At the suggestion of a neighbor, you are days away from a consultation with the window treatment experts at Polar Shades – and you cannot wait to see their ideas for enlivening your home with color and design.

But you don’t want to have beautiful new shades installed on anything but sparkling clean windows.

Gather some common household tools

It's time to get to work and clean your indoor windows with one of the very best – and most economical – cleaning agents there are: white vinegar. If you've been using bottled window cleaner up until now, prepare to be amazed at how vinegar cuts through dirt and leaves your windows in a state of unparalleled clarity.

In addition to a bottle of vinegar, you will need:

• A spray bottle
• Rags, old towels, paper towels or a squeegee

First-time cleaning with vinegar requires one more step

If you've been using commercial windows cleaners, you must take one extra step –one time only to remove the thin, waxy residue these cleaners leave behind. If you don't, and proceed to clean your windows with vinegar, you will make streaks on your windows as the residue interacts with the vinegar.. Remove the built-up residue by:

• Placing rags or towels at the base of your windows to absorb drips
• Mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water in a 1-gallon bucket
• Adding 1 tablespoon of grease-fighting dish soap, which will help cut through the residue
• Dip a clean rag into the solution, wring it out, and wash your windows with the solution, making a Z-shaped pattern as you go from top to bottom
• Wipe the windows dry with paper towels or a squeegee (though some traditionalists maintain that newspaper is the best drying agent of all)

Regular window cleaning with vinegar

Once you remove the residue from your windows, using vinegar and water to keep your windows looking their best could not be easier. Simply:

• Mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle
• Spray the solution onto your window
• Dry the window with a paper towel or squeegee, wiping the blade after each stroke

What you have to look forward to

Many people assume they should clean their windows on a bright, sunny day, thinking the sun will direct their efforts. In actuality, the sun could evaporate the vinegar and water solution before you have a chance to dry your windows. So wait for a cloudy day – or at least a time when the sun is not shining directly onto your windows – for the best results.

When your windows sparkle and shine, your new window shades will stand the greatest chance of making you shine with pride of ownership. And that's news worth passing down the line to other neighbors who won't believe their eyes, either.