The old standard for window cleaning still remains as effective as it did fifty years ago—newspapers and straight white vinegar will get windows spotless but often leaves streaks.  The formula below leaves your windows clean, without the streaks, and is less expensive than commercially used products.

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Add ingredients to 3/4 gallon of water.

Dry windows on the outside in one direction (e.g. side to side) and inside in the other direction (e.g. up and down). This will help you see if there is any streaking.

The major complaint with using newspaper to clean windows is the ink stains left on your hands. To avoid this try using large coffee filters to clean windows. They are lint free and relatively cheap. They also leave a shine that paper towels don’t leave. Many window frames are not only made of a delicate aluminum but are also painted, making cleaning even more of an issue. Window frames seem to pick up some of the most difficult to clean dust. Grease, sticky pollen and bugs are especially attracted to window frames. Always use a mild non-abrasive cleaner with a soft cloth as to not damage the paint or the aluminum.