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What cleaner can I use to wash the outside of our windows that will not harm our bushes/plants. Planning to use a bucket and a squeegee. TIA

I use a small amount of Dawn Dish soap in hot/warm water in a bucket. Window mop, Squeegee and microfiber cloths to touch dry any corner spots.

It is also what the pro window cleaning companies use for their buckets, btw.

On all our windows- in or out-In a bucket of water I add approx 1T of Murphy's oil soap and 1/2C of white vinegar. Cuts the dirt,gets them clean and no streaking -- of course you dont wash windows while they are in full sun.

A professional window cleaner told me he uses Dawn.

Actually, nothing.
I dampen one microfiber cloth and wipe windows (two bow window that must be done outside) and dry windows with a dry microfiber cloth.
You can have a small bucket with 1/2 cup white vinegar and triple water to use to dampen and rinse the wet micro.

sh windows,insid3 or out( which i as seldom as possiable, as I hate to do them!LOL), I use the hotest water my hands cand stand and a good splash of ammonia.I use one cloth to wash, one cloth to dry and one cloth to shine. To avoid streaks, I dry from top to bottom and then polish from side to side.
And never wash the windows on a sunny day.If the water gets too cool( and is still clen enough to use, I reheat on the stove.
HTH,
Mary

Wow...it would take me days to do our large windows without the extension pole with window mop and 16 inch squeegee blade! I get them each done in minutes, so it is not such a huge job. The insides stay very clean, so those only need once a year cleaning and occasional spotting for GD's finger prints. Cleaning screens and reinstalling does take longer on those windows that have them, however.

And sometimes I have needed to wash a window in the direct sun, and one just uses a LOT of water to keep the surface wet until it is squeegeed off. Window cleaners do it all the time, but definitely not using cloths to dry with. That would take too long and one would end up streaking the glass.

Has anyone mentioned the Windex-All-In-One-Product? Have only used it once - actually dh used it - connected to a garden hose AND it worked great in less than a fifth of the time it took me to do our many huge windows (7-10x8, 8-8x5 and too many to count that are 5x3) by hand. Didn't hurt any of the foliage either... might check it out.

There is another product--Rinse Eze or something similar that hooks onto the end of a garden hose that works well. First you dampen the windows then you put on the cleaning agent and then you rinse again. On some less accessible windows I don't squeege or dry with towels and the windows look decent. I prefer to squeege and dry corners, etc. but when windows are difficult to get to this is a decent alternate. This doesn't harm plants either.

Now to inspire myself to get out and clean the windows of this new-to-me house that looks like the windows haven't been cleaned on the outside in...ever?

Gwenda? Do just one window, very well, and that is often all the inspiration you will need. =)

Just took some 4zero steel wool pads to my neighbor to help her remove some old water spots on the exterior window glass. The 0000 steel wool will not scratch normal glass, but must be used on a wet surface. Often vinegar and water is a good choice for working with it on water spots.

100+ degrees weather isn't encouraging me to tackle my 55 windows many of which are on the second story. These just may have to wait until fall. This is just one more chore on my unending list. Using the four aught steel wool is a good idea where stains don't want to let go.

You are right. No way in 100 degree heat/humidity and that many windows. Sheers can be a blessing to hide dirty windows. I used that trick for many years!

Fall can come anytime.

Be aware that the garden hose cleaner won't do the job with well water if you have iron in your water.

55 windows!!! I cannot imagine washing all of those!!! You are my hero!!