The Right Tools Make a Big Difference

Window cleaning and other exterior cleaning activities are not the performance of magic! They are simply the proper and proficient use of the right tools coupled with dedication to technique and know-how. There are all kinds of tools and cleaning agents that can eventually aid in getting windows sparkling clean. Some are of higher quality than others. Some are game changers in certain applications while others are fads that don’t seem to have much staying power. As with any project, though, the correct and skilled use, and sometimes the ‘magic touch’ will help you rise above the crowd in general. I’ll list some basic tools we use and perhaps this will answer some questions proactively.

Window Cleaning is not Rocket Science, But it is Science

Just like you can often use the wrong tool to get the job done eventually, i.e. a flat head screwdriver turning a Phillips head screw, you can use many different devices and cleaning agents to get a window sparkling clean. Our team is willing to invest the money and research to determine the best tools for the job of cleaning windows. Rarely is there a brand within a specific type that is miles ahead of other brands. And often what seems to be a perfect fit and feel for the individual technician varies as well.

That said, there is a logic to the processes that make up the activity of cleaning a set of storefront windows or an entire house’s windows. And durability and ease of maintenance can also figure into the smoothness of the operation. Finally, common sense and wisdom resulting from experience and applied knowledge will be of great advantage.

Some of Our Tools We Use

The first picture includes one of the chemicals we sometimes use for window cleaning. It is Lauramine Oxide. It is found in many shampoos and soaps. It is mild and provides a modest amount of suds. My team mostly prefers dishwashing liquid for most window cleaning needs. There are many window cleaning soaps, made specifically for that purpose, which we are also open to using. Ammonia is another valuable option for certain applications, as it boosts cleaning power. We are very careful about using ammonia, avoiding it in closed quarters, and on window tint. Also in the first picture is my collectible which includes 3 fully functional and expert things we use extensively- professional grade applicator and squeegee inside the slots of a BOAB (bucket on a belt). This allows us to simplify and move more efficiently since we can dip the scrubber into the cleaning solution we pour into the BOAB. The tools are right at our side, not in a heavy bucket full of water that might slosh around inside someone’s home. One of the few store-bought products we love is Sprayway, a foaming glass cleaner. It works very well on small panes that are not extremely dirty. We can wipe off the spray with a special towel or small squeegee and get amazing results.

Pictures 2 includes a microfiber rag which we use to wipe up water that goes onto sills after squeegeeing and sometimes to work in our cleaning solution on tough spots on glass. Think greasy fingerprints at a fast food restaurant. We don’t use them to detail or final wipe glass, though. Unless you get the very expensive kind, they tend to leave a lot of lint. The blue rag is called a huck or surgical towels. They are comprised of tightly woven cotton and are excellent for final detailing or a full hand wiping of a window. They leave little to no lint under almost every condition we run into.

Picture 3 includes a 100% carbon fiber extension pole. We generally use ones that open up to 12′ such as being used in the photo, but have some that can be used at a length of 30′. We have used aluminum poles, but have found that the new style of carbon fiber poles is superior, both in durability and strength. They usually cost 4 to 5 times as much as aluminum, but are worth it for many reasons.

Picture 4 shows a tech using a water fed pole. He is cleaning a window on the outside higher than where the photo was taken from. That window could be cleaned just as effectively by setting up a very tall ladder, but when you compare the safety and efficiency factors of a tall ladder and a very light and strong carbon fiber pole, it is a clear choice for us to use the pole. Sometimes contaminants are so tough that we will have to get up there ‘nose to glass’ to remove them, but not too often. We are running purified water through a 3/16″ inner diameter tube  inside the pole sections to a brush, which has jets to spread pure water onto the glass. We scrub well and then rinse well, never having to leave the ground or follow up with towels or a squeegee, provided we did it properly.

Other special tools we often use are as follows:

Window scraper

#0000 steel wool

Magic eraser

Rectangular cleaning pads

There are many other items we keep at our disposal that are included in our window cleaning ‘tool box’, which help to distinguish between professionals at this trade and those who may clean windows on occasion when asked to do so.

Check out this video to see two of us in action on the same windows.

The Final ‘Tool’- Integrity

Last and certainly not least is what any professional in any endeavor should practice. That is integrity. A quick description from Google of integrity is this: “Integrity is the practice of being honest, respectful, and adhering to your values, even when no one is looking. It’s the act of living by your values and principles, and being true and authentic to your code of beliefs.” Our company culture factors in integrity. This attribute fuels us to do as complete and perfect a job as we can without subjecting ourselves to unreasonably dangerous circumstances. At times, even for the most seasoned veteran, this principle may cost extra time and energy to deliver a consistently superior service. At the same time, this certainly helps to define the echelons within the modest field of window cleaning, and all other fields of goods and services for that matter.