The Secret To Streak Free Window Cleaning - How To Wash Windows Like A Pro
2024 ж. 13 Мам.
623 533 Рет қаралды
How to get perfect window cleaning results, every time. The right tools and the right solution.
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I AM so really glad you made this!! I've been confused about the blue stuff all my life and no one seemed to have the answers either 🤣 I'm glad you answered all my questions ❤️
haha good stuff. Glad you enjoyed the video.
@@WCSkills4:12 4:18 4:45 4:45
@@WCSkills What model and size of squeegee and T-Bar handle + Sleeve are you using in the video. I would like to buy the same ones from the site you recommend.
At over 70 years old I learned you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. The dishwashing soap did it. Angling the squeegee really helps. Thanks a million.
Glad the technique worked out for you.
Like all the other BS we keep getting told in the form of "wisdom". "People NEVER change." Meanwhile we learn, adapt and change every single day. 😂👍
That’s what I have always used and I’ve been doing windows for many many years I say about maybe 2025 years and I’m still doing it and it’s just Dawn dish so don’t use any thing like that Windex don’t ever use it and don’t ever put your rag on the glass. If you look down from the glass and look up at it, you will see streaks.
I would have never thought that a 9-minute video on window cleaning would change my life. Totally worth it!
Haha…thanks for watching!
This really motivated me to clean my dirty windows. No more blue stuff and paper towels. Great video, thanks for sharing!
Additional tips: Don't use warm or hot water...you don't want the water evaporating before applying the squeegee. Angle the blade so that the water falls into the adjacent area to be cleaned. Clean squeegee blade frequently. Use the ends of the cloth applicator to get into dirty corners. Try not to stir up the dirt that may settle onto the bottom of your bucket of water and change the water as soon as it appears dirty. Clean, absorbent cotton rags work better than micro-fiber rags. Change rags frequently to avoid redepositing dirt onto glass. Make sure squeegee blade is not dull...they wear out like a knife. Use a lot of dish soap, like 1-2 oz. Less soap will make cutting pollution, cigarette smoke, etc. more difficult. Add a few drops of dishwashing Rinse Aid to the soapy water...greatly improves sheeting action and further reduces streaks. DO NOT go over the window with a rag or paper towel after using squeegee. Only clean the edges from top to bottom and sides, making sure rags are clean and dry. Paper towel, newspaper, etc should not be used. Clean rags in washing machine, but never add fabric softener or use softener sheets which leave a residue on glass and mirrors. Never clean in direct sunlight. You make have to work faster in drier climates to avoid rapid evaporation of your cleaning water. Dirtier windows may need two or three cleanings, with focus on the edges.
Thanks for the additional tips
I found your comment more informitive than the video without taking nine minutes . 👍
Great job! Thank you very much! The blue stuff is not very good. What about vinegar?
You can also add some (1/4 or 1/3 cup ) of White Vinegar to the bucket in this process. I sometimes use the Windex with adding White Vinegar to the Bottle. Never clean windows in the Sun!! This goes for Cars too. People don't realize how much "gassing" comes off the Vinyl dashboards Sticking to the Windshields. White Vinegar to the Rescue!.
You should make a video on your tips
Great video my friend. I washed the glass on our patio doors today using your method, my wife was so pleased with the result she said I could do all the windows all the time. Many thanks.
Oh dear, did my video result in more chores being added to the list? 😉 Glad you found the video helpful.
My, my, aren’t you the lucky one😂
lolzzzz
Teach her how to use a lawn mower and a ladder...
Thank you. I followed your instructions and my windows are spotless. I never had such clean windows.💯👍
Good stuff!
Thank you, as a kid my mother always insisted on a clean house and absolutely clean windows, I remember holding the ladder while she scrubbed, and yes as I got older it became my chore.... To this day I love looking through a clean window, and it looks like I found a new way to do it.
When I operated a window cleaning business, my company was called Beautiful View. 😉
Good for you. An Amercan entrepreneur @@WCSkills
as somebody who is new to the window cleaning world, this was really helpful and straight to the point. you're a legend!
I live near the coast lots f salt and strong winds always dirty windows, i use car shampoo to wash the windows ,with good results. .
9 minutes is a long way to get to the point.
No, he did not get “ to the point” until he finished explaining to all us morons how Windex does not work!!! I did not watch rest of video. I just figured it out myself!!! Vinegar and water. Spray the windows, use a soft brush with solution ( 1 part distilled white vinegar, 20 parts water. Rinse and squeegee. You know what a squeegee is, Right?! 🤦🏼♀️
I've been using this method for years. Quick, easy and efficient. I also add a little vinegar to the solution and when the squeegee is held with the right side lower than the left, I start on the left side of the glass and work to the right.
I tried it and it works wonders! Thanks for sharing your tricks
Great to hear!
Great easy tutorial. I have gone over the window afterwards with a cloth, really rubbed hard with the result that it looks super clean when the sun isnt out. My apartment is facing west when the low setting spring/summer Swedish sun sets it looks like a 3 YO has painted mountains using greasy fingers all over the windows. Going to stop using any newspaper/cloth/paper, just water and dawn (YES here) perfect my squeege technique and just leave it and see what that does.
I am glad i saw this video, thank you for creating quality content!
I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Thanks so much for the great video! I have been frustrated by window cleaning my whole life. And now have hope I'll be able to do it.
Really good. So well explained. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this information. I’ve been wanting to know how to effectively clean my windows.
Thank you!! The first example was me, over wetting w/ blue stuff and making a mess...
You would think that cleaning windows would be a simple job that a five year old could do but no there is an art to it as told by Mr WC Skills above . I thought i was the worlds worst window cleaner but it seems i am not according to the many comments below. Unbelievable . Thankyou Mr Pro Window Cleaner.
Thanks for watching.
This is the best window cleaning I have ever use. Thanks for tor knowledge😅
Glad you found the video useful.
Thank you for the idea
Excellent job, thank you!
Great, thanks for sharing.
Great video. Spoke very clear. Love the demonstration. In the end, a person can save a lot of money by using your methods thank you.
Im glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching.
I can just tell when I see and listen to a pro. Thank you, Captain of window cleaning. Peace be unto you.
Thanks for watching!
thankyou ,makes sense ,easy when you know what you are doing
worked great on my autos.....best I've ever seen. Thanks.
THis was a great simple tutorial. thank you!
Thanks for watching!
THANK YOU! Professional rock chip guy. Always been frustrated with my glass clean up.
Thank you! I've tried all those other ways and I always have streaks and it takes a lot of time and labor. I got so excited about this that I did 100% of my home and it really didn't take that long and my windows are perfect!
Great to hear!
Thank you for the tips!
Thanks for this information!!
Thanks for watching!
Good point.
A professional window cleaner as myself been doing it for many years you never use Windex on your glass. You always use Dawn dish soap, steel wool scraper, and a squeegee and rags. Don’t ever touch your rag to the glass always go on the side of the glass.
Steel wool scraper? What is that? Can you tell me what you mean about “always go on the side of the glass?” I very much appreciate your sharing this information!
The same technique is excellent for smooth shower walls ie. Marble and interior mirrored walls! I also suggest washing counters instead of spray and wipe 😊
Thank you.
Great video! Thanks!
Thank you! I’ve always dreaded washing windows because I couldn’t get them streak free! Always ended up with streaks and clouds? After your explanation and demonstration, I’m eager to tackle my windows once again. (I have a ton of windows!) Wish me luck!
Mary, you got this! Go get 'em. 🙂
I’ve always used this method for cleaning windows, but I didn’t know about the slight angle of the squeegee. That will give me better results, thanks.
Glad this video is helping you add to your skill set. ;-)
me too looking forward to cleaning a window in just a minute. Funny thing is I just brought my squeegee into the room and looked at my computer and this video was ready to roll.
Great video, thank you :)
Thank you!
Thank you from Sydney, Australia. Time well invested.
Great, thanks for watching!
@@WCSkills - now… if you have a moment, please teach me how to reach all the inside car windscreen to clean it in a Toyota Yaris, baby car, with 78 year old flexibility.
thank tou, best method ever for cleaning windows> Very simple yet very effective
I've tried everything under the sun to get my sliding doors clean and clear and streak-free. This does a better job but not entirely. I wish someone would come to my house and do it so I can see that it really does work. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for watching. If you hire a professional window cleaner, anywhere in the world, this is the method they'll use. It's how I made a living for 7 years before opening a window cleaning supply store. Only thing I can gather giving you issues is that you are using a poor quality squeegee, squeegee with worn out rubber or rubber is too hard like a car squeegee, you're pressing too hard, or the door glass has some hard water stains.
Thank you!!
I just tried this technique today and it really does work SO well!! Thank you for this video, it’s so simple and the results were just perfect!
Glad you had a successful window cleaning!
Awesome. Thanks!
Thanks! I hate cleaning windows because it usually involves multiple trips inside/outside to try to find which side has the streak I can't get rid of. :( I will try your technique.
You’ve got this!
If you only do horizontal wipes on the inside and only vertical wipes on the outside (or vice-versa) then you'll always know which side of the glass your streaks are on.
@@EileenTheCr0w What a great idea! Thanks!
Thank you very much.
I’ll be ordering your residential kit soon!
Great, hope you found the video helpful!
Appreciate your technique. For the outside I spray a cool window with water, then spray with dollar store CLR, light scrub with a Teflon safe Blue Scotchbrite pad to remove years of hard water, the window is ready when it feels smooth through the pad (30 seconds), rinse. You don't even need to dry the window to avoid streaks. If you want the window really posh, walk back after cleaning the next window and wipe it down. (the same pad and CLR cleans the screen without getting bits stuck in the screen) For inside I have never needed more than a damp with water only microfiber cloth and a dry one to follow with. (if it's really nasty I add a third, damp & sopy microfiber as step one)
Great information thankyou.
Glad you liked the video.
Great tips. thank you.
Thanks for watching
thanks
Thank you very much! I am about to tackle all the windows in my house so this was invaluable.
Go get ‘em!
Thanks
Me and my friend are trying to start a little business with window cleaning and didn’t know how to clean them so thank you
Good luck with the new business!
@@WCSkills thanks
For mirrors, mix in a spray bottle either of these two recipes: 1) 5-10% isopropyl alcohol and the remainder vinegar. or 2) 5-10% isopropyl alcohol and the remainder 50/50 vinegar water. Adjust as desired.
Thanks for sharing.
Just use water and a magic eraser. No soap required
@@zimmermanlandscape9287please, no magic eraser…so bad for the environment.
@@Smar47 Magic eraser is made of melamine, which is a natural compound, pretty much only harmful if it gets really hot and you eat it. You still should be careful of using it on tinted glass or things like metal, etc.. cause it can actually leave a ton of tiny scratches.
@@EileenTheCr0w magic erasers disintegrate into micro plastics which go into the waterways. Not good for any living creature. No need to use when baking soda does the job.
Excellent. A clear (no pun intended!) instructional lesson. Thank you
Intend it, it's a good pun! 👌😂
I will forever remember this video. You sir, have my respect 🫡
So easy - amazing - thank you so much!
Glad you found the video helpful.
I have found that paper towels cause the streaks because they seem to have an oil in them. I like your squeegie method and will try it. Thank you for your very helpful and detailed video.
My microfiber cloths do it as well
That is, it happens with microfiber too so i think it's the liquid
@@no_peace Newsprint works well. In my early years, I tried it but didn't realize that the black ink would "run" and it made a mess of the painted white window sill, the surrounding wall from my dirty black fingerprints etc. What a mess. But the glass itself was unbeatably streak free!
Hi, Thanks a lot for the video. It is really helpful. Can you recommend some better option for squeegee and brush with size option?
Unger brand and Ettore brand are the most popular. For the t bar scrubber, 10” or 14”. For the squeegee, 12” or 14” are most common sizes.
Cool!
Nice!!! 👍
I've always hated the blue stuff. I'll use the spray foam cleaner for small jobs (front of microwave, bathroom mirror). For medium jobs (a single window or two), I'll use e-cloths. For whole-house Spring cleaning, I use the method shown.
Thank You so much bc or this video. Not gonna use the blue liquid anymore !
There you go! ;-)
Great video, thank you very much for making it. I watched the video and read all of the comments. The only point in this process I feel was left out is the solution on the scrubber. Do you just dip it in the soap/water solution and get to work, or do you hand remove any excess soloution before use the scrubber on the window? Thanks for your response. Best regards, Brian
Dip in the solution then squeeze out enough so it’s not dripping.
@@WCSkills Thank you.
It’s grease on a lot of glass . Cooking prints , and what do we use to was drinking glasses in fumes and finger prints , soapy water , the sprays never cover evenly that is why streaks appear she insufficient spray to dissolve the gunge was applied
Thank you, best window cleaning tutorial that I have ever seen! Subscribing to your channel.
Great!!
I’m motivated!
Yes, do it!
An associate of mine has a very successful window cleaning business in the Florida Keys. Years ago he explained this exact same method to me. He recommended using Joy liquid dish soap, since it has less oil than other products.
Excellent! Thanks for watching.
Yes Joy is a Joy to work with,aroma therapy while you clean.
Hi! Can you do video on cleaning car windows? Would be interested to hear your take on it
Just uploaded kzhead.info/sun/e8aGdNKqpGl5l6c/bejne.htmlsi=_MeZm2YrBtAEG7vw
Thanks WC!!! Can you do a video on cleaning interior car windows? That's always an exercise in pain!!
Good idea!
Water! 2 cloth method. Use warm water, squeeze out a little then use a surgical towel to dry. I've also used a no rinse solution go to diy detail
@@markhanson1009 Thanks, Mark. That's very similar to how I do it now. I just wondered if WC had another approach. Thanks again.
Just uploaded kzhead.info/sun/e8aGdNKqpGl5l6c/bejne.htmlsi=_MeZm2YrBtAEG7vw
Dear Sir, I have noticed you answered every comment of each viewer and give positive reply. May I ask you 2 questions: what causes the streaky marks on the glass? Is the Rechargeable vacuum cleaner helpful for this kind of job? In addition, I also enjoy your well-kept background. You must be a very methodical guy. I think I will have a lot to learn from you. Thanks in advance.
Streaks are simply a sign that you left some water/dirt solution on the glass. That water and dirt mixture dries and becomes quite visible as light passes through it. The video you just watched should go a long way to showing you the proper method for streak free results. If you’re still having issues, I’d recommend you watch my Top 10 Reason You’re still getting streak video. kzhead.info/sun/gtuBicVxpH6id5E/bejne.html I don’t recommend the vac window cleaning system, it’s more of a gimmick from what I can tell. Not needed. There’s a reason professional window cleaners continue to use the scrubber and squeegee method, day in and day out. ;-)
@@WCSkills If you have rinsed your windows well, there should be no dirt left. The stains you see come from the lime in the water. The squeegee is only used to work quickly. It contributes nothing to cleaning. If there is still dirty water on the window and you go over it with that rubber, you simply spread the dirt. If you use vinegar water after rinsing, it will dry streak-free because there is no longer any lime in the water. I know those "professional" window cleaners. Until the sun shines on your glass. If I can get it really streak-free then I apparently know more about it than the '' professional ''. Professional means: as many windows as possible in the shortest possible time. Quantity over quality. Cleaning is science. - pre-rinse (soak) -degrease -rinse -clean with vinegar water (water without lime) -No more going over with a rubber that you didn't need in the first place anyway.
What if the window has a reflective tint ? Will the dirt damage tint film using this concours to hose if larger parts first
Thanks for this! Love simple cleaning situations and yes the "blue stuff" never works well at all...really appreciate this video!
Glad you liked the video and found it helpful. 😊
Well explained and it works. The 'blue stuff' Windex etc is methylated spirits or (American) rubbing alcohol with water and blue colouring. If you use enough it will flush the dirt off but there's no detergent to loosen dirt. People are recommending vinegar but give no reason. I prefer cotton rag as microfibres have a hard, non-absorbent feel
Thanks for watching!
Hi there just wanted to know your bucket of water is it warm or cold or does it not make any difference. Also does this method apply to inside your windows & showers with glass doors & panels. Love things that are simple & works. Thank you 😊
Water temperature isn't important. In 7 years as a professional window cleaning business, I only ever used warm or hot water when trying to break through nicotine stained windows...yuck! The method shown in this video will work for exterior and interior glass. It will also work with shower glass doors and enclosures provided that the surface is smooth/flat.
Love it! The splashback in my kitchen is a 1m x 3m mirror and I enjoy cooking haha it now looks commercial quality and streak-free. I'm happy to never need to repeat the Windex protocol of spray, wipe, repeat, and expect a streak-free result. #insanity Thank you!
I am glad I found this video. I bought windex wipes and tried and tried to clean my windows. They’re just streaked no matter what I did! Sorry I wasted the money before seeing this!
Thanks for watching, hope you can apply these techniques for professional results.
My goodness so professional/ very experienced you can’t even look like you don’t know what you are doing . I own a cleaning business to look like a newbie you gotta wipe in circles 😂. But sir perfectly referenced like a vacuum compared to a broom . You just turned a roll of bread into an deep fried cornbread Twinkie . Thank you for your knowledge and word smithing. I like to watch experienced owners like you to gain better knowledge understanding but most of all verbiage . That comparison alone
Thank you for the comments, Mr. November. You made my February. 😉
huh?
Thank-you, great video but how to keep windows from fogging up please ?
Most common cause for windows fogging up is poor ventilation around the windows. Make sure you open up any heavy drapes or window blinds to get proper air flow around the window.
Great video, thanks. What about curved automotive glass?
I got you covered. kzhead.info/sun/e8aGdNKqpGl5l6c/bejne.htmlsi=IpR2jEWJZGPU0Otr
Thank you for your informative video Internet and KZhead are things many industries hate. Did you notice what the gentleman said about the washing detergent? You can use your dishwashing detergent. That stuff is great. I use that in several solutions for different purposes.The industry produces different solutions and tries to make new needs so that they can sell their products more expensive. If you are not aware of it, you end up with a kitchen full of detergents
My wife uses a drop of dish soap to pretreat grease stains on cloths before washing. So handy.
I use white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle and wipe. I also use this on wood furniture, it’s amazing!
I add a bit of rubbing alcohol and small drop of Dawn to the vinegar and warm water. Alcohol acts as a drying agent. It does make a difference when you use a cloth instead of paper towels!
It causes streaks and it pretty much sucks. It's also way more work! Dawn dish soap and a squeegee with a simple clean up towel and you're done
Great tips...I find window cleaning so frustrating
Great the more cleaning Mayer mail you put n anything the harder it is 5o clean , happy window cleaning all😊
@@lauriemcdarby5368 , professionals do not use rubbing alcohol because it is costly, doesn't work effectively and you don't want to speed up evaporation. Use a lot of dish soap (1-2 oz in a bucket) and a few drops of surfactant, like Rinse Aid for your dishwasher. Change water frequently and make sure it is room temp, not warm, nor hot. The soap will cut the dirt and grease, the squeegee will push the cleaning water off the glass. Only clean up the wet edges, finding a clean spot on your cotton rags. One swipe on each side is adequate. Pre-cleaning the screens and frames helps a lot.
Hello! Loved your video but can you snapshot the exact tools you used in the video. I am trying to figure out which ones you used on your website. Thank you!
Hello Joanne, for a home owner or even someone starting a small window cleaning business, I’d recommend the Ettore residential kit www.thewindowcleaningstore.com/collections/window-cleaning-supplies/products/ettore-pro-residential-kit
If you just want a good squeegee and scrubber and don’t need anything else, I’d suggest an Unger squeegee www.thewindowcleaningstore.com/collections/window-cleaning-supplies/products/unger-ergotec-complete-squeegees and a pulex t bar scrubber www.thewindowcleaningstore.com/collections/window-cleaning-supplies/products/pulex-technolite-t-bar-scrubber-complete-with-microtiger-sleeve
Your shirt says black diamond rubber squeegie, I have not tried that rubber, is it any good? I like the ettore rubber but recently tried the unger green and am a believer in the green.
Black Diamond isn’t as good as Ettore. About the same as regular Pulex or Unger. Haven’t tried Unger green yet.
I’ve been cleaning for 40 years, the best thing to use is the glass cleaner in a can that is the best stuff any brand 😊in the can it doesn’t matter what brand name it is they work perfectly and you just use a towel or a chamois whatever you want to use to dry it off quick best thing ever to use😊😊
A trick I learned was to NOT wash windows when the sun is shining on them. Goes for mirrors too - turn off the bright vanity lights and let the mirror cool for a few minutes before cleaning.
You are correct.
LED lighting will help with this.
Your vacuumcleaner analogy does help explain it. But I think a better example would be broom vs mopping. Nevertheless good video mate!
Thanks for watching. A mop can still just move dirty water from area of the floor to another, though.
I switched to this method after watching the cliff hanger window cleaner guys clean the windows at my office building. Minus the cliff hanging part.
Haha good stuff!
is it best to use warm or cold water
Cold water out if the tap is fine most of the time. If the windows have staining like from tobacco smoke, then warm water helps. Keep in mind, the warmer the water, the faster the evaporation on the glass before you can properly squeegee it.
kzhead.info/sun/iLtue5xpqYNqeac/bejne.htmlsi=ydq1kgmNHiVvLM0p
Newspaper to wipe is the best
I always use distilled water when washing my windows with white vinegar and a squeegee. That is all. Then wipe with a microfiber cloth. I NEVER have any problems with streaking or left behind lint. 😊
I install solariums and have a ton of windows to clean at the end of the install. What would you use to clean dried silicone off the glass. The manufacturers of the windows get it all over the glass. Thanks
Magic eraser works good. Some say using them dry works even better.
@@WCSkills excellent. I haven’t tried that before. Thanks.
have 12 pane windows. approx. 6"x6" panes. what products would you reccommend for cleaning my windows ?
Two things you can do. Get a professional squeegee handle (Ettore brand or Unger brand) and a 6” squeegee channel. You could also try a microfibre glass cloth along with some spray foam cleaner like Sprayway. Not quite as good as a squeegee though.
Thanks for your knowledge. But I have a very hard time removing VAPE smoke from a window. Any help would be appreciated.
In the past dealing with tobacco stained windows, I used to add a few capfuls of Simple Green degreaser into my mix. If they were really bad, I usually had to do a repeat clean to get everything off.
Quit vaping😊
Can you put the soap water mix in a spray botttle to use instead of a bucket
Certainly. Some people will mix up their bucket of solution, then fill a spray bottle from that. Go around, clean a few windows then come back to the bucket to freshen up the T bar scrubber. When you go to clean a window, hold the scrubber on the glass and spray some solution just above it so it doesn't make a mess and then just start scrubbing away. It really doesn't take that much water. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for making this video. I’ve been getting frustrated with the traditional blue stuff leaving streaks. After watching this I used a windshield wiper off my car as a squeegee, and clean towels for the scrubbing. The windows and mirrors in the house now look great. I’ll definitely get a t scrubber and squeegee for future use. Thanks again.
Thanks' for your comment Jesse. When I first learned the proper (easy and affective) way to clean windows, I was so inspired that I started my own window cleaning business.
I love the windshield wiper hack for a squeegee!
Where can I buy the T scrubber and squeegee? Any particular brand that lasts?
Many choices of professional quality squeegees here: www.thewindowcleaningstore.com/collections/window-cleaning-supplies/squeegee-complete and several t bar scrubbers here: www.thewindowcleaningstore.com/collections/window-cleaning-supplies/t-bar-scrubbers-complete
What’s the ratio for the solution you use? A couple of squirts to half a bucket is quite vague. 10ml to 5L ?
Squeeze the bottle for the length of time it takes you to say the word “squirt”. So in about three gallons of water about two squirts then gently mix. Of course it’ll vary depending on brand of dish soap. If you find the glass does foam up a bit while scrubbing the glass, then just add a touch more. Foaming up too much, just cut back a bit next time.
This is timely. I just cleaned some door lights with windex and paper towels. Next day I see horrible streaks in the afternoon sunlight. I need to get a squeegee.
Yes, you'll do much better with a squeegee.