Cleaning our windows can be difficult sometimes, so who better than a cleaner from Buckingham Palace to give us some tips on how to perfectly polish windows? With over 775 rooms and hundreds of windows, it’s one of the most famous residences in the world—and it always looks immaculate. But how do they keep everything, especially the windows, so clean and clear?
We always appreciate an advice related to our homes and Anne Simmons, who worked as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace for ten years, recently shared a simple but effective cleaning tip that she used every day on the job: clean windows with distilled water.
A Royal Cleaning Trick Anyone Can Use
Anne explained that one of the biggest challenges in the palace was keeping the windows crystal-clear without leaving streaks, marks, or scratches. On top of that, they had to avoid using harsh chemicals, since some cleaning products can damage delicate glass over time or leave a residue behind.
So, what did Anne used to make this possible? Distilled water, you will only need to dampen a cloth with the water and gently wipe down the windows. No expensive sprays or fancy tools—just pure, clean water; and you will still get great results!
With just a bit of distilled water and a soft cloth, the windows looked clear, shiny, and streak-free—without having to scrub too hard or worry about damaging anything.
The secret of Distilled Water
I know what you are thinking, why distilled water? Many people use tap water to clean their windows, but this is a mistake because it contains minerals like calcium or magnesium. Do you something curious about these minerals? They are the ones leaving those ugly white marks and streaks on glass once the water dries. How annoying!
Thanks to the lack of these minerals on distilled water, you won’t find any spots, no streaks, and no weird residue on your windows. Plus, it is nice and gentle—perfect if you want to keep your fragile or older windows in good shape. Another bonus? It’s easy to find. You can grab a jug of distilled water at almost any supermarket or pharmacy, and it usually won’t cost much at all.
More Ways to Use Distilled Water at Home
While it is great for windows, distilled water can be useful for lots of other things around the house. Anne, along with other cleaning experts, recommends it for:
- Irons: Using tap water in your clothes iron can cause limescale to build up inside. That can damage the iron and even leave marks on your clothes. Distilled water helps prevent that, keeping the iron clean and working longer.
- Coffee makers and kettles: Like with irons, minerals in tap water can build up in these machines. Distilled water helps avoid that and can even make your drinks taste better.
- Humidifiers: Some humidifiers spray fine mist into the air. If you use regular water, it can spread mineral dust around your room. Distilled water stops that from happening.
- Electronic screens: For TVs, computer monitors, tablets, or phones, a soft cloth dampened with distilled water can safely clean screens without leaving streaks or damaging the surface.
Remember Anne’s tip!
No more expensive products and making a huge efforts, next time you clean your windows just grab a bit of distilled water and a soft cloth—that is all Anne used at Buckingham Palace, and it worked like a charm. As Anne, you could also share this tip with your family and friends, I’m sure they will appreciate it because cleaning windows is not an easy task.