Most every house has windows, but how to clean them?

For squeeky-clean, streak-free windows, get a lambswool window cleaner or scrubber (available at the Home Depot and other home-improvement of hardware stores) and a squeegee, recommends Betty Nicholson of the Mothers Cleaning Co-op.

Dip the lambswool cleaner into the cleaning solution and apply it to the window; up, down, then sideways back and forth. The dirt is trapped in the wool. Then, use the squeegee to remove excess moisture. Wipe the squeegee blade after each pass.

During winter months, grime especially tends to build up on the outside of windows. Mark Borchin – the Glass Doctor of Gold Country – offers this battle plan to tackle windows, inside and out.

First, get your tools in order.

"Before you begin, you'll need a pencil, a bucket, soap, glass cleaner, a soft bristle brush, a water hose and a squeegee or microfiber towel," Borchin said.

• Remove all the window screens, so you can wash them first. Label the inside of each screen frame with a pencil, so you know where each one belongs when it comes time to put them back.

• Spray the screens with the water hose to loosen dirt, spider webs, dead bugs and debris. Then, use the soft- bristle brush and a bucket of soapy water to scrub away grime. Be gentle; you don't want to damage or stretch the screens. Finally, rinse off the screens and let them air dry.

• While the screens dry, tackle the outside of the windows. Using a clean, dry cloth, spray your cleaner directly on the glass and wipe the window from top to bottom. A dry cloth works best because – unlike brushes, razors or steel wool – it won't damage the glass, Borchin said.

• Dry the windows as you go, using either a squeegee or a microfiber towel, although any clean cloth will work. (Cloth diapers and old cotton T-shirts are great.) Wipe the window until all of the glass cleaner and water are gone. Clean coffee filters work well to remove remaining lint.

• Go indoors and wash the inside glass. Then, replace the window screens according to your labels.

"If you wiped vertically outside, wipe horizontally inside," Borchin added. "Then you'll know whether the missed spot is on the inside or outside."

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