|
|
How to Wash Windows Like a Pro
by Steve Hanson
Have you ever watched a professional window washer do his or her job,
and wonder how s/he does such a perfect job so quickly, and only with
the simplest of tools? When it comes to window washing, there are some
important tricks of the trade that you need to learn, before you can be
confident in the fact that you wash windows like a pro. Believe it or
not, when you know what you're doing, you may actually find that you
enjoy window washing.
The first trick is to arm yourself with the right window washing tools.
This includes a good quality squeegee, applicator, scraper, window
bucket, and microfiber cloths. The squeegee should be a 10" to 16"
professional quality brass or stainless steel squeegee, depending on the
size of window you'll be cleaning. To compliment the work your squeegee
will do, you'll also want a quality window scrubber and possibly an
extension pole if you'll be working on high windows. You don't want to
leave lint on the window from your cloths, so we suggest using
microfiber cloths, which are lint-free. You might also consider
purchasing a tool belt especially designed to hold your window washing
tools. This will allow you to complete the job faster - you'll need to
do less bending by setting one tool down and picking another up.
Though window washing can be done at any time, the best conditions for
washing windows are when it is a cool, cloudy (but not rainy) day. You
never want to wash windows in direct sunlight because they'll dry out
too fast and leave streaks.
Your technique should be as follows: fill your window washing bucket
with cool or lukewarm water (never hot) and add a small amount of
dishwashing soap. Wipe away any cobwebs or debris on or around the
window. Dip the applicator into the bucket and run your hand across the
applicator to get rid of excess liquid. Wet the window with the
applicator and scrub. The window will begin to feel clean when it is
done, as it will no longer have any rough patches. If you need to use a
scraper to get rid of stubborn spots, be sure that the window is wet -
never scrape a dry window.
Now for the streak-free window. When window washing, you can ensure that
you won't leave any streaks by using a dry rubber blade. Place this
blade against the top of the window, and pull down smoothly, using a rag
to dry your blade between each stroke. Repeat this process until the
window is complete, being sure to overlap the dry edge of the squeegee
with the dry portion of the window in order to prevent drips and
streaks. To complete the window, you need to do one final stroke from
left to right at the very bottom of the window. Use a dry microfiber
cloth and run it around the edges of the window to soak up any remaining
drips.
As you improve your basic window washing technique, you may want to
learn other techniques such as the swirl, which can make the job go even
quicker. When using the more advanced techniques you'll be able to wash
a window in one step without having to stop and wipe your squeegee
between strokes.
Congratulations, you now have a sparkling clean window!
About the author
Steve Hanson is
co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for
owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more
profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip
of the Week at
http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!
|
|
