Clear glass for the holiday season
Fog over Lake Lucerne, candles on the table, fairy lights in the window – and suddenly every streak on the glass appears. If you want to enjoy the view of Luzern and the surrounding area during the festive season, your windows need a bit of winter preparation.
This compact guide walks you through simple, home-based ways to keep your windows clean until Christmas – and shows you when it makes sense to call in professionals like GlasRein.
Why winter is tough on your windows
In winter, your windows are under pressure from three directions:
- Indoor humidity Cooking, showering and drying clothes increase moisture in the air. It ends up as condensation on cold glass.
- Cold outdoor temperatures Cold exterior, warm interior air – the perfect mix for fogged-up windows.
- Dirt from outside Fine dust, road salt, rain and snow all leave a film on the glass.
A proper clean at the right time reduces your workload for the rest of the season.
Preparation: frames, seals and window sills
Before you start with the glass itself, set things up properly:
- Vacuum dust and cobwebs
- Wipe the window sill with a damp cloth
- Clean rubber seals with lukewarm water and a drop of dish soap
- Quickly check hinges and handles – everything moving smoothly?
Avoid harsh chemicals on seals and frames. They shorten the lifetime of the components without improving the result.
5-step winter cleaning plan for your windows
Step 1: Choose the right day
- Dry weather, no direct, strong sunlight on the glass
- Bright but cloudy winter day is ideal
- If it is very cold: focus on the inside, postpone the outside
Step 2: Keep the solution simple
Bucket with lukewarm water, plus:
- 1–2 drops of dish soap
- optional: a small splash of household vinegar or alcohol to reduce streaks
No complex mix of products, no heavy perfumes. Simple solutions are easier to control.
Step 3: Wash the glass
- Use a soft sponge or wash leather
- Apply the solution evenly from top to bottom
- Loosen insect marks and stubborn spots with a bit more pressure
Step 4: Squeegee like a pro
- Start at the top edge
- Pull the squeegee down in one smooth stroke
- Wipe the rubber blade after every stroke
- Finish edges and corners with a microfibre cloth
This gives clean surfaces without streaks and without double work.
Step 5: Keep the inside under control
Instead of doing a full deep-clean every time:
- Remove fingerprints and splashes as they appear
- Do a quick full inside clean every two to three weeks
- Keep bucket, squeegee and microfibre cloth in one fixed place
That way your windows stay holiday-ready with minimal extra effort.
Home remedies that work – and what to skip
Good options:
- Lukewarm water with a small amount of dish soap
- A little vinegar or alcohol to combat streaks
- Quality microfibre cloths for the final polish
Not worth it:
- Newspaper (ink and fibres, outdated trick)
- Strong kitchen cleaners (can damage seals and frames)
- Highly perfumed cleaners (often leave a film on the glass)
The simplest approach usually wins: basic solution, structured process, good tools.
Condensation, fogged-up windows and mould
Clean glass is one thing. Keeping it dry is another. Three key levers:
- Ventilate properly
- Open windows fully for 5–10 minutes several times a day
- Especially after cooking, showering and drying laundry
- Avoid leaving windows tilted all day – it cools the reveals without improving the air much
- Do not block radiators
- Avoid heavy curtains directly in front of the window
- Do not overload the window sill with decoration
- Warm air needs direct access to the glass
- Remove moisture immediately
- Wipe away condensation at the bottom of the window regularly
- Keep an eye on corners and silicone joints
- Persistent moisture is the first stage towards mould
Safety: when to hand the job to professionals
Clear limits for DIY:
- High facades
- Large glass fronts
- Street-facing shop windows
- Roof windows and hard-to-reach elements
The risk of falling, breaking glass or damaging frames is real – and more expensive than a professional cleaning.
This is where professionals have a clear edge: proper equipment, safety training, experience. That is exactly why GlasRein operates in Luzern and surroundings.
Clean windows for the holidays – with or without a pro
If you have the time, tools and motivation, this plan will get your windows into solid shape before Christmas.
If you prefer to outsource the job because
- you do not want to climb ladders,
- your schedule is already full,
- or you manage a whole house, office or shopfront in Luzern and surroundings,
GlasRein can take over.
Learn more about who we are and how we work: https://www.glasrein.ch/en/about
More tips and articles about window and glass care: https://www.glasrein.ch/en/blog
For a concrete offer in Luzern and the surrounding area: https://www.glasrein.ch/en/services
https://www.glasrein.ch/en/contact-us
If you still have questions, our FAQ might already have the answer: https://www.glasrein.ch/en/faq
That is how you go into winter: with a clear view, not cloudy glass.