Shining Windows, tips and tricks to window cleaning..
Equipment
To get off to a good start with cleaning your windows, it's
important to have good quality equipment. Some of this may be a little
more specialised, but you should be able to find it all at a large
hardware store, or a cleaning supplies shop - just type "cleaning supplies" into a search engine to find one close to you.
Here is a list of what you would find in my window cleaning bucket
- Bucket - Preferably wide enough to fit the
squeegee and mop in. This one on the right is great for professionals,
but a little over the top for householders.
- Squeegee - There are huge differences in quality available, and this is probably the most crucial tool of all. So I suggest purchasing a good one, not like the ones you find at petrol stations. Unger, Ettore, are recommended brands.
Good quality squeegees will usually come assembled from three pieces. The handle, the channel and the piece of rubber
supported by the channel. The rubber can be turned over when it gets
old, and then replaced when both sides have worn out. (Window cleaners
usually have their favourite brand of rubber, but I don't think it makes
a big difference.) I have various sizes from 4 inches to 40 inches, but I use the 14 inch squeegee about 90% of the time.
- Mop (Also called 'Washer' and 'Wand'.) - This comes in two pieces: the plastic t-bar and the sleeve.
When the sleeve gets dirty, you can detach it from the t-bar and put it
in the washing machine. It's usually attached by Velcro or buttons. 14
inches is a good length.
The sleeves come in different versions: Porcupine - with little plastic bits throughout it to help scrub off tough marks, Regular, Scourer - with a scouring strip on one side. But my favourite is definitely the Water Retention one. It's handy not to have to return to the bucket so much to dab more water on it.
The handles can either be fixed, or swivel. The swivel one is easier on the wrist and far better when using a pole.
- Scraper
- this comes with replaceable metal blades and is useful to get tough
marks off, such as paint, varnish or stubborn insect marks. A little one
inch, pocket scrapper (as seen to the right) is usually enough for most
maintenance jobs, but larger 3 and 6 inch ones that fit onto the end of
the pole are good for scraping larger areas.
Take care using scrapers on glass! If you don't know the correct methods, you could cause permanent damage! Check point 2 in 'How to do it' below.
- Detergent - I hate to be the one that lets
the cat out of the bag since there are a lot of window cleaners who
jealously guard their secret formula, but I don't see any point in not
telling. 'Morning Fresh' and 'Palmolive' are probably the most popular
detergents. At the cleaning supplies shop you can spend a lot of money
on all kinds of window cleaning detergents. I've tried a lot of them,
and seem to always come back to Palmolive (soft on the hands and does a
great job). Some people recommend vinegar in warm water. The biggest problem
with this is that it doesn't sud up. The suds are important to lubricate
the rubber as it passes over the glass, making it a lot easier to turn
the squeegee. They also make it easier to see any water marks that need
wiping off. In fact, they help to show up areas that need more scrubbing
because the pattern of the bubbles separate more where there is a
finger mark or some other dirt.
Other things not in the bucket
- Scrims/Rags - Usually a
cotton towel or a micro-fibre cloth. More about how to use them later.
- Poles - I carry a short one that extends. It
is 1.5m closed, 2.3m opened. This can be very handy for certain windows -
but you need to know how to use it. I also use a 4 section pole that
extends to 3 storeys high
- Ladders - I find a three step step-ladder is
very useful, and the extension ladder that reaches about 2.5 storeys
high - not advised for anyone not confident being at heights.
- Saftey Equipment - I use a ladder stopper, this great design significantly reduces the risk of movement between the ladder and the surface being used. Always ask someone to foot the ladder on ground that is not level, wet surfaces and loose gravel.
- Tool belt - This supports a side bucket and is a good place to easily access your scrapper and rags.
- Bucket-on-a-Belt - This is really just for
the professionals. It is a small bucket that hangs down one leg off a
belt around the waist. It is a great place to easily stash you mop and
squeegee, saving them from dripping all over the place, and also giving
you two free hands while walking up the ladder, on the roof etc.
How to do it
Assuming you have at least the basics of the above tools, I'll now describe how to actually use them.
- Fill the bucket to about half or a bit less with cold water.
Hot water will make the water evaporate too quickly. Put a few squirts
of detergent into the water.
- Apply the wet mop onto the window. Give it a good
rub to make sure all the dirt is lifted. This is the time to scrape any
stubborn marks off with the scrapper. If you need to use the scrapper,
make sure to only pass the blade in the forward direction, i.e. don't
scrape backwards - this could drag the dirt, cement etc across the glass
causing scratches.
- Now get the squeegee ready. Let's assume you're right-handed.
Hold the handle of the squeegee in your right hand with your thumb half
way between the top and side. When you place it on the glass, you want
to have it at the correct angle and pressure.
- Now you are ready to clean the water off the glass with the
squeegee. Start at the top left corner and snake you way down the
window. Make sure to go right to the edges. With a little practice, you
will be able to manage this with no water marks left in the middle of
the window.
- It is nearly impossible to do a window without having to wipe
the edges. Even the pros normally have to do this! That's where the scrim comes in. This is great for getting rid of those water
marks anywhere on the glass. Use it dry. You can just put it in the
washing machine when it's too wet or dirty.
- Use the micro fibre cloth or wet scrim to wipe up any water spilt onto the window sill, frames and the floor.
- If there are any other marks, such as little insect marks or
grubby finger marks that didn't quite come off, give it a rub with a
clean part of the scrim or micro-fibre cloth, or start again with the mop. That's
it! Your shining windows will look fantastic!
- Now do the same on both sides to all the windows you want clean.
