The best window

Cleaning the windows is an easily forgotten task, so if your glass has gotten dull and grubby behind your back you’ll need the best window-cleaning tools to get them sparkling again. Once you’ve decided to restore your panes to their former glory, you might encounter a few problems along the way. There are the hard-to-reach outsides, finicky corners to get at, large glass doors to deal with, stubborn grime and streaks, as well as mirrors and shower doors that also need seeing to. Worry not, however, because our roundup of window-cleaning tools has been put together with all these problems in mind, offering solutions for everyone.

But with so many different types of window-cleaning tools available, ranging from simple squeegees to motorised gadgets and extendable brushes, it can be hard to know what solution is suitable. If you’re unsure about what kind of tools you need, check out our handy buying guide just down the page. Below this, you’ll find mini-reviews of our favourite window-cleaning tools, where we assess their cleaning power, value for money and any extras or special features they might have.

There are a couple factors to consider when purchasing window-cleaning equipment, which will make choosing the right product much easier in the first instance.

Window square metres: Consider how big your window-cleaning job is. Houses with smaller windows or less glass to clean will be handily served by manual cleaning options, such as squeegees, cloths and brushes. If you’re dealing with large glass doors or multiple stories of windows, then an electric cleaning tool like a glass vacuum cleaner or a steam cleaner might be required to get through things at a reasonable pace. Notably, second floor windows are tricky and sometimes dangerous to clean – an extendable cleaning brush is the ideal solution.

Versatility: Every cleaner on this list does an excellent job of cleaning a glass pane, so don't worry about that. However, while you’re already geared up to clean your windows it could be handy to have a go over your tiles, clean your grout or tackle your floors and furniture. If you like to get a lot done with little, keep an eye out for multipurpose tools and full cleaning kits in the list below.

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If you’re going with a simple spray, cloth and squeegee setup, you can get yourself a high-quality set for around £10 to £15, or under a tenner if you aren't fussy about getting the best microfibre cloths. Full kits, extendable brushes and cleaning tools with extra attachments and extensions tend to run to between £20 and £50.

If, like Dylan, you’re ready to go electric, you can get cordless window vacuum cleaners starting as low as £20, with snazzier models costing roughly between £50 and £80. Alternatively, a multipurpose steam cleaner is a great option that tends to cost between £60 and £300 for solid, standard models. Our best steam cleaner roundup has more information and options for this type of cleaner.

We understand the impulse to clean your windows on a warm, sunny day. It's nice to get out in the sun, and the bright light makes it easier to spot dirt and marks. However, warm temperatures and bright sunlight will dry your windows too quickly as you’re cleaning, which is what leads to the streaks we’re trying to avoid. So, for the clearest clean, you’ll want to tackle the windows on a cool, cloudy day.

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Price when reviewed: £62 | Check price at Amazon

If you’re looking for a simple and reliable way to get your windows sparkling clean and streak-free, this window vacuum from Bosch is the ideal tool for the job. It comes with a handy two-in-one spray applicator and cleaning cloth, as well as 30ml of detergent. Once misted and wiped with the spray applicator, your windows are ready to be squeegeed and vacuumed with the main device, which should leave them looking as good as new.

The GlassVac's squeegee wiper blade is the same one from Bosch's automotive range, and provides sturdy and efficient cleaning worthy of your car windshield. The squeegee blade is also well shaped, making it easy to get right to the edges of window frames to reach grime.

The vacuum itself is lightweight, cleans smoothly, and works on a range of glass surfaces as well as tiles, making it easy to get through a large surface area in the device's respectable 30 minute battery life. This window vacuum is a solid investment for those who want to clean large areas of glass and tile quickly, thoroughly and without breaking a sweat.

Key details – Weight: 700g; Capacity: 100ml; Blade width: 13.3cm; Battery life: 30mins; Extra attachments: Yes

Price when reviewed: £30 | Check price at Amazon

The brush is lightweight but sturdy and has a snap-on connector for attaching to a hosepipe, with a built-in switch on the handle regulating the flow of water. From there, it's just a matter of picking the right attachment for the job. This model comes with three cleaning heads: a bristled brush for rougher surfaces, a sponge head for washing and a squeegee attachment for securing a streak-free finish.

Key details – Weight: 1.1kg; Length: 1.23m–3m; Extra attachments: Yes

Price when reviewed: £215 | Check price at Amazon

Thanks to its different attachments, the Vaporetto can bring its impressive cleaning power to bear mopping floors, cleaning rugs and carpets, tiled floors and, of course, glass and windows, thanks to its rubber blade brush head. If you’re interested in purchasing a multipurpose steam cleaner, be sure to check out our full roundup of the best steam cleaners.

Key details – Weight: 5kg; Capacity: 2L; Extra attachments: Yes

Price when reviewed: £40 | Check price at Amazon

If you’re starting completely from scratch with your cleaning supplies or you’re the type of person who likes to be fully prepared before taking on a task, then a window-cleaning kit might be the purchase for you.

This kit from Mr. Siga comes with everything you’ll need to tackle windows and glass surfaces of any variety. It includes a wide, flexible silicone squeegee; a 30cm wide microfibre brush; a coarsely bristled scrub brush with a detachable grout brush; a spray bottle with an adjustable nozzle for spraying and misting; and two microfibre cloths for general cleaning and delicate jobs. Finally, this all comes with a handy plastic caddy that can be used for storage or to hold up to 15L of water while cleaning.

Key details – Weight: 1.9kg; Blade width: 30cm; Extra attachments : Yes

Price when reviewed: £9 | Check price at Amazon

For budgetary or clutter reasons, you might not want to invest in a whole arsenal of window-cleaning tools. However, if you want your windows looking shiny and clear, one item that's always worth purchasing is a good-quality squeegee. This OXO all-purpose squeegee is very reasonably priced and comes in a range of forms including a mini version and a wiper blade version.

The all-purpose squeegee is perfect for shower doors and bathroom surfaces, as well as glass doors and windows. It has a wide, flexible blade, is lightweight and, as the name suggests, has a well-shaped, easy-to-grip handle. It's also easily tidied away, coming with a handy suction hook for storage. With this in hand, all you’ll need to achieve squeaky clean windows is a good-quality cloth or sponge and some decent glass window cleaner – check out our roundup of the best window cleaners for the best options.

Key details – Weight: 114g; Blade width: 25.5cm; Extra attachments: No

Price when reviewed: £5.59 | Check price at Amazon

The cheapest and simplest way to get cleaner, clearer windows is to purchase some good-quality microfibre cloths. Microfibre cloths are suited to cleaning glass because they’re soft enough that they won't leave scratches or marks, while having fine enough fibres to polish, clean and catch every last speck of dust. Beyond that, they’re also a dab hand at shining taps and shower heads, as well as cleaning general bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

We like these cloths in particular because they’re absorbent and well sized for cleaning large surface areas, as well as being reusable and long lasting. What's more, each pack comes with cloths in four random colours, ideal if you want a little more excitement in your life

Key details – Quantity: 4pk; Size: 30cm x 40cm; Material: Microfibre; Extra attachments: No

Price when reviewed: £40 | Check price at Argos

Key details – Weight: 1kg; Capacity: 60ml; Battery life: 30mins; Extra attachments: No

Check price at Argos