Keep your windows streak-free with one cheap item

One easy way to maximise how much sunlight you're seeing is to keep your windows streak-free and clean all year round so you can enjoy the benefits of sunlight pouring into your home.

The sight of a grimy streak on your window, obstructing your view of the dwindling sunlight as the nights draw in and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) threatens, is far from ideal.

One simple method to maximise your exposure to sunlight is to maintain clean, streak-free windows throughout the year, allowing you to bask in the glow of natural light flooding into your home.

This doesn't mean you need to shell out hundreds for regular professional window cleaning. In fact, there's something you likely already have at home that can do the job for free.

The outcome? A perfectly streak-free window, with all traces of grease, grime and water marks banished by the rough texture of the paper and warm water, reports the Express.

I've been advised to simply use hot water and crumpled newspaper - broadsheet or otherwise - to get windows gleaming quickly and inexpensively.

All you need to do is fill a bucket - I often use a mop bucket - with hand-hot water. Depending on your type of glass, you might be able to use hotter water.

However, if you have listed windows or anything other than double glazing, boiling hot water could potentially damage or crack the glass.

All you need to do is scrunch up a generous handful of newspaper, dunk it in hot water and give your window a thorough rub with plenty of pressure.

Now, this method does demand some serious effort and you'll likely work up quite a sweat if you're tackling every window in your home.

However, this is arguably a modest cost for what is essentially a completely free window cleaning approach.

You might also want to pop on some gloves as the newspaper ink can stain your hands after a while, though the brilliant news is it won't mark the window itself.

This method also differs in how well it works depending on the time of year.

I've attempted this during the peak of summer, and the hot water can disappear from the window in mere seconds, creating a much lengthier and more irritating ordeal.

So, this might be a job better left for milder summer days or the changing seasons.

One Reddit user backed me up, writing "Newspaper in my opinion is still the best way to clean glass.I've tried every kind of cloth but always go back to newspaper."

Another added:" In my experience, this is the only way to seemingly be streak free."

If you fancy upgrading your approach a level, you can mix in white wine vinegar to your hot water blend - though I've attempted this and not noticed it make a significant difference to the result.