Mix a gallon of hot water and a nickel-sized drop of dish soap to clean any window like this pro does. Consider your tools—make sure they are not so big that they become unwieldy and unhelpful.

There's no need to limit yourself to a traditional loose-string mop, wet mops can range from flat ones that are gentler on delicate hardwood to cheap and easy-to-use strip mops with built-in wringers.

We recruited staffers to take these devices home and compare them with their usual cleaning products. None was a home run for home cleaning. (The costs below don't factor in any shipping and handling.

With advice from a professional cleaner, we’ve rounded up the best cleaning methods, products, and tools to leave every glass surface in your home sparkling.