To clean a window or mirror without leaving a trail of lint behind, keep the rag moving in a smooth circular motion, not back and forth. Changing direction is what breaks off the tiny fibers that become lint. Even starting and stopping creates lint. See this for yourself by squirting a small spot with cleaner, then scrubbing it back and forth with a paper towel. You’ll soon see a little pile of lint right where you changed direction.
It doesn’t matter whether you use paper towels, cloth towels, or old T-shirts. (I like to use paper towels and to add a single dry sheet to the wad as necessary.) Just keep moving in smooth circles, always in the same direction. Forget about expensive window-cleaning solutions; a quarter-cup of white vinegar in a quart spray bottle full of clean water works better than anything I have found. To avoid streaks, clean a small area with the damp towel, then polish it with a dry one before the streaks have a chance to dry on their own.
—GARY WILLIAMS, Campo, Calif.
Edited by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #261
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Using newsprint for cleaning glass is an old trick for avoiding streaks. Yes, vinegar will help prevent hard water deposits. I use ammonia in water to cut the grime build-up on the inside of car windows. But DON'T mix vinegar and ammonia. It's never a good idea to mix two reactive substances.
Some of the shop vac type companies have cordless gadgets to suck the water off smooth surfaces. I have one by Leifheit. This does a great job. Just need to wash the window and then use the vacuum to suck it dry.