How to Clean Apartment Windows You Can't Reach From Outside
10.07.2026
To clean apartment windows you can't reach from outside, work entirely from inside: open the sash if it tilts in, or use an extendable squeegee and a magnetic window cleaner for fixed panes. Spray a vinegar-and-water or ammonia-free glass solution, wipe top to bottom, and finish with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free result.
What you'll need
- Glass cleaner (store-bought, or a DIY mix of one part white vinegar to two parts water)
- Two microfiber cloths — one for washing, one for buffing dry
- A squeegee with a rubber blade (a small one fits narrow NYC windows)
- An extendable pole or telescoping squeegee for high or fixed panes
- A magnetic window cleaner (two-sided) if your window doesn't open at all
- A bucket of warm water with a drop of dish soap for the first pass
- An old towel to catch drips on the sill and radiator below
- Rubber gloves and a step stool (never a chair on a slick floor)
Step by step
- Clear the sill and radiator. Move plants, mugs, and anything sitting on the steam radiator many NYC windows sit above. Lay your towel across it to catch runoff.
- Dust the frame and track first. Wipe the frame, sash, and window track with a dry cloth. Washing over gritty dust just smears mud across the glass.
- Check if your sash tilts in. Many double-hung apartment windows unlock and tilt inward for cleaning. Release the tilt latches at the top of the lower sash and gently pull it toward you — now the outside face is reachable from your living room.
- Wash the first pass. Dip a cloth in the soapy water, wring it out, and wipe the whole pane to lift grime. Do the outer face first if it tilted in.
- Spray and squeegee. Mist glass cleaner on, then pull the squeegee from top to bottom in slightly overlapping strokes, wiping the blade on your towel after each pull.
- Reach fixed panes. For windows that don't open, run the extendable squeegee across the outside, or use a magnetic cleaner: the inside half drags the outside half across the glass.
- Buff dry. Wipe edges and corners with a dry microfiber cloth to catch drips and clear streaks.
- Reset the room. Retilt and lock the sash, wipe the sill, and remove the towel from the radiator before turning heat back on.
What NOT to do
- Don't clean in direct sun. The solution dries before you can wipe it, baking in streaks. Pick an overcast hour or work in shade.
- Don't lean out a non-opening or gated window. If it doesn't tilt in and you can't reach safely from inside, stop — no window is worth hanging over a ledge.
- Don't spray cleaner onto painted or wood frames and let it sit. It can lift old paint and swell wood. Spray the cloth, not the frame.
- Don't use a razor blade on tempered or coated glass. It can scratch permanently. For stuck paint specks, soak and use a plastic scraper.
- Don't rest a squeegee or wet cloth on a hot steam radiator. Wait until it's cool, and never let water pool where it meets the wall.
When to call a pro
DIY covers the inside face and any pane you can reach safely from your floor. It stops at true exterior glass on a high floor, painted-shut sashes that won't tilt, or a wall of windows in a walk-up with no safe footing. Trying to lean out a fifth-floor window with a squeegee is where a Saturday chore becomes an ER visit — and many buildings prohibit it in the lease anyway. If your windows are out of safe reach or you'd rather hand off the whole apartment, book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale and let an insured team handle it.
FAQ
What's the best homemade window cleaner for apartment glass?
A mix of one part white vinegar to two parts water in a spray bottle works well on standard glass and skips the strong smell of ammonia in a small, poorly ventilated room. Wipe with microfiber, not paper towel, which sheds lint.
How do I clean windows that don't open?
Use a two-sided magnetic window cleaner: one half sits inside, the other clings to the outside through the glass, so moving the inside piece cleans both faces at once. A telescoping squeegee also reaches the outside from an adjacent opening window.
Why do my windows still look streaky after cleaning?
Streaks usually come from too much cleaner, cleaning in direct sun, or a dirty cloth. Use less solution, work in shade, and finish with a dry microfiber cloth, buffing corners last where drips collect.
How often should I clean apartment windows?
In NYC, street grime and radiator dust build fast, so the inside face benefits from a wipe every four to six weeks. A fuller wash of both faces two to three times a year keeps them clear.
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