How to Clean Window Sills (Quick, Easy, & Cheap)

Do you worry guests will notice all that dirt buildup and dead bugs and other really gross things lurking in the tracks in your window sills? Or do you move your children’s toys off the window sills for fear they’ll get dirty? Then this article is for you. Stick around, and I’ll tell you how to get the cleaning window sills on the block. 

We’re going over the best way to clean window sills quickly, easily, and cheaply. We’ll talk window sill cleaning tools, products to clean the window sills, and techniques you’ll need to use to get your window sills sparking. I’ll also get into mold on window sills and how to eliminate it. And once you’re finished, be sure to read How to Clean Interior and Exterior Windows, so your spotless window sills will look great under your spotless windows. 

Window Sill Cleaning Tools 

To clean your window sills, you’ll need a cleaning toothbrush, a microfiber cloth, a spray bottle with a mist setting, and dish soap or baking soda. If your sills and tracks are really bad, I would suggest vacuuming the area first. This will save you some time by quickly picking up any loose dirt. 

Vacuum the first side of the track, then slide your window back and do the second side. I love this trick because my vacuum does the work for me, so I can get back to scrolling on Instagram ASAP. (Psst, if you want to get my favorite vacuum, read Which Dyson Vacuum Should You Buy?)

Products to Clean Your Window Sills 

So you’ve vacuumed your window sills (bet you never thought you’d be doing that), what’s next? It’s time to tackle the grime that’s caked on your window sills. Grab your spray bottle and fill it with water. Then add either a couple of drops of dish soap or a teaspoon of baking soda. Either one of these products will help loosen that grime. 

Spray on your cleaning solution and let it sit for about ten minutes. This gives it time to work and loosen up the grime, which means you’ll be using less elbow grease when it comes time to clean. You can relax for ten minutes, or you can get another quick cleaning task done. I like to use this time to accomplish two of the cleaning tasks on my 5 Minute Cleaning Jobs list. 

Techniques to Clean Your Window Sill 

Now your product has had time to work, grab your cleaning toothbrush. You’re going to use the same motion you would if you were brushing your teeth but on your window sill track. If you’ve ever been lectured by your dentist about brushing your teeth too hard, now’s the time to take out that toothbrushing energy on your window sill! 

What this does is loosen all of the dirt and grime that’s stuck in your window sill track. When you’re done, take your microfiber cloth and wipe all that dirt up. If you notice some lingering dirt, wrap the cloth around your finger and then use your finger-covered cloth as a cleaning tool to “scrape” all the rest of that dirt up. When you’re done, you’ll have the cleanest window sills on this side of the Mississippi. And maybe the other side too!

Mold on Window Sills

Some of you may notice you actually have mold buildup on your window sill or even in your sill tracks. Luckily, I can help with that too. 

What you want to do is fill a spray bottle with water. Then add 10 drops of tea tree oil, and shake well to mix. Spray this solution onto your window sill area and leave it for 15 minutes. Tea tree oil is known to be antifungal and antibacterial, so it’s a great way to get rid of mold and make sure it stays away. 

When the 15 minutes have passed, go in with your toothbrush and brush thoroughly (like we discussed in the last section). Then, retreat the area again with tea tree oil. This should be a light mist; you don’t want to create wetness that might encourage mold to grow again. And if you’re new to essential oils, I definitely recommend reading Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning with Essential Oils!

How to Clean Window Sills

Cleaning window sills is fast and easy, and you don’t need to buy any special cleaning products! You can reuse your cleaning toothbrush for lots of cleaning tasks; just be sure to give it a good wash and dry it off thoroughly in between uses. 

This article was actually inspired by a question I got on YouTube. If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments below, or ask me on my Instagram page or Youtube channel.