Washing windows typically ranks among people’s least favorite and most dreaded chores. The task can be frustrating, but the payoff of squeaky-clean windows greatly improves the appearance of your home, making it worth the work. If you’ve got cleaning the windows on your to-do list, you may also be searching for products to make the job easier. And there’s a specific type of magnetic window cleaner making the rounds on social media that purports to be the miracle product you’ve been looking for.
These double-sided tools use magnets to adhere to both sides of a window, allowing you, in theory, to clean exterior glass from inside your home. I was intrigued, so I got my hands on?the Baffect Double-Sided Magnetic Window Cleaner to see for myself if it’s the genius solution to the dreaded chore of window washing it looks to be on social media.
Spoiler alert: It is not.
Magnetic window cleaners are designed to clean both the interior and exterior glass of windows in one go. While clever in theory, in testing, I found the window cleaning tool to be deeply flawed. It's worth noting that our social team tried a similar gadget and had better luck, so your results may vary —?use it at your own discretion.
What I didn’t like about it
The magnet strength was rubbish
On the first pass with the magnetic window cleaner, the exterior piece fell off the window almost immediately. After retrieving it, I tried again, moving the unit more slowly across the glass, thinking that perhaps the problem was that I moved it too quickly instead of working in slow strokes.
The magnet held on more tightly with a slower stroke but when I bumped the window frame, the exterior piece fell off again. This time, the microfiber cleaning pad, which had become dislodged on its first fall, fell off completely. Upon inspection, it turned out that the plastic clip holding the pad in place had also fallen off the magnetic window cleaner.
In just two passes of a small section of a window, the tool was broken.
It didn’t work on windows
Because the magnets were not strong enough, the tool proved to be useless at cleaning windows. It’s possible that it could be successfully used to clean glass shower doors, which are not as thick as window panes, but because the magnet can become disengaged so easily when bumping into metal framing, I would not recommend this tool for that use. If the exterior piece falls onto a tile or stone floor, it could easily cause cracks or chips, which would be costly to repair or replace.
The squeegee mechanism was useless
The center of the magnetic window cleaner is fitted with a rubber “squeegee,” which I put in quotes because to call it a squeegee is actually an insult to the fine name of squeegees.
I can see what the designers were thinking when they placed a cleaning pad on the bottom corner and a rubber strip in the center to wick away water and cleaning —?but in practice, it simply did not work. Instead of leaving my windows cleaned and polished, the tool left them covered in suds and water.
It pinched my fingers —?painfully!
The usage instructions warn that the strong magnets can pinch and clamp down, cautioning users to be mindful of their fingers. I was mindful of my fingers and they still managed to get pinched —?painfully —?in between the two parts. From a safety standpoint alone, I would not recommend this tool to anyone.
What I recommend instead
When it comes to washing windows, experts recommend sticking to tried and true methods. But there are some ways to make the job easier, including using your vacuum (with the right attachments, of course)?and buying products that make washing exterior windows easier by eliminating the need for a ladder.
We don't often think of vacuum cleaners as a tool for maintaining windows, but it's a perfect tool for quickly removing heavy buildup on windows. Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a soft brush attachment to remove environmental soils like dust, dirt, smoke, film, soot or salt spray. If your vacuum did not come with a soft brush attachment, you can purchase one separately.
After vacuuming soil and debris from the glass, apply a liquid window and glass cleaner to the surface. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the windows in a circular motion.
If you don’t want to use your vacuum, you can also use a dry microfiber cloth to remove dirt, dust and other debris. Then, spray the window with glass cleaner and wipe the surface with the microfiber cloth, working in straight lines from top to bottom.
Squeegees are a good alternative to microfiber cloths for window and glass cleaning. After applying glass cleaner, use a squeegee to remove the cleaning solution. To avoid streaks and water spots, avoid cleaning glass in direct sunlight — the heat from the sun can dry the glass cleaner before you can remove it, leaving windows streaky and spotted.
Windex’s Outdoor Glass & Patio Cleaner is designed to attach directly to a garden hose for window cleaning — no ladder required! The sprayer is fitted with a dial that allows you to easily switch between rinsing and cleaning. To use, start by rinsing the windows with water, followed by a 15-second application of the cleaning solution, then rinse again and allow to dry.
Bottom line
Save your money —?and your fingers! While great in theory, the Baffect Double-Sided Magnetic Window Cleaner fell short in just about every way. There are better ways to get windows, glass shower doors and other double-sided glass surfaces clean, and I can’t think of a single reason to recommend someone buy this product. Ultimately, when it comes to cleaning windows, we recommend sticking with expert-backed tried and true products: glass cleaner, microfiber cloths and squeegees.
