How to Clean Window Sills
Window sills are one of those spots in your home that tend to collect dust, dirt, and even mildew, but thankfully they’re easy to clean once you know the right steps. With just a little effort, your sills can look fresh and bright again, both inside and out.
If you’re on my email list you saw where I mentioned we are selling the marsh house and moving soon. As I started to get the house ready for showings I had to repeatedly clean our window sills, and there are a TON of them in our Victorian-style home!
As I was cleaning, I thought I would write up some simple tips to help you keep your window sills sparkling too!
Cleaning indoor window sills
Start indoors with a quick dusting. Use a small vacuum attachment or a microfiber cloth to remove loose dirt, pet hair, and crumbs that gather in the corners.
If your sills have built-up grime, mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water and dip in a soft cloth or sponge. Wipe down the surface thoroughly, paying attention to the edges and corners where dust loves to hide.
A Magic Eraser can work wonders on grime as well. We have two dogs that love looking out of our lower windows and I need to break out the Magic Eraser at least once a week on their favorite windows!
For the most stubborn spots, a soft-bristled toothbrush can work wonders too. Once the dirt is gone, dry the sill with a clean towel to prevent water spots or streaks.
Cleaning exterior window sills
For exterior window sills, you’ll often deal with tougher dirt, pollen, or even bird droppings. Most of our exterior window sills are under our covered porches but they still get dirty SO quickly.
Begin by rinsing the sill with a garden hose or a bucket of water to loosen debris. Then, create a mild cleaning solution of dish soap and warm water. Scrub with a sponge or stiff brush, especially if you’re tackling mildew or dried-on dirt.
I recently received a Casabella Power Spin Scrubber and a Detail Power Spin Scrubber to review and this was the perfect job to try it out on. It made cleaning the window sills SO much faster with a lot less elbow grease. I like the different attachments it came with and it is rechargeable and cordless so it was easy to carry around the house.
I highly recommend the Casabella Detail Power Spin Scrubber for cleaning tight spaces like those corners of window sills where grime builds up. It’s great for around faucets, toilet hinges, etc, as well!
For stains that won’t budge, a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water can help break them down naturally. Rinse thoroughly with clean water once you’re finished to avoid residue, and let the sill air-dry.
Window sill maintenance
A little regular maintenance goes a long way.
Wiping down your window sills once a month indoors and giving the outside a good scrub each season helps keep the grime from building up on your window sills (as mentioned in my fall cleaning checklist and spring cleaning checklist!) It’s a simple way to instantly makes your windows—and your whole room—look cleaner and brighter.
