Residential Window Washers Secrets from Professionals

Window washing is a tedious but necessary task that most homeowners try to take on themselves. But what you may not know is that by hiring professional residential window washers, you can ensure the job gets done right and your windows stay streak-free. Here are some secrets from the professionals on how to get your windows looking their best!

1) Only use professional window cleaning products.

Using the right products is vital to getting a deep, streak-free shine on your windows, but if you’re using dish soap, window cleaners made for cars or household cleaners, you could be doing more harm than good. These are designed for surfaces that are meant to be cleaned with soap and water, like bathtubs or countertops.

2) Don’t skimp on the squeegee or cloth.

The tools you use will also affect how clean your windows get. If you don’t use a professional-grade squeegee that has rubber blades and a solid construction, you’ll just push the dirt and grime around your windows instead of removing it.

3) Get into all the grooves and hard-to-reach edges.

One of the most common complaints about window washers is they don’t do a very thorough job, either because they’re rushing to finish the job or they don’t know how to cater their techniques to each specific window. Professionals aren’t intimidated by hard-to-reach corners, narrow panes around the sash or the grooves on double hung windows.

4) Look for streaks, not spots.

If you look at your windows and can see obvious streaks, it means you’ve probably made a mistake somewhere along the line: either with the products you’re using or how you applied them. If this is the case, stop what you’re doing and start over.

5) Don’t forget to clean the window tracks, screens and sills as well as the glass itself.

Most professional residential window washers also clean vertical screen tracks as a matter of course. You don’t have to go that far, but you should at least vacuum them out to keep dirt from caking up in there over time. If you have hard-to-reach places in between your window panes, you can use a cloth or Q-tip to get them clean.

6) Be patient with the drying process and don’t overdo it on the final touches.

A lot of people tend to rush when they’re finished washing their windows, but if you remove too much of the solvent for the final bits of drying, you’ll just be inviting streaks and smudges. You should also resist the urge to get into all the nooks and crannies of each window with a cloth or paper towel.

7) Always follow up with a glass cleaner.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re using your own solution or the professional stuff: You should use a product that’s specifically for cleaning glass after you’ve finished window washing to remove any remaining streaks or residue, and to buff up the shine on your windows before you call it a day.

8) Remember, the professionals are only human.

A lot of people get upset when they pay for a top-notch service and come home to find streaks or smudges on their windows. But, remember this: The pros are only human, too. If you’re checking up on them as they work, you may find they make mistakes or overlook spots.

9) Take advantage of the professionals’ attention to detail and request other related services during your visit.

You probably won’t be too surprised when we say that the pros have a lot of experience in housekeeping jobs, but did you know that they can also give your home a thorough cleaning? That means they can dust off furniture, take out the trash and vacuum carpets.

10) For wood and aluminum siding, use a different squeegee than you would to wash your windows.

You may be tempted to use the same squeegee to clean your wooden or aluminum siding, but that’s not such a good idea: It can damage both surfaces if you’re not careful. If you’d like to add this job to the list, be sure to use a softer implementation.