How can I get streak free windows?

Buy a Karcher window vacuum, and keep its squeegee spotlessly clean.

Try using an e-cloth.

Give up and ignore the streaks. Life's too short to obsess about windows!

I have a Karcher window vacuum it is the only way I can do streak-free windows and mirrors.

Scrunched-up newspaper to buff it up with while it's still damp!

I still get streaks with my Karcher sometimes. I have a blue glass cleaning cloth and buff the windows with that after cleaning, while the window is still slightly damp.

Don't clean windows in sunshine, they dry too fast.

I'd love to know this, too. Windows look perfect when they've just been cleaned then you catch sight of them with the sun at a particular angle and they are all streaky.

Window cleaners use those scrapers, as CoolCoco says, and it seems to work for them. And they only go over it once, too.

One tip I saw on a YouTube clip was to get really good quality cloths, specifically for glass.

Or better still, chamois leathers.

Also water should suffice, but really hot water (which is why steam cleaners are supposed to be so good.) and wring out the cloth or leather as tight as you can especially for the final wipe down.

I find I still get streaks with the Karcher. Have you tried a blade, the sort window cleaners use and that you would use on a shower screen? I swear by mine. See Lakeland. I've also changed to HG glass cleaner which seems better than Mr Muscle which I used before.

Never clean windows when the sun is on them. That for sure will leave them streaky.

I've tried everything, the Karcher, vinegar, Mr Muscle, Simoniz, Lidl's own, chamois, different cloths etc

All looks great until the sun shines at a certain angle.

Distilled water might work (this is what some window cleaners use).

Elbow grease is the only thing that works and mine is just not as good as it was.

I have similar windows and just use a chamois leather and warm water. Not noticed any streaks.

You need to wring it out to be very dry.

Oh, I'm so glad it isn't just me who ends up with streaky windows! Not every time, so that makes me wonder what I'm doing wrong. Perhaps the water isn't hot enough or there is too much sun...

NotTooOld, I do agree with you that life is too short to obsess about windows, but when it gets to the stage that actually seeing out becomes a problem and there are visitors expected something really has to be done.

The day after the Brexit referendum I was so upset by the result that I had to go and clean the windows, but I have done it since, honest.

After living with my mum and her must be smear/streak free obsession I go along with my father in law’s take on cleaning windows. “ If you’ve got smears/streaks you know the windows have been cleaned” ?

I have this Kercher, its absolutely brilliant. I live in a South facing house, the kitchen and front room windows are streak freeeeeeee.

A very easy remedy. White spirit vinegar and water and buff with newspaper or a lint free cloth. Works for most windows.

Like you OP I have lots of glass on the south-facing side of the house.
I use a car washing mitt dripping with plenty of cold tap water, an OXO blade (other brands are available) and, for any tiny amounts of remaining water, a dry microfibre cloth with a flat weave. (I know microfibre’s bad.) I don’t polish and I do like gleaming windows.
I’ve tried products, a drop of washing up liquid in warm water, diluted vinegar, different blades, chamois, linen, newspaper but water always works for me.
Sometimes DH says he’ll clean a window, uses a product but is always disappointed with his results no matter how much he tries.

Something that has not been mentioned so far is that you should not use softener when washing the cloths. It contains lanolin - may as well dip the cloths in cooking oil, smears are guaranteed.

Oh, I forgot to say I never use detergent on my cloths. I clean them with water and a scrubbing brush only.
If they’re washed in detergent I get streaks.

I bought a Karcher, it's rubbish. I've gone back to a spot of fairy in a bucket of warm water rub windows well with a cloth then dry with old tea towels kept especially for the job, quick and easy and shiny streak free windows.

Serendipity22

I have this Kercher, its absolutely brilliant. I live in a South facing house, the kitchen and front room windows are streak freeeeeeee.

My Kercher is brilliant too. Not a streak in sight and it takes no time at all. I use white vinegar. I use a clean cloth to just wipe around the edges which the Kercher can't reach.

I think it may depend on the age of the glass, how it has been treated in the past, and the type of dirt in your environment.

Where I live, we have a chipboard factory nearby. They claim that no pollution escapes, but i have a layer of dust on all surfaces at least every 2 days.

My mother never had any dust, even after 2 weeks. She lived near Newmarket, where there was practically no industry, the surrounding flat East Anglian countryside meant that the wind carried everything away and all the surrounding fields were grassy meadows and paddocks for the horses. Agriculture is mixed, but there were also plenty of sheep and cows and less grain.

JackyB

Something that has not been mentioned so far is that you should not use softener when washing the cloths. It contains lanolin - may as well dip the cloths in cooking oil, smears are guaranteed.

I didn’t know that, so thanks for the tip.

The Pink Stuff window detergent works well. Actually, I am a fan of all Pink Stuff products.