Crystal Clear Window Cleaning With Newspaper!

Introduction: Crystal Clear Window Cleaning With Newspaper!

When everything in the world seems to be getting more and more complicate, its refreshing to discover a simple solution to a common problem.

If you’ve ever had to clean your bathroom mirrors, windows of your house and even your car windscreen getting that crystal clear movie standard finish can be very frustrating. The greasy smudges and long unwanted streaks seem to stick around like a bad smell.

This is a technique my grandparents told me to use when cleaning the car windscreen. I couldn’t get rid of the streaks and smudges when the sun shone on the windscreen. I thought it was a trick to get me to clean my car with newspaper but honestly i haven’t used anything else since!

This Instructable will guide you through the super simple process for that professional looking clean glass.

Disclaimer: No «super high tech fiber» cleaning cloths or ‘new proven «chemical formula» window fluid have been used in the making of this Instructable.

Step 1: The Ins and Outs!

It might seem a bit strange using vinegar and newspaper in the process but it made a lot of sense when i did some research!

Why Vinegar?

Its important to use white vinegar. When white vinegar dries it leaves no residue. This is extremely important when cleaning glass. The acidic nature of the vinegar helps to break down any pesky grease and oil on the glass so that they can be wiped away!

Why Newspaper?

The real star of the show is the newspaper. This is down to the fact that newspapers are made from really densely packed fibers with nothing in the paper that can scratch or mark the glass. These densely packed fibers mean that the fibers cannot separate which is very important. You see this unwanted separation first hand when you use other materials like tissue paper or cloth to clean your glass. These materials leave a trail of lint across the glass when you use them! This is also the reason why, when using newspapers to clean windows they will never leave a streak! The absorbing nature of the newspapers also helps to absorb any oils and smudges that may be on the glass allowing for that crystal clear finish.

The combination of both allows for the ultimate glass cleaning combo. The vinegar helps to break down the oils and dirt on the window and the newspapers absorb it all, all the while leaving zero streaks!

Step 2: Gather Your Supplies

Your material list for this Instructable is very reasonable. Everything you need should be found around the house!

Your supply list is:

1. Newspaper
2. White Vinegar (Optional but recommended for glass that you might not have gotten around to spring cleaning in a while)
3. Water

A bowl for your water or a bottle with a spray nozzle would be very useful but they aren’t necessary required! Remember the vinegar used has to be white vinegar as it doesn’t leave any residue!

Step 3: Scrub

Now its time to get down to work. Grab the newspaper and scrunch up a few sheets into newspaper balls to use for the scrubbing. If the glass is very dirty use a mixture of vinegar and water in a bowl of water to scrub the glass. A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water is what i used. For heavier dirt you can add more vinegar! Alternatively you can mix the vinegar and water in the spray bottle for easy application onto the glass.

Using your bowl or spray bottle as well as the newspaper scrub the windows until the grease and smudges start to disappear. Don’t be afraid to be generous with the water!

Unfortunately it was very hard to photograph the difference between the clean and dirty glass with a normal window so i had to use a frosted glass window.

Step 4: Dry!

After you’ve scrubbed the glass the last step is to dry them. Again using the newspaper to dry off the glass means that no smudges or streaks are allowed to form when the glass is drying. Not allowing it to air dry also helps to stop the formation of those pesky water-spots on the glass!

It helps if you spread a sheet of newspaper flat to cover more area and just wipe it around on the glass! After that just crumple up a couple of sheets of the newspaper into balls and wipe away whatever moisture remains. Replace your newspaper balls when they become to wet to dry !

And there you have it! Crystal clear professional looking glass using Eco friendly materials, a simple technique and reusing the things you have at home! The elusive trifecta 🙂

Just an added note, this is extremely effective on car windscreens. When your driving into the sun and you have a dirty windscreen the sun can really blind you as it shines on the smudges and streaks. This technique is perfect for getting rid of those. You can really appreciate the clarity when your driving and not having to shield your eyes!

Thanks for reading guys. If you have the time i would really appreciate your vote in the spotless contest! 🙂

How To Cleaning Windows with Newspaper

May 18, 2020 By Margie Rawls

Window glass-cleaning products are usually filled with dangerous chemicals. They usually leave nasty odours too. Moreover, even natural cleaners often don’t work as well, leaving lines on the glass which seems to happen often even with those products that claim to be streak-free. Moreover, then there is the problem of the little bits of covering left by the paper towels that make the glass look just as dusty as if it had never been cleaned in the first place. Let’s talk about cleaning windows with newspaper to save time, money and efforts.

Instead of harmful chemical sprays, get those windows and mirrors sparkle clear with a simple solution of the newspaper. You will also save money and the hassle of needing to stock more cleaning supplies.

If you have heard of people using pieces of newspaper to clean windows, but you have never tried it at home. You should try this very promptly. The newspaper is an effective way to wipe glass windows to clean.

Our ancestors were right. The fifty-cent daily can double as a glass cleaner. Newspapers are made of thick fibres that contain no solid, scratching materials like silica or calcium carbonate. Compared to paper towels, newspaper fibres are more inflexible and will not separate and cause lint. Ninety 90% of newspapers converted from petroleum-based ink, which caused tints and smears, to the cheaper, smear-free alternative of soy-based ink. The switch reduced the newspaper perfect for multipurpose use.

There are many ways to clean windows but cleaning windows with the newspaper is an inexpensive method which we can use at homes, offices and other places where glass windows installed. Newspapers are readily available at home and offices. It works well, the newspaper and ink act as a light rough to give you clean windows.

A glass of windows and mirrors quickly collect dust, even if you clean them too often. Furthermore, in the meanness of all the particular cleaning and elbow grease, the glass does not seem sparkling clean because of the lines and lint. Thus, apart from the elbow grease, you also need to use the right tools. For instance, it is best to clean glass windows with the old newspapers.

Below are the methods for cleaning windows with newspaper.

Cleaning Windows with Newspaper

Gather the below items/material before cleaning of windows with the newspaper;

What You Need to Gather:

A dirty window Bundle of Old Newspapers A piece of clean clothes Empty Spray Bottle Clean Water

A Dirty Window

First of all, find the dirty window, you can find a dirty window at your home, offices and also your shops. Do not feel shy to clean your windows. Windows are part of our daily routine life and frequently used by us. It is not the duty of handyman only in our offices and of a house cleaner in our homes.

Bundle of Old Newspaper

The compulsorily required item you need for this method, of course, is a couple of pages from an old newspaper. It would be better if using the typical old-fashioned black and white paper kind, though, not the coloured shiny pages used for ads and store fliers.

A piece of Clean Fabric

You will have to gather some pieces of clean clothes. Before cleaning the windows with newspaper, clean the windows with a clean cloth and remove all dust with it.

Empty Spray Bottle

During the cleaning windows with the newspaper, you will need to empty spray bottle. Fill the empty spray bottle with clean water and keep it with you.

Clean Water

Clean water also required for cleaning of windows with newspaper. Arrange a small bowl of clean water.

After the above-required items arrangements, follow the below instructions and start to clean windows with the old newspapers.

Preparation for Cleaning Windows with Newspaper:

Dip the old newspaper into a bowl of water, or mix it under the spout, and squeeze out any excess water, so it is just damp and not dripping wet.

After that just scrub away at the window like you usually would. Unless it is dirty, you perhaps would not have to rub too hard.

After following the above instruction, just take a dry page of the old newspaper and polish the window glass with it until all the water drops are gone, and it looks clear and shiny. Put the newspaper into the recycling bin, and you are done.

Benefits of Cleaning Windows with Newspaper

No Extra Cost

By using old newspaper, you save the money. You have already finished reading.

No Noxious

You also save yourself from harmful danger chemicals as well by using clean water. Clean water has no negative effects.

No Strips

There is no stripes and shades leftover on the windows by clean with old newspaper.

No Lint

A newspaper does not leave dusty lint behind like paper towels

No Waste

Unlike paper towels sodden with window glass cleaner, the newspaper can be recycled.

We have read a useful method for cleaning windows with newspaper, but this is just about as carefully as it gets. In the home mostly housewives and janitorial staff at offices are using this method and also guide to your future ones.

How to clean your windows

Was our mums right about cleaning windows with newspapers?

Rosanna Chio

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Your mum probably told you that you can clean windows with newspaper. But if you have never actually tried it, chances are you might raise an eyebrow after hearing that tip. Because why would anyone want to clean windows with newspaper when there are sponges, rags andВ rubber squeegees?

But did you know that newspapers are made from dense fibres that will not scratch? They are tougher than paper towels, leave no lint and doesn’t come apart easily. This means they are perfect for cleaning windows and what’s great about them is that they are cheap and you can always repurpose them after your morning read.

Tools to have on hand when cleaning your windows

1. Gloves to protect your hands (optional)
2. A bucket to hold your cleaning solution if you are not using store bought window cleaning detergent
3. Floor rags to protect your floors from the dripping solution
4. Clean rags or a wiping cloth
5. A rubber squeegee to remove all extra liquid
6. A sponge.В Or you can also use the sponge at the back of your squeegee if it has one
7. A microfiber cloth or lint-free cloth
8. Clean cloth or rag
9. Some old newspapers

Making your own window cleaning solution

The most common cleaning solution you can make at home is to squirt a tiny amount of dishwashing soap into a bucket filled with water. How much cleaning solution you make depends on how many windows you have to wash on that day. You can always make more if you need more.

A more natural option is to mix equal parts of water and vinegar into a pail.

But for a streak-free and disinfecting option, mix together 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1/4 cup of vinegar, 2 cups of water and 3 drops of liquid detergent. Mix it well and transfer it into a clean spray bottle.

Clean windows with newspapers, squeegee, sponge or rags

Outside:

1. Put on some gloves to protect your hands.
2. Always start by cleaning the outside of the window first because they are very prone to stubborn stains. They are constantly exposed to dust, the weather and bird droppings, which could cake up or harden over time. Depending on how bad the stains are, you might need to spray on some vinegar and let it sit there for a while before attempting to wipe it off. In worse case scenarios, try gently scraping it off with a razor blade.
3. Dip your squeegee/sponge/rag into your cleaning solution of choice and wash your windows making sure to apply more pressure where there are stains. Spray bottle options should only be used if the windows are not overly dirty.
4. Then use the rubber side of your squeegee and wipe the solution off. Have a dry but clean rag on hand to wipe the excess solution from yourВ squeegee and wipe off any excess on the glass with a microfibre cloth or newspaper.
5. However, if you want to disinfect your windows and have them streak free, you can always spray on the alcohol solution after the first round of cleaning. Then follow through by wipe everything off with a microfibre cloth.В Alternatively, you can also clean windows with newspaper instead of using cloth.
6. Then use a damp rag dipped in the cleaning solution to wipe down the window frames.

Inside:

1. Place your floor rags or newspapers to absorb any liquid and to protect your floors. You need to do this if you’re planning to use a squeegee as they tend to drip cleaning solution everywhere.
2. If you find that your window ledge and in between the rails are dusty, you can vacuum this up with a handheld vacuum or put on the mini-nozzle if you’re using a regular vacuum.
3. Usually, the inside of the window is not as dirty and merely just dusty. If you regularly leave your windows open, then a bucket and squeegee/sponge/rag would serve a better purpose for thorough cleaning.
4. Dip your squeegee/sponge/rag into your cleaning solution of choice and wash your windows.В Then use the rubber side of your squeegee and wipe the solution off. Wipe any excess off with a microfibre cloth.
5. You can also use a spray bottle filled with cleaning solution before wiping it up. Here you can clean windows with newspaper or with a microfibre cloth.
6. Like before, use a damp cloth to wipe the window frame and in between the rail and you’re done!

Whether you prefer to use a squeegee or a microfibre cloth. Or maybe you prefer to clean windows with newspaper. Repurposing newspapers make it so much better for mother earth. Try it today and experience it for yourself. Cleaning windows with newspaper work wonders!