Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Window cleaning scrim

(29 Posts)
Stoker48 Mon 01-Sept-25 19:26:22

I walked passed a professional window cleaner today, cleaning large windows in a florist shop.
It was almost hypnotic! So quick and easy.. well, it was for him.
I asked his technique and he said cheap, thin washing up liquid in a bucket of water.
Apply to windows, take off with a squeegee thingy then a quick wipe with piece of scrim.
Certainly worked well with him and his team.
Does anyone else use this method? Do you think you could use an old thick Irish Linen type of tea towel instead?
I’ve tried all the sprays but they always leave loads of streaks.
Thanks 😊

NotAGran55 Mon 01-Sept-25 20:12:22

I recently bought a vey big scrim on eBay, cut it into 4 pieces. Perfect to clean windows with a spray of white vinegar and water.
A linen tea towel should work too I would have thought.

NotSpaghetti Mon 01-Sept-25 20:41:49

Traditional scrim was linen/cotton fabric (as used in set design or for translucent blinds).
I've seen fabric labelled scrim that was nearly all polyester.

I expect he was using the traditional stuff.
I would be loathe to use my fabulous old linen teatowels on the windows but I'm sure they would work.

ClicketyClick Tue 02-Sept-25 09:19:24

I used to finish off the windows with scrunched up newspaper after being unable to find replacement scrim. But I no longer buy newspapers and luckily have recently found an old fashioned hardware shop that sells it.

Aldom Tue 02-Sept-25 10:40:18

The secret to no streaks is to clean the windows using white vinegar.
It's amazing for cleaning shower doors too.

J52 Tue 02-Sept-25 11:09:57

Washing up liquid, white vinegar to wash with a cloth and dried off with newspaper is my method. The Times works particularly well.

Allira Tue 02-Sept-25 11:48:40

My MIL used to give me pieces of scrim, she worked in the towels and linens department of a big store. They lasted for years but I had to throw them out in the end.

Our window cleaner uses a brush attached to a water system with distilled water.
It's just the insides which spoil the effect, everything I've tried ends up with a smeary finish.

The best thing was tea with a non-fibre cloth but a lot of elbow grease was required.

Allira Tue 02-Sept-25 11:49:16

J52

Washing up liquid, white vinegar to wash with a cloth and dried off with newspaper is my method. The Times works particularly well.

My mother used newspaper! I'd forgotten that.

Oldnproud Tue 02-Sept-25 12:05:01

Allira

My MIL used to give me pieces of scrim, she worked in the towels and linens department of a big store. They lasted for years but I had to throw them out in the end.

Our window cleaner uses a brush attached to a water system with distilled water.
It's just the insides which spoil the effect, everything I've tried ends up with a smeary finish.

The best thing was tea with a non-fibre cloth but a lot of elbow grease was required.

Our window cleaner uses the same method as yours.
The first time he came, and I saw how wet he left the windows, I couldn't really believe that they could dry naturally without leaving marks, but they did. It still amazes me.

Allira Tue 02-Sept-25 12:15:35

Yes! It's amazing.

Aldom Tue 02-Sept-25 13:12:59

I too have aqua cleaned windows.
Clean inside with white vinegar....no streaks. Lovely sparkling windows.

cc Wed 03-Sept-25 13:51:59

I have a couple of very old linen tea towels that have started going into holes and use these after the squeegee. I don't use water but a cleaning fluid that we buy in big bottles and dilute in a spray bottle. You can get long handles for the tools:
www.green-bear.co.uk/window-cleaning-products.html

cc Wed 03-Sept-25 13:54:20

(I should add that we have a window cleaner for the outsides and he just uses water with detergent and a squeegee, but inside we seem to need the degreasing fluid to stop smearing).

missdeke Wed 03-Sept-25 14:12:52

For the outside I have a window cleaner and he just uses the clean water method. He just brushes over the windows with a brush on the end of a hose thing, then leaves it and it drips sparkling clean.

Essexgirl145 Wed 03-Sept-25 15:27:11

Stoke48.......good old fashioned newspaper, brings them up lovely.

Mt61 Wed 03-Sept-25 15:39:39

I use some large, old, well, washed linen napkins to polish my windows.

4allweknow Wed 03-Sept-25 16:01:21

Same as your window cleaner. Used a scrim cloth for years.

Diplomat Wed 03-Sept-25 16:15:51

I always use just wet newspaper then dry newspaper. Quick, no smears.

AuntieE Wed 03-Sept-25 17:02:53

I use hot water with vinegar or methalated spirits either on its own or after first washing very dirty windows with hot water and washing up liquid then polish the panes dry with crumpled up newspaper.

No streaks at all, unless you make the mistake of cleaning windows when the sun is shining directly on them.

Lahlah65 Wed 03-Sept-25 17:18:12

Newspaper is really effective, but messy and leaves black marks aim our white plastic frames and sills. And we rarely have a newspaper in the house these days. I look out for old linen tea towels in charity shops, et cetera. They do work really well.

FranP Wed 03-Sept-25 18:31:19

No problems with windows but any advice for one of my shower screens gratefully received

Nanny27 Wed 03-Sept-25 22:05:18

FranP
I use Method shower cleaner on my shower screen. You are supposed to be able to spray and leave but I do polish it off with a soft cloth.

sazz1 Wed 03-Sept-25 23:36:01

I use washing up liquid and water. Small squirt of Elbow Grease if any dirty marks/fingerprints. Quick rinse with cloth and tap water.
Karcher window vac to suck up the wet. Kitchen roll if it misses any edges. Best thing ever my Karcher for windows, glass shower screens, mirror wardrobes, plastic panels, glass patio doors etc

Greennana Thu 04-Sept-25 07:38:09

I use my granddaughters old muslin cloths to buff up my windows and mirrors after I've cleaned them, it gets rid of the streaks

Jane43 Thu 04-Sept-25 07:45:58

NotAGran55

I recently bought a vey big scrim on eBay, cut it into 4 pieces. Perfect to clean windows with a spray of white vinegar and water.
A linen tea towel should work too I would have thought.

I use a spray bottle of white vinegar and water followed by a microfiber cloth, this is for interior windows though as we have a window cleaner for the outside windows which get dirtier. We bought a Karcher window cleaner a while back but it leaves awful streaks and was a waste of money.