Windows that are cleaned regularly can boost the aesthetics of your home. If you’ve been spraying or rubbing away with paper towels, here are some new techniques that can make your window washing less of a hassle.

Using spray and paper towels is one of the most inefficient ways of washing windows, and the way most people do it. Something soft to wash with and a squeegee for rinsing are all you really need. A washcloth you use by hand or a thick, soft applicator like you might use to wash a car work well. Hot water with a drop or two of dishwashing liquid will cut residue on the window. Don’t work up a lot of suds like you might use when washing dishes to avoid leaving a film. Wash the window with the water and soap and then use the squeegee to remove it. It’s that simple.

For large windows like picture windows, wash the surface and the start at the top left corner. Pull the squeegee across the top to the right. Use a lint-free cloth like an old napkin to wipe the blade after each swipe. Start just below where you ended up and pull the squeegee back to the left side of the window. Continue down the window this way, and once you’re at the bottom, use the cloth to wipe any drips at the bottom and sides of the window frame.

Smaller windows with dividers call for smaller squeegees. You can purchase special small models or just cut a larger one to the size you need. Be sure you cut the frame a little smaller than the rubber blade so that it protrudes at each end by about an eighth of an inch. When you squeegee your cleaning solution from small panes, pull the squeegee straight down, working from the left to the right, using the same technique. For tough mineral stains, you can try a powdered cleanser that won’t scratch the glass. Make a paste of the cleanser and use a damp cloth to scrub away the stain, rinse and squeegee.

Don’t forget to clean the window panes. Wash and squeegee just as you would the windows. And while you’re cleaning the windows, why not pull out the screens and clean them? They get dusty and dingy and can detract from the appearance of your sparkling windows. Scrub them in hot, soapy water and hose off. Tap them several times and let air dry.

You can use squeegees for washing windows indoors and out. But for upper level windows, if you’d rather not climb a ladder, a pressure washer is ideal. Or use a device with an extension handle that will let you both wash and squeegee from the ground. When washing windows this way, wash the upper level windows first and wait a bit for the runoff to stop before washing windows on the bottom floor.