How do professional window washers clean windows?

There is no doubt that well-cleaned windows improve the appearance of our homes. Most of us have probably seen how a professional cleaner cleans a window. They do it in an effortless way with their rubber blades and squeegees. Of course, everyone wants to clean their windows like a pro and enjoy sparkling clean enviable  results every time.

Every home owner loves to have a well-cleaned smudge and streak-free windows and who doesn’t. In fact it’s not that complicated to get you windows in a perfectly cleaned condition. It’s actually pretty easy when you are prepared and have the right cleaning equipment at hand and apply some techniques.

How do professional window washers clean windows?

Most of the tools that professional window cleaners use can be found in hardware stores and home centers so everyone can improve the quality of their cleaning. In fact, professional window washers don’t use window cleaning detergents with harsh chemicals in them. Strong chemical formulas don’t guarantee magical results. They may sometimes leave visible residues on the window glass that are stubborn for removing.

All the cleaning tools can be found at low prices and they will serve us long time, we have no longer an excuse to have smudgy windows. We don’t need a big number of cleaning tools or expensive cleaning detergents. Some cheap brands offer products that achieve results professionals will approve.

Basic cleaning tools we need

Squeegee

How do professional window washers clean windows?

 

Some of you have probably used paper towels, newspaper and spray bottle for a long time. But try using a squeegee and you will never turn back to the previous cleaning tools. Cleaning with squeegees doesn’t create any streaks and it takes less time in comparison to cleaning with paper towels. Once we get the hang of it, we can work faster and more effectively with squeegees. The good thing about squeegees is that they are suitable for cleaning stained or varnished woodwork.

Professionals use squeegees fitted with a stable rubber blade. Get two or three of these to keep at hand. Remember that the rubber blade should be changed once a day. This is recommended because when the edge of the blade gets rounded, nicked, sliced over time, we cannot clean effectively with it.

If our squeegee creates streaks on the windows, this is a sign that it’s time to change it. Some way to use it longer is to reverse the blades in order to reveal the “new” edge. When storing the squeegee it’s important to make sure that nothing comes into contact with the blade.

Plastic rectangular bucket (around 5 gallons) – Scrubber

How do professional window washers clean windows?

Some of you have probably used paper towels, newspaper and spray bottle for a long time. But try using a squeegee and you will never turn back to the previous cleaning tools. Cleaning with squeegees doesn’t create any streaks and it takes less time in comparison to cleaning with paper towels. Once we get the hang of it, we can work faster and more effectively with squeegees. The good thing about squeegees is that they are suitable for cleaning stained or varnished woodwork.

Professionals use squeegees fitted with a stable rubber blade. Get two or three of these to keep at hand. Remember that the rubber blade should be changed once a day. This is recommended because when the edge of the blade gets rounded, nicked, sliced over time, we cannot clean effectively with it.

If our squeegee creates streaks on the windows, this is a sign that it’s time to change it. Some way to use it longer is to reverse the blades in order to reveal the “new” edge. When storing the squeegee it’s important to make sure that nothing comes into contact with the blade.

Plastic rectangular bucket (around 5 gallons) – Scrubber

professional-window-washers-5

Hand dishwashing liquid, Warm water, Lint-free rags/small towels, Ladder

If you don’t have a ladder, don’t forget to buy one. Having a ladder stabilizer is a must, especially if your property is multi-story.

How do professional window washers clean windows?

How to prepare for cleaning your windows?

Pour in the bucket a couple of gallons of warm water, a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. If you plan to wash your windows in warm weather, it’s better to use cool water to get the job done quickly. In cases you have procrastinated your window washing so long that you need to clean them in below-freezing temperatures, use wind shield washing solution until the water doesn’t freeze on the window glass.

 

How to clean windows in a professional way

How do professional window washers clean windows?

 

Step one

Find a window cleaning solution or liquid dishwashing detergent of good quality, add the necessary amount of it in the plastic bucket and mix it with the right amount of water. There is no need to add vinegar. Add some small amount of this window cleaning product onto the scrubber and rub it in. Dip the scrubber in the bucket and carefully squeeze the excess water from the scrubber.

Step two

Before starting to clean wipe the exterior window frame with a wet terrycloth rag. Start scrubbing  the glass and work your way at all angles to clean the edges until all dust and dirt is gone. Work in a swirling pattern. Don’t forget to cover every square inch of the glass.

Use a rubber squeegee to wipe the window glass until it’s dry. This cleaning method helps us get the desirable result immediately. We should move the squeegee horizontally across the glass, but we can also do vertical strokes with a great result. It’s up to you. Hold the squeegee at 30 degrees to the glass and move it horizontally across the window.

If you choose to work vertically, hold the squeegee at an angle to direct excess water towards the grimy parts of the window. Place the squeegee on the dry edge and run it straight down. Use a dry cloth the end of the squeegee to form a dry edge on the top of the window glass. Use the scouring pad of the sponge to remove any stubborn dirt on the windows.

Step three          

It’s time to create a starting strip. Hold the squeegee in such a tipping way so that only one corner comes into contact with the glass. Then start at the top corner of the glass, clean a narrow strip of the window from top to bottom on one side. This clean strip will help you do the horizontal stokes after that.

Step four

Apply the squeegee blade against the glass in the upper corner and move it steadily across the window. You should focus on keeping the top of the squeegee always in contact with the top edge of the window.

Step five

Now we should clean the rubber blade. Use a clean towel or a terrycloth rag to wipe the blade clean or wipe it across the scrubber to get rid of dirt and any excess water after every pass. For convenience we can keep a rag in our pocket for wiping the squeegee or remove soapy water that may start running down the woodwork. We can use a separate clean rag to clean the perimeter of the window. Microfiber rags or kitchen microfiber towels are the best choice for the job.

Step six

Start cleaning again by using the top of the squeegee and by doing so you should overlap the previous stroke. Work with the squeegee across the window at such an angle to direct excess water down. Wipe out and repeat again the same step.

Step seven

How do professional window washers clean windows?

Use a cleaning rag to wipe up the excess water on the bottom edge of the window. Now we should remove the remaining suds. To do this we should use a dry spot on a separate lint-free rag and use it across the perimeter of the window.

Wipe down for the last time to remove any left streaks by using a clean area of the lint-free rag or a micro-fiber towel. When we no longer find fresh and clean spots on our rags, change them with new ones. If you have windows with divided panes, you should use a scrubber, a small squeegee and a sponge.

Clean the glass with the scrubber first and clean it with the squeegee afterwards. While doing this you should put a terrycloth rag at the bottom end of the squeegee in order to dry the excess water and avoid creating damage to the window muntis.

How do professional window washers clean windows?

If your squeegee is too large for the windows, you can cut it in two to fit the size of your windows. Use wrung out sponge to clean the glass of the windows and then with the tip of the squeegee clear a narrow strip at the top of the window. Afterwards move the squeegee down and clean the perimeter.

Remember that if you are cleaning your windows from inside the house, put a canvas drop cloth on the floor so that any excess dripping water falls onto it. You should clean them in a different way. To clean interior windows, mix water with liquid dishwashing detergent. Put this cleaning solution in a plastic spray bottle and then spray the interior surfaces of the window. Immediately after you spray them, use a terrycloth rag to wipe the glass clean and immediately after that wipe it down quickly with the micro-fiber towel and you are done.

 

Categories: Blog