& Gutters    

Did you know glass is a very slow-flowing liquid? So it is important to keep your windows clean with the proper cleaning techniques. Dust and dirt are very abrasive and can damage the glass surface.

If you have ever watched a professional window washer, you probably did not see him using a spray bottle and a roll of paper towels. This technique removes much of the abrasive dirt, but some of it is just spread in a film over the glass. It may look fine at night, but when the sun hits it, it is a mess.

Every good window washer has four basic tools: 1. Lamb’s wool scrubber, 2. Water and detergent, 3. Squeegee, and 4. Lint-free towels.First use a wand to soak the window with solution. A medium-to-long-nap fleece lamb’s wool scrubber is effective for applying the soapy solution and is a must for a good job. The key is to get the scrubber well saturated with the solution so that it picks up the majority of the dirt as it floods and rinses the glass. You want the window to stay wet for as long as possible, especially if it is in the bright sun. (And we avoid cleaning windows in the bright sun. We always try to work in the shade.) Just let the windows soak for a little bit and soften up the dirt. If it starts to dry a little, we scrub and wet it again just before we squeegee it off. That way, when the glass is squeegeed dry, only clean solution is being squeegeed off.

Remember that glass is relatively soft and porous, so rubbing it hard with dirty paper towels (or a kitchen scrubber) can scratch and dull its surface over time. If you want the cleaning solution that the pros use, you can find it at any janitorial supply store. Or make your own with a bucket of warm water and just a teaspoon (too much soap can cause streaks) of a good dishwashing liquid.

If some of the windows still have some specks of cement, paint, bug spots, or tree sap on them, try using your thumbnail and lots of soapy water. A scraper can help, but look out! If you do try a razor blade scraper, always make sure that the blade has soapy water for lubricant, and that the window is wet with soapy water as well. A dry blade will scratch the window. Always use a new blade that has no burrs that may scratch the glass.

The third tool is a high-quality, professional squeegee with a brass body (12-18“wide) and replaceable rubber blades. Brass is a relatively soft metal, so it will not scratch the glass unless you bump it hard. Using the squeegee properly to remove all the water is a very important step. Every drop you put on the glass, has to come back off, or you're leaving dirt on the window.When you can, use a horizontal pass across the window starting with your squeegee at the top. If you are using a pole, you can squeegee from top to bottom tilting the squeegee down on the dry side so that the water flows up to the still wet area. After each stroke, wipe off the squeegee with your lint-free towel (most paint stores sell these). Overlap each stroke by about two inches for the best results.

When you are done with the squeegee, use a blue hospital towel, which is very absorbent, lint free and reusable. Terrycloth is a good second choice. Don't waste time using a damp towel; it won't get every drop. Keep a supply of dry towels on hand, and switch often. Wipe the towel down each edge of the glass and across the top to remove any drips before they drip.

Then step back and enjoy the good feeling we all get from SPARKLING CLEAN WINDOWS.