What Does a Professional Window Cleaner Use?
A professional window cleaner will use a special formula to leave your windows sparkling. This formula can range from a basic solution of water, dishwashing detergent and distilled white vinegar to greener options that utilize plant-derived ingredients.
While you can use a home-made solution, it’s much safer and more environmentally friendly to buy a premixed formula. Plus, you can tailor the recipe to your needs and taste. This article!
Chemicals
Professional window cleaners use a variety of chemicals during their cleaning process to ensure that the windows are cleaned effectively and safely. The type of chemicals used will depend on the size of the building and the amount of dirt that needs to be removed.
A common cleaning solution is a mixture of water and chemicals that are used to scrub the glass and remove any streaks or stains from the window. These chemicals can include dish soap and glass cleaner or Trisodium Phosphate and etching salt.
Manufacturers of glass cleaning products rely on a combination of two cleaning chemical action terms: surfactant and solvent. This chemical blend works to loosen stubborn dirt and grease by grabbing contaminants on the surface of the glass and causing them to molecularly release or dislodge.
Ladders
Window cleaning is no small task, and a professional window cleaner needs the right tools to get the job done safely. In addition to a squeegee and mop, one of the most important equipment they need is a ladder.
Ladders for window cleaning range from light step ladders to hard-wearing extension ladders. It’s important to choose a ladder that will allow you to work securely and safely, and it’s also important to make sure you select the correct size for the height of your windows.
For exterior residential windows above the first floor, you’ll often find that an extension ladder made from either aluminium or fibreglass is sufficient for the job. Aluminium will usually be less expensive, but fibreglass is safer around power lines as it does not conduct electricity.
Squeegees
A squeegee is an effective tool for removing water and cleaning solution from glass and tile surfaces. It makes the window washing process much faster and easier, which is why professional window cleaners use squeegees so often.
A squeegee has a flexible blade that pulls off the water from the surface of the window. It also removes dirt and streaks from the window.
Ideally, the handle of a squeegee should be less than 12 inches long from the end of the handle to the blade. Handles shorter than that are best for indoor first-story windows, while outdoor windows may be too high to reach with a short squeegee.
To prevent streaks, use a clean microfiber towel to wipe the blade after each stroke. If streaks do develop, overlap each previous squeegee path when pulling water off the window.
Towels
When you clean windows, you’re working to get a streak-free shine. Paper towels aren’t designed for this task, and they’re not only inefficient, they leave lint behind that can leave a residue that is hard to remove.
Instead, use microfiber cloths that are specifically made for window cleaning and won’t leave a bigger mess than they clean up. These lint-free cloths are perfect for delivering a streak-free finish on any smooth surface, including glass, windows and mirrors.
You can also invest in a set of double-sided windows cleaning towels that have a dual surface that allows you to wipe and dry your window simultaneously. These towels save you time and money on paper towels. Next blog post!