How to Clean Windows Like a Professional

Have you ever observed a professional window cleaner washing windows? Don’t they make it seem so easy, effortless and quick? It’s almost mesmerizing to watch
the window cleaner fluidly snakes the squeegee down the glass, reviving the window to its original sparkling, clear state.

You may be frustrated that you can’t seem to get the same results when you try to clean your windows yourself. The same number of windows that a professional takes a couple of hours to clean can take up to a few days or a week to get through.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to hire a professional window cleaner. However, many households don’t always have the means of paying for a professional to clean their windows. However, there is a DIY solution; teaching yourself to clean windows like a professional means that you will do them faster and easier. Let’s take a look at some insider window cleaning tips from the team at Twenty20 Window Cleaning.

Use a 'professional' window cleaning solution.

You may laugh when you read this first tip, it seems so simple, yet it saves a whole lot of time and money. Standard dishwashing liquid makes for the best window-cleaning solution.

Add a decent measure of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of water, and voila, you have a professional cleaning solution. How is this better than spray-on products or other products directly marketed for cleaning windows? Well, the next tip will explain why dishwashing detergent makes the best solution.

Using a squeegee is the best method for cleaning windows.

Have you ever seen a professional window cleaner going from shop front to shop front with Windex and newspaper? Chances are that the answer is no. A professional window cleaner’s tool of choice is the humble squeegee. After applying the cleaning solution and lightly scrubbing the glass, using a squeegee will effortlessly wipe off the dirty water leaving the window sparkling clean. It’s faster and requires much less elbow grease than other products.

Now at this point in the article, some readers may chuckle out loud and think, “The easiest way to clean windows is by just hosing them off.” While hosing windows off is very easy, it doesn’t do a good job at all. In fact, hosing your windows off leaves minerals and sediment to dry on your glass.

After a year or two of just hosing them off, you will find that the mineral has etched into the glass, leaving behind pitted, water-stain markings similar to what you see on old shower screens. Hard-water stains cost a fortune to remove and, at times, cannot be removed. Hosing off windows is not a good long-term strategy.

You can pick up a half-decent squeegee from your local hardware store. However, for best results, you will want to get a professional squeegee. For someone who has limited experience using a squeegee, I would recommend the brand Ettore, along with a few replacement squeegee rubbers. Look up your local cleaning supplies outlet for options to purchase a professional squeegee.

Master the squeegee technique.

This is perhaps the hardest tip to apply in this guide for cleaning windows. It requires a little time, patience, and practice. However, the results will speak for themselves once you master a simple squeegee technique.

The technique that we will share in this article is what is fondly referred to in the window cleaning business as the “wipe and swipe” method. Here’s an overview of how to do it.

• You are going to need the following items: A sponge, microfiber cloths, a quality squeegee, and freshly mixed window cleaning solution (see the first tip).
• First, take a sponge or whatever you would like to scrub the windows with and apply the cleaning solution to the pane of glass. As you apply the water, you will notice that certain areas may need more attention or a little more scrubbing.
• Take a dry microfiber and wipe the top edge of the frame dry.

• Next, taking your squeegee, place the rubber hard against the top edge of the window frame. Applying pressure to the squeegee, slowly drag the dirty water down to the bottom sill.
• Now wipe your squeegee dry and start the process over. This time place it one squeegee length over from your newly cleaned section of glass.

• Continue this process until you have cleaned the whole pane of glass.
• To finish cleaning the window like a professional, you can now wipe the edges with your dry microfiber. This will prevent any runoff from dripping onto the clean glass.

Keep a stockpile of old towels, rags, and quality microfibers.

Good quality microfiber cloths are going to save your life when it comes to window cleaning. Ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but they will definitely save you time and energy. Quality microfiber is highly absorbent and will not leave a smudge from wiping off any stray streaks or drips.

If you make a mistake, perhaps leaving a streak, you can easily fix it with a dry microfiber cloth. Old towels are great for cleaning windows on the inside of a property. By laying them below the window, any runoff will be caught without making a mess or damaging the floor.

Clean your windows twice a year

The team at Twenty20 Window Cleaning recommends that you have your windows
cleaned at least twice a year, whether you clean them yourself or use a professional. It is also recommended that you clean your screens at the same time. Clean screens mean that the windows themselves will stay cleaner for much
longer.

Now that you are equipped with industry inside information, your windows are going to be sparkling better than they have in years. You will also have more time and energy for your other pursuits. Just remember that practice makes perfect. The more time you spend using the squeegee, the more proficient you will become. Window cleaning with a squeegee can be quite therapeutic. It might even become your new favourite chore.