I hear you on the vinegar debate. I tried it on our kitchen window frames (they’re painted, probably with whatever was cheapest back in the 80s), and I got that same weird residue. Thought maybe I’d mixed it too strong, but even after a second rinse, the finish looked duller than before. I’m starting to think vinegar’s just not all it’s cracked up to be for painted stuff—maybe it’s better for glass or tile.
Magic erasers scare me a bit, honestly. Used one on a door frame and instantly regretted it when the paint started coming off. Now I stick with a microfiber cloth and warm soapy water for most things. Not as quick, but at least there’s no surprise damage.
Compressed air is a new one for me, though. Never thought about using it on windows, but now I’m curious—does it blow dust everywhere, or does it actually help? I always end up with a line of gunk where the glass meets the frame that nothing seems to budge.
Dog nose prints... story of my life. I guess we just have to enjoy those three days of spotless windows while they last. Has anyone found a way to keep them cleaner longer, or is that just wishful thinking?
Compressed air’s a bit of a double-edged sword for window cleaning. It’ll blast out crumbs and dust from those impossible-to-reach tracks, but yeah, you’ll probably be chasing a cloud of debris around the room if you’re not careful. I usually take a vacuum with a crevice tool and go over the sill right after using the air—otherwise, that gunk just settles somewhere else. For that stubborn grime line where the glass meets the frame, a soft-bristled toothbrush and some diluted dish soap does wonders. It’s not glamorous, but it gets in there without wrecking the paint.
Painted frames from the 80s can be especially touchy—lots of thin, mystery finishes that react weirdly to anything acidic or abrasive. Microfiber and mild soap is honestly about as safe as it gets. Magic erasers are basically superfine sandpaper, so I only use them on scuffs where I’m okay with maybe losing a little paint.
As for dog nose prints... unless you want to train your pup to admire windows from afar (good luck), it’s just part of life. Some people swear by a thin layer of anti-static spray on glass to slow down prints and dust, but I haven’t seen miracles there. At least clean windows make for great before-and-after photos... even if the “after” only lasts until the next tail-wagging greeting.
- Totally agree about the “cloud of debris” from compressed air—
—been there, done that.you’ll probably be chasing a cloud of debris around the room if you’re not careful
- I’ve had better luck with a cheap artist’s paintbrush for window tracks. Gets in all the corners and doesn’t fling stuff everywhere.
- Tried magic erasers once on our old painted frames… yeah, they work, but I ended up with a weird faded spot. Not worth it for me.
- Dog nose prints are just part of the decor at this point. I wipe them down, and by the next day, there’s a fresh batch waiting.
- Still, nothing beats that first sunlight through clean glass—makes the whole room feel brighter.
I hear you on the paintbrush trick for window tracks—definitely less messy than blasting crumbs all over the place. But honestly, I’ve had mixed results with brushes, especially when there’s sticky grime built up in the corners. Ever tried using an old toothbrush instead? For me, it seems to get into the gunk a little better, though it does take more elbow grease. Maybe depends on how much “history” your windows have collected...
About those magic erasers—I know folks swear by them, but I’ve also had the fading issue on older trim. Makes me wonder if it’s just certain paints or maybe how much pressure you use? I actually switched to a diluted vinegar solution for my frames (learned the hard way after one too many touch-ups). Not perfect, but at least no weird spots.
Dog nose prints—yep, constant battle here too. Our lab has basically claimed every low pane as her own. I tried some so-called “anti-fingerprint” sprays but honestly didn’t notice much difference. At this point, I’m just happy if the glass stays clear for a day or two.
One thing I’d push back on: that first sunlight through clean glass is great and all, but sometimes it feels like it just highlights everything else that needs cleaning! Suddenly I see dust on the sills or streaks I missed. Anyone else find that it’s a bit of a double-edged sword?
Guess it comes with the territory of living in an older place—always something to wipe down or touch up. Still, when it’s done, there’s nothing quite like sitting back and enjoying the view... streaks or not.
That sunlight thing gets me every time—thought I was done cleaning but then a random streak or dust patch jumps out at me. Is it just me, or do old wood sills always seem to collect stuff overnight? I tried a toothbrush too, but now I’m wondering if there’s something better for those corners. Has anyone ever tried those tiny detail brushes for cars on window tracks?
I’ve tried those car detailing brushes, but honestly, I didn’t find them much more effective than a regular toothbrush for window sills. They’re great for super tight spots, but the bristles tend to be softer and sometimes just push the dust around. What’s worked better for me is using a vacuum with a crevice tool first—gets most of the debris out before I go in with anything else. Old wood sills really are dust magnets though... maybe it’s just the way they age and get micro-cracks.
- I get what you mean about the car brushes—sometimes they just move the dust around, not actually pick it up.
- For my old sills (house from the 50s), I use a combo:
• First, a vacuum with the brush attachment for loose stuff
• Then, a slightly damp microfiber cloth to grab what’s left
• If there’s grime in cracks, a wooden skewer wrapped in the cloth works better than any brush I’ve tried
- Those tiny cracks are relentless... wood just seems to hold onto everything over time.
Honestly, it’s kind of satisfying when you finally get them looking clean for more than a day.
That wooden skewer trick is genius—never thought of that, but it makes total sense for those stubborn grooves. I’ve seen folks go at it with old toothbrushes, but honestly, sometimes that just pushes the gunk around and scratches up the paint. The combo of vacuum and microfiber is solid; I’ve also used a tiny bit of dish soap in warm water for spots that just won’t budge, but you gotta be careful not to soak the wood. There’s something weirdly rewarding about seeing all that old grime finally disappear… even if it creeps back way too fast.
There’s something weirdly rewarding about seeing all that old grime finally disappear… even if it creeps back way too fast.
Totally get what you mean—sometimes I clean a window frame and literally two days later there’s dust again. I tried using a little beeswax polish after cleaning, and it actually seemed to slow down the grime buildup. Ever tried that? Also, I’m with you on the toothbrush thing... I scratched up a sill once and regretted it for weeks. Anyone have luck with those silicone detail brushes, or are they just another gadget?
Not sure I’m sold on the beeswax polish trick, honestly. I tried it once on a client’s old wood sashes—smelled great, but after a week the dust just stuck to it in a different way. Felt like I’d traded one kind of grime for another, only now it was shinier and harder to wipe off. Maybe it works better on certain finishes? My place is all painted frames and the polish just made ‘em look greasy.
About those silicone detail brushes... I picked up a set from one of those “as seen on TV” racks thinking they’d be magic. They’re okay for getting into corners, but honestly, a good old rag wrapped around a butter knife does the job just as well and doesn’t end up lost in the junk drawer. Plus, those silicone bristles can bend out of shape pretty quick if you put any muscle into it.
Funny thing about toothbrushes—I’ve scratched up more than one window sill myself. Once used my wife’s “old” toothbrush (she was not amused) and left little marks all over the trim. Ended up sanding and repainting that spot. Lesson learned: if you’re going to use a toothbrush, make sure it’s super soft or you’ll regret it.
I’ve had best luck with microfiber cloths and a bit of diluted dish soap for regular cleanups. Nothing fancy, but at least I’m not adding another weird cleaning product to my shelf. If anyone figures out how to keep dust off window frames for more than a week though… that’s the holy grail right there.