I get this question all the time.
Everyone thinks us window cleaners have the secret formula, designed down to the molecule, for cleaning windows. And you know what? Some do. Some like to play chemist or whisper incantations into their solution to make it “perfect”. But I’d wager those cleaners are not the majority.
The majority of professionals use soap and water and a squeegee. This varies from business to business but it all boils down to that. Very few people I talk to even use that. They use that dreaded Windex (just say no) or some other “glass cleaner in a bottle”. Ease of use is thru the roof while results plummet into the ground.
For best results– use a rag, sponge, or other non scratch applicator to scrub window. Use a squeegee to remove water. Use a dry rag to clean up any excess. That’s the way window cleaners do it and you will keep your windows cleaner for longer this- there are no chemicals left on the windows for dirt to attach to!
However, what I recommend to most homeowners and business owners who are trying to maintain their windows is this: a microfiber rag and pure/distilled water. Both are found in many supermarkets and hardware stores. Spray the pure water onto the microfiber and rub it into the entire glass surface. You should have some leftover water that you can dry with the other side of the cloth. Why will this work better? Pure water, unlike other store bought glass cleaners, has nothing to leave behind on the glass. It is truly the only spray that “dries clear/streak free”. This is especially helpful on the inside of car windows because they often develop a film on the inside and the average squeegee is useless on concave surfaces.
TL/DR: Don’t use windex. If your windows aren’t terribly dirty you can use pure water and a microfiber cloth. If they are dirty, mix your favorite dish soap into water, apply it to the window firmly, and squeegee it off.
The Epilogue No One Asked For: This post was designed for the average homeowner and is greatly simplified from the point of view of a professional. If my colleagues saw this they would have a million “yeah, but”s. Some will use additives so the water doesn’t freeze, so it doesn’t evaporate too fast, so the solution will clean better in hard water, and so on and so forth. But if you’re reading this you probably don’t care THAT much. I didn’t want to get down to technique which is an important point as well but not really the subject of the real question being asked, “what supplies do you use that I can also use when I get home?”