Professional window cleaners use a variety of chemicals to remove dirt, debris, and other items from windows. These products are diluted with water and then applied to the windows for a clean, streak-free finish.
If you’re not ready for the squeegee-dish soap combo, there are some homemade window cleaning solutions you can try instead. These DIY recipes are more effective and environmentally friendly than most commercial solutions. Read more.
What Do Professional Window Cleaners Use in Their Water?
The basic cleaning solution professional window cleaners use is a blend of distilled or filtered water and a popular dish soap such as Dawn. This is a simple but effective solution that helps to create foam for squeegeeing and helps break up any dirt or grease on the glass during the cleaning process.
Occasionally, they will add in something like ammonia or a surfactant to improve the cleaning power of this basic mixture. However, the most common ingredient is distilled water and dish soap.
In the case of hard water stains, window cleaners can add a few drops of liquid soap or vinegar to the basic mixture to help combat these stains.
Often, professional window cleaners also have a supply bucket of large disposable cloths that are lint-free. These are used to wipe the windows dry after they have been cleaned and can help prevent streaks or lint from being left behind on the glass.
How Do They Clean the Windows?
Professional window cleaners use a mixture of chemicals and glass cleaners to get their windows sparkling clean. These chemicals contain an anti-freezing, fogging, and staining element that gives the windows a shine like a mirror.
They use a squeegee, which is an amazing tool that helps them remove dirt from the glass, leaving it streak-free. This tool is made of a rubber blade that helps them squeegee off the solution and water on the windows without leaving streaks behind.
When using the squeegee, draw it down the middle of the window pane, overlapping each stroke slightly. Wipe the rubber edge of the squeegee between swipes to keep it in contact with the glass.
It’s best to avoid washing your windows on sunny days because the sun evaporates the cleaning solution before you have a chance to wipe it off, leaving streaks behind. Alternatively, you can take advantage of cloudy days, which allow the sun’s rays to dry and sanitize your windows before you wipe them off.
What Equipment Do They Use?
Professional window cleaners rely on a variety of equipment to get streak-free results. They may use a squeegee and scrubber tool for interior windows, or a water-fed pole cleaning setup with filtered water for exterior window cleaning.
Squeegees are commonly T-shaped and come with a rubber blade to remove the soapy solution from the surface of the glass. They are the key to achieving a streak-free finish that makes the window clear and almost invisible.
They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are designed to hold a lot of water, while others feature scrub pads on the ends for tough spots like tinted glass.
Ladders are another important part of the window washing process. Pros often use a ladder to access tall windows and to help them reach other hard-to-reach areas. They can be as large as a 3-foot step ladder or as long as 20 feet.
What Chemicals Do They Use?
Professional window cleaners use a range of chemical solutions and glass cleaners that are specially designed to make light work of stubborn dirt, grease, finger marks, and smudges on exterior windows. Some contain an anti-freezing, fogging, and staining element to ensure that stains and streaks don’t return after they are removed.
Generally, a cleaning solution is made from a blend of distilled or filtered water and dish soap. This recipe makes a reliable window cleaner that helps to reduce streaks and remove sticky gunk.
The surfactants in a window cleaner’s formula help to lubricate the surface of the glass, preventing it from getting scratched or nicked. It also helps to keep the dirt and water mixture from settling on the pane.
Many commercial window cleaners contain ammonia because it’s a highly effective surfactant and it helps to cut through tough dirt, grease, and mineral buildup. However, the residue from ammonia can leave streaks and foggy spots on certain types of glass. See next.
