so there’s no reason you can’t do the job yourself. Having the right, often inexpensive, tools can make the process a lot quicker and easier, and can help you avoid smears and reach windows that are more difficult to access.
We tested all the window cleaners below on our own home to find the ones that made our windows wonderful, using a combination of either warm, soapy water or Ocean Saver EcoDrops Glass Cleaner (£1.50) as each tool required. We also tried the tools on other glass surfaces including shower doors and even car windows to find the ones that left our home sparkling.
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Kärcher window vac wv 5 plus n
Keep mess to a minimum by adding a window vacuum to your cleaning arsenal and you’ll never see a streak again. This is a cordless rechargeable tool that works like any other vacuum but hoovers up excess water as it cleans so it won’t drip down and ruin all your hard work. Best of all, Karcher claim window cleaning with this is three times faster than conventional methods and we’re all for spending less time doing tedious chores.
First, the unavoidable bit. Moisten and wipe the surface to be cleaned with the included spray bottle, using the window cleaning concentrate provided. It’s not a huge bottle so will definitely need refilling if you have a lot of windows, but this only takes seconds. Then choose the right sized suction head and simply vacuum the water away. One charge lasts around 35 minutes and it’s quiet, with a soft grip handle and adjustable edge guidance so you can get right into the corners.
When the tank is full, you simply pour the dirty water away and carry on. It’s amazingly easy to use and we finished our windows in a jiffy. If you’re time poor and streaks make you weep, you’ll love it.
Buy now £79.99, Kärcher
Chovery Window Cleaner Robot
We always love a gadget but that’s something unbelievably satisfying about cleaning your windows while you mow the lawn or do the washing up at the same time. Or better still, sit down with a coffee…
This new robot cleaner takes the hard work out of window cleaning and does it all for you. Yes – you did read that right. Simply add cleaning fluid to the pads, position the dinky machine on the windows and control it with a remote.
It has three cleaning modes, 120 minutes of run-time , and further comes equipped with a triple security system to prevent the robot from falling off your window unexpectedly and unattended.
Windows were left really clean afterwards, though it’s best used on panes that aren’t too dirty to start with, or you’ll end up constantly changing the pads during the job. It can be used on any smooth surface including tiles, marble or porcelain and is a godsend for anyone with tricky windows or mobility issues. Honestly, window cleaning has never been so much fun.
Buy now £169.99, Amazon
Beldray 150 Years 2 in 1 Floor and Window Cleaner
Cut down on the cleaning products cluttering up your house with this ingenious two-in-one cleaner. The super-light pole extends to 120cm to make cleaning high windows and conservatory roofs a cinch, and has two interchangeable mop heads so the same tool can be used to clean windows and floors.
Better still, you can bin that cumbersome bucket that sloshes water everywhere while you go too. This cleaner has a brilliantly clever built-in spray function so you clean and wipe as you go, meaning your windows will be grime-free in double quick time.
The wide head makes it a little difficult to get into corners, but it zips over windows so quickly, we couldn’t complain. It’s fantastic on floors too and we loved the copper colour to add a dash of much needed panache to cleaning drudgery.
Buy now £15.00, Very
Tower T131001 TWV10 Cordless Window Cleaner
Another nifty window vacuum, this is a no-nonsense tool that gets the job done without breaking the bank. Sadly, you will still need to put in a little elbow grease to start with and spray soapy water or any cleaning fluid of your choice on the window, giving a quick wipe over with a cloth or sponge. Then the fun starts and you can use the vacuum to slurp up any drips or smears until they’re left shining, while the squeegee takes care of streaks.
The removable water tank takes 150ml before it needs emptying and the cleaner runs for around 30 minutes from a single charge of three hours. We were surprised just how much we managed in that time as this tool really is so quick and efficient to use.
We also found it worked a treat on shower doors or on the inside of windows to eliminate condensation. Just be aware, there’s only one sized head in the box so it can be tricky to get into tight corners and it won’t work well on small windows.
Buy now £26.95, OnBuy
Beldray BEL0749 Cordless Rechargable Window Vacuum
If you’re devoted to a good old sponge and bucket to clean your windows, a cordless, rechargeable window vacuum will be a game changer for getting windows shiny.
Sadly there’s no way around the initial hard work, but once you’ve soaped the glass down, this vac will remove all remaining water so it won’t dry with streaks and ruin all your efforts.
Weighing less than 1kg, it’s extremely easy to use and has a squeegee head to drink up every last drop. It operates for half an hour before it needs recharging and we loved the fact its compact size made it easier than some vacuums to get right into corners. It also helps when storing it away in a cupboard after use.
We did find it tricky to get right up to the window seal at the bottom though, so we’d recommend a quick wipe with a microfibre cloth at the end for the best results.
Buy now £23.26, Amazon
Kochblume microfibre cloth
It may be simple but everyone should have a good microfibre cloth to hand when tackling any glass surface. They’re ideal for giving a final shine to windows with a glass cleaner after an initial heavy-duty wash with soap and water, but are also great for quick touch-ups when you don’t have time to do a full clean.
They’re also the best way to eliminate those pesky streaks everyone hates and can be used around the house including on worktops, cars and shower doors. Best of all, they’re perfect for eliminating disposable cleaning cloths and paper towels as they can be washed at up to 60 degrees and reused again and again.
This one is fantastically absorbent and made a huge difference to the overall look of our windows after cleaning. Measuring 30cm x 30cm, it comes in a range of brilliantly bright colours which (almost) made window cleaning a pleasure and left us super-smug at our streak-free finish.
We also loved the larger Kochblume microfibre towel (£9) for tackling larger windows as it has one smooth and one deep pile side for all-in-one cleaning.
Buy now £5.00, Kochblume
Amazon Basics Window Squeegee without Handle
Proof that you don’t need fancy tools – or lots of cash – to clean windows effectively, a decent squeegee is an absolute essential for sparkling windows.
This one has a comfortable non-slip handle so it’s easy to hold when wet and a flexible rubber blade that made light work of slicking soapy water away from our windows. It’s very lightweight so you won’t get a sore arm from using it and it’s neat and handy to store if you’re short on space.
Although you will have to mop up excess water to stop it leaving smears, we were surprised just how well this simple squeegee managed to wick water away from the glass itself and definitely made the job significantly faster.
We’d also recommend storing one in the shower for a quick once-over after use to keep glass doors free from water marks.
Buy now £3.90, Amazon
Lakeland Extendable Window Wash & Squeegee
It’s all very well stocking up on cloths and squeegees, but if you can’t easily reach your window, you will probably never get round to cleaning it.
Though it won’t manage upstairs windows, this extendable tool is perfect for getting to the top of tall windows, glass doors or conservatories without using a ladder and is even handy for cleaning outside windows from the inside without leaning out – never a good idea.
It comes with a telescopic handle that extends to 114.5cm and a thick microfibre pad that makes light work of stubborn stains on windows, even when the pole is extended.
The neck is spring-loaded so the pad stays flat against the surface and a push-button means the head can be rotated to the desired angle to get right into corners.
The best bit is the fact a flexible squeegee is built into the head to remove drips once you’ve cleaned - without leaving unsightly smears behind. After use, the microfibre pad can be machine washed up to 30 degrees and there’s a hook to hang the pole for easy storage. Job done.
Buy now £9.99, Lakeland
Aieve 2 Pack Window Track Cleaning Brush
While you can definitely clean your windows without these nifty brushes, we couldn’t believe what a simple but effective tool they turned out to be.
They have an easy grip, curved handle so they’re easy to use and a narrow, tall brush that gets into every crevice to dig out dirt. There’s even a scraper on one end to loosen really stubborn marks. This is brilliant for tricky window frames where dirt tends to accumulate and works so much better than a cloth or old toothbrush. It’s fantastic on sliding door tracks and showers too.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Clean Living Biological Multi-Mop Cleaning System
Not quite sure where to start when it comes to cleaning windows? This is the perfect kit for anyone who’s just moved into a new home, wants to upgrade all their cleaning gear in one go or who just needs a top-to-toe spring clean. Best of all, it comes from an eco-friendly cleaning brand which offers biological, refillable products that clean well while being kind to the environment.
This cleaning kit has all you need to sort even the grimiest window. It comes with an adjustable aluminium mop head and four different mop heads that can be easily changed to tackle almost any job so you won’t need to stash a whole cupboard full of separate tools. These include a wet mop pad for floor cleaning, a drop mop pad for blitzing dust and a heavy-duty pad for stubborn marks almost anywhere.
The glass mop pad is perfect for windows and really polished ours up well. It’s also so large, it got the job done in half the time, even reaching the top of taller windows without a ladder.
The kit comes with a refillable bottle of biological floor cleaner, but we used the excellent Clean Living Biological Glass Cleaner starter pack (£10.80) on windows. This includes a reusable aluminium container, a microfibre cloth and sachet of concentrate non-toxic cleaner. The latter contains live healthy bacteria to dissolve grease and stunt the regrowth of harmful bacteria for cleaner windows for longer. A win-win in our book.
Buy now £119.99, My Green Pod
Verdict
For streak free windows and cleaning without the mess, the Kärcher window vac wv 5 plus n is unbeatable as it’s easy to handle, efficient and leaves glass gleaming. If you want to spend a lot less time and money cleaning – and who doesn’t? - the Beldray 150 Years 2 in 1 Floor and Window Cleaner helps make this most tedious job almost painless thanks to the in-built spray function, large mop head and extendable pole.
