I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace – simple £1 trick leaves windows spotless & streak-free
A FORMER royal cleaner has revealed a £1 hack she used to keep the Buckingham Palace windows sparkling.
If you’ve ever visited the royal palace, and seen its windows gleaming in the sunlight, you would be forgiven for thinking that cleaners use pricey products to keep them sparkling.
However, Anne Simmons, 57, who worked at the famed London palace for a decade has revealed her cleaning trick costs less than a cup of tea.
The cleaning pro, from Berkshire, told Plates Express that when she cleaned royal windows “there was no room for error.”
“The windows had to be perfect no streaks, no marks.
“We weren’t allowed to use harsh chemicals either, so I had to find a better way.”
Anne revealed that her simple trick was to use £1 worth of distilled water, which is water that has been purified and stripped of minerals and impurities.
“I kept a jug of distilled water on hand,” she said.
“Before cleaning the windows, I’d wet the cloth with it.
“It made a massive difference—no streaks, no oily residue.
“It was a simple trick but very effective.”
Anne revealed that it is important to use distilled water as, unlike tap water, it doesn’t leave behind mineral deposits or spots as it evaporates.
“I kept a jug of distilled water on hand,” Anne said.
“I know some people worry about spending money on fancy cleaning solutions,” Anne said.
“But a bottle of distilled water from the supermarket costs less than a coffee—and lasts a long time.”
And this isn’t the only handy hack the royal cleaner has up her sleeve.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
- How to clean your washing machine in a few easy steps
- Keep on top of cleaning your oven regularly
- Clean your shower to ensure it’s always sparkling
- How to clean your microwave using cheap household items
- Here’s how to get rid of that nasty limescale in your kettle
- You’re cleaning your carpet all wrong – here’s how to get it spotless again in no time
- Unblock a toilet without a plunger
- Clean your fabric or leather sofa in a few easy steps
- If you haven’t cleaned your mattress in ages, here’s how
- Steps to cleaning your dishwasher to leave it looking brand new
- This is how to clean mirrors and windows without streaking
- Keep your toilet clean in four easy steps
- Give your TV screen a once-over
- Did you know your Venetian, Roman, vertical, or roller blinds also need cleaning?
- Deep-clean your fridge in five simple steps
Anne previously revealed how she used an old tube of toothpaste to get palace mirrors gleaming.
She recalled how a “surprise inspection” led to the discovery.
With nothing “fancy on hand” to wipe down glass surfaces, she remembered an old trick her mum swore by.
“I ran in, grabbed a tube of toothpaste from the staff bathroom, and gave [the surfaces] a gentle scrub. Minutes later, they looked brand new,” she recalled.
And the royal cleaner even swears by a kids toy to keep homes dust free.
Slime, is a popular toy with young children, and is used for squeezing and squishing into shapes.
However, Anne revealed that it is also perfect for dusting.
“It’s safe, easy to use, and doesn’t leave any marks,” she said.