A dirty window can muddy up even the prettiest winter snowscape. So improve your point of view with this wonderful window washing technique:

Step 1: Squirt dishwashing liquid into a bucket with a gallon of hot water.

Step 2: Dip the sponge side of a squeegee into the solution, and wipe the window.

Step 3: Beginning at the top of the window, draw the squeegee’s blade back and forth across the glass, overlapping the strokes.

Step 4: Finish the job by wiping the sill with a damp cloth.

Of course, once your windows are sparkling clean, your walls are going to seem drab and grungy. So get ‘em clean as can be with this terrific two-hand, two-bucket system:

Step 1: Squeeze a few squirts of mild dishwashing liquid into a bucket. Fill it ¾ full of warm water. Have another bucket handy, but leave it empty.

Step 2: Hold a large sponge in one hand, and an absorbent rag in the other.

Step 3: Dip the sponge into the water, then starting at the top corner, wipe down. Squeeze the sponge out into the empty bucket, and rewipe the same area of the wall.

Step 4: Wipe down the same area one more time with the rag.

There, now doesn’t that improve your view—and your mood?

For more handy household helpers, check out my Cleaning Magic! book—FREE! It’s filled with tons of terrific tips that’ll keep your home sweet home in tip-top shape, all winter long.