Knowing how to clean windows properly saves you a lot of wasted effort in a Singapore home. Between the haze, construction dust, salty air near the coast and the fine grime that settles on grilles, glass here gets dull quickly. This guide covers a reliable method for clear glass, how to deal with grilles and sliding tracks, and the safety rules every household with a helper must follow.

Most people who struggle with windows are not short of effort. They are using too much product, working in direct sun, or wiping with the wrong cloth. Fix those three things and the job becomes quicker and the result far better.

Safety comes first, and in Singapore it is not only common sense but law. Many of us live in high-rise flats, and the Ministry of Manpower has strict rules about helpers cleaning the outside of windows. We set those out clearly below, because getting them wrong can cost a life.

Safety first: MOM rules on window cleaning for helpers

If you employ a migrant domestic worker, the rules on window cleaning are part of your obligations as an employer. According to the Ministry of Manpower’s written answer on MDW fall statistics and safety, employers must not allow their helper to clean the exterior of any window unless two conditions are met:

the window has a grille, and the grille is locked throughout the cleaning; and
an adult is present to supervise the cleaning.

These rules have applied since June 2012. Windows at ground level or along common corridors are exempt. Employers who breach the requirements can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to 12 months, and may be barred from employing a helper. Employers also sign a safety agreement with their helper, committing to these limits.

In practice, we suggest a simple house rule that goes further: nobody in the home, helper or family member, leans or reaches out of a window, stands on a ledge, or climbs onto a chair or stool next to an open window. If the outside of a pane cannot be reached safely from inside with the grille locked, leave it. Rain and a long handled tool from inside do more than you might think, and a professional with proper equipment can handle the rest.

What you need

You do not need a cupboard full of products. A short, dependable kit works for almost every window in an HDB flat, condominium or landed home:

a bucket of warm water with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid;
a spray bottle with a mix of plain water and white vinegar, roughly half and half, for mineral marks and light grease;
two or three clean microfibre cloths, one for washing and at least one dry for buffing;
a rubber squeegee, ideally with a telescopic handle so you never need to stretch;
a soft brush or old toothbrush for corners, grilles and tracks;
a vacuum with a crevice tool.

Avoid abrasive scouring pads, steel wool and powders on glass, tinted film or window frames. They leave fine scratches that catch the light and make the glass look dirtier over time.

How to clean windows without streaks, step by step

Streaks almost always come from leftover detergent, dirty water or glass drying before you wipe it. This sequence avoids all three.

Pick the right time. Clean on a cloudy morning or when the window is in shade. Hot glass dries the solution in seconds and leaves marks.
Dry dust first. Vacuum the sill and track, and wipe loose dust off the frame and glass with a dry cloth. Wet dust turns into mud.
Wash the glass. Wipe the pane with a cloth dipped in the soapy water and well wrung out. Use very little detergent, because excess soap is the main cause of a hazy film.
Squeegee straight away. Start at the top corner and pull the squeegee across or down in overlapping strokes. Wipe the blade on a dry cloth after every stroke.
Treat stubborn marks. For water spots, mineral rings or sticky fingerprints, mist the vinegar mix on the spot, leave it for a minute, then wipe and squeegee again.
Buff the edges. Run a dry microfibre cloth around the edges and corners where the squeegee leaves a line of water.
Check from an angle. Look at the glass from the side, not straight on. Streaks show up at an angle, so fix them now while your cloth is still dry.

Change the water as soon as it looks grey. Washing with dirty water simply spreads a thin layer of grime across the pane.

A note on cleaning products

If you use any ready made glass cleaner or bleach based product elsewhere in the room, never mix it with vinegar, ammonia or any other cleaner. Bleach combined with ammonia or acids releases toxic gases. Keep the windows open for ventilation, use one product at a time, and rinse surfaces with plain water before switching. On tinted or coated glass, test any solution on a small hidden corner first.

Cleaning window grilles

Grilles are where most of the dirt in a high-rise home actually sits. Dust, soot and the odd cobweb collect on every bar, and each time it rains some of that washes onto your glass.

Keep the grille locked throughout. You are cleaning it from the inside only.
Vacuum the bars with a brush attachment to lift loose dust.
Wipe each bar with a damp microfibre cloth wrapped around your hand like a mitten. This lets you clean both sides of a bar in one pass.
Use a soft brush dipped in soapy water for joints, hinges and decorative curls.
Wipe with plain water and dry with a cloth so water does not drip onto the clean glass.

Always clean the grille before the glass. Doing it the other way round means washing the window twice.

Sliding window tracks and frames

Sliding tracks trap sand, dead insects and black grime that make windows stiff and noisy. A clean track also makes it easier to spot problems early.

Open the window fully and vacuum the track with a crevice tool.
Loosen packed dirt with a dry toothbrush or a cotton bud, then vacuum again.
Wipe the track with a cloth dampened in soapy water. For greasy corners, a little vinegar mix on the cloth helps.
Dry the track completely. Standing water in a track invites mould in our humid climate.
Wipe the frame and the rubber seals with a damp cloth. Do not use solvents on seals, as they can dry out and crack.

Check your windows while you clean

Cleaning day is a good time for a quick safety check. The Building and Construction Authority advises homeowners to check and maintain windows at least once every six months. For sliding windows, check that the safety stoppers and angle strips are in their proper place. For casement windows, check that fasteners are not rusty or loose, and oil the joints and moving parts. BCA advises using an approved window contractor to replace worn safety stoppers or angle strips, and to change aluminium rivets on casement windows to stainless steel ones. If anything looks loose or damaged, stop using that window and call a contractor. Femme5 does not do window repairs.

Screens, film and other surfaces around the window

Mosquito screens can be vacuumed in place with a brush attachment, then wiped gently with a damp cloth. If they are removable and you can take them out safely from inside, wash them in the bathroom with soapy water and a soft brush, rinse, and let them dry fully before refitting.

Tinted or privacy film needs a gentler touch. Use only mild soapy water and a soft cloth, and skip the squeegee edge pressure along the film’s border so it does not lift. Old tape and decal marks on glass are a separate job; our guide on how to remove sticker residue covers it safely.

If you have blinds, clean them before the windows so falling dust lands where you are about to clean anyway. Our step by step guide on how to clean blinds covers the main types.

How often to clean windows in Singapore

A useful rhythm for most homes looks like this:

Weekly: wipe fingerprints at child height and dust the sills.
Monthly: clean the inside of the glass and wipe the grilles.
Every two to three months: a full clean of glass, grilles, tracks, frames and screens.
Every six months: add the BCA maintenance check described above.

Homes near a main road, a construction site or the sea will need the glass and grilles done more often. If you are setting up a weekly routine for a new helper, our guide on training your maid with simple cleaning routines is a good companion to this one, and it helps to talk through the window rules with her on the very first week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my helper clean the outside of my windows?

Only if the window has a grille that is locked throughout the cleaning and an adult is present to supervise, according to MOM’s rules. Windows at ground level or along common corridors are exempt. Breaching the rules can lead to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to 12 months’ jail, and possible debarment from employing a helper. Even when the conditions are met, she should never lean or reach out of the window.

Why do my windows still look streaky after cleaning?

The usual causes are too much detergent, dirty water, cleaning in direct sunlight, or using a cloth that sheds lint. Use only a few drops of dishwashing liquid, change the water when it turns grey, clean in shade, squeegee immediately, and buff the edges with a dry microfibre cloth. Checking the glass from an angle helps you catch streaks before you move on.

Is vinegar safe to use on windows?

A mix of water and white vinegar is fine on plain glass and helps lift mineral spots. Do not mix it with bleach or any other cleaner, because acids and bleach together release toxic gas. Keep it off natural stone sills such as marble, which acids can dull, and test it on a hidden corner first if your glass has a tint or coating.

How do I clean high windows I cannot reach?

Use a squeegee and microfibre pad on a telescopic handle from inside, with the grille locked and both feet on the floor. If your helper is cleaning the outside of the glass, an adult must also be present to supervise. Do not stand on chairs, stools or ledges beside an open window. Anything that still cannot be reached safely from inside should be left to a professional with proper access equipment.

Conclusion

Clear, streak free glass comes down to a simple order of work: dust first, grilles before glass, a light soapy wash, an immediate squeegee and a dry buff. Tracks and frames take a few extra minutes and keep your windows sliding smoothly, and the six monthly BCA check makes cleaning day double as a safety check.

Above all, treat window safety as non-negotiable. Keep grilles locked, never lean out, and make sure everyone in the household, including your helper, knows the MOM rules and why they exist.

Regular window care is much easier when the rest of the home is under control too. Femme5 also offers home cleaning in Singapore by the hour and deep cleaning for kitchens and bathrooms. Message our team for a quote.

The Femme5 Team
Home cleaning team, Femme5 Agency
Femme5 provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning for HDB flats, condominiums and landed homes across Singapore.

Femme5 Cleaning Team

Written by the home cleaning team at Femme5 Agency Pte Ltd, which provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning across Singapore.

How to Clean Windows: Streak-Free Glass, Grilles and Tracks