{"id":398,"date":"2021-09-10T15:55:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T15:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/blog\/best-tools-and-liquids-that-professional-window-washers-use\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T22:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T22:19:07","slug":"best-tools-and-liquids-that-professional-window-washers-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/blog\/best-tools-and-liquids-that-professional-window-washers-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Tools and Liquids that Professional Window Washers Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We all know that there\u2019s no better clean feeling than one that\u2019s been professionally done. That\u2019s why realtors hire people to deep clean a house before showing. Professional cleaning just has a better feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows are no different. In Texas, those windows can get filthy from dust and rain and that lovely gulf humidity. It\u2019s almost impossible to keep windows clean! That\u2019s why Shine Window Cleaning is going to give you the scoop on some\u00a0<strong>professional insight to<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/our-services\/window-cleaning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>\u00a0keep your windows sparkling clean<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Related:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/dallas-highland-park\/about-us\/blog\/2021\/april\/how-to-prepare-for-the-texas-pollen-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Prepare for the Texas Pollen Season<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Basic Window Washing Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While you might not have access to everything the pros use, there is a good amount of equipment that is easily accessible to the public in home centers and hardware stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the supplies you\u2019ll need for quality clean windows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Squeegee.<\/strong>\u00a0We recommend using a ten or twelve-inch one, but larger or smaller windows may require a different size.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A Sponge.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>A five-gallon bucket.\u00a0<\/strong>Plastic is just fine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dish soap.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Towels.<\/strong>\u00a0We recommend using lint-free rags.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A ladder<\/strong>\u00a0and possibly a ladder stabilizer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro Tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For the best look, make sure the squeegee has a nice new rubber blade on it.<\/li>\n<li>Pick up a few extra blades. You can extend the life of an un-nicked edge by reversing them on the squeegee.<\/li>\n<li>Be sure that nothing is touching the blade of the squeegee when storing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cleaning Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find different cleaning solutions on the market.\u00a0<strong>Some cleaners are concentrated<\/strong>, and others are ready to use. If you use one of these, be sure to\u00a0<strong>read the directions<\/strong>\u00a0as they can be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DIY Window Solution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our favorite\u00a0<strong>easy-to-use homemade\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/our-services\/window-cleaning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>window cleaning<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0solution<\/strong>\u00a0is a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid. Mix in your\u00a0<strong>five-gallon bucket two gallons of water and add about a teaspoon of the soap<\/strong>. You can also use a\u00a0<strong>fifty-fifty mix of water and vinegar<\/strong>\u00a0to clean windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro Tip:\u00a0<\/strong>If you are washing windows in cold temperatures, close to or below freezing, add some\u00a0<strong>windshield washing solution<\/strong>\u00a0to your soap mixture so that it doesn\u2019t freeze on the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Clean Your Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scrub the glass.<\/strong>\u00a0After you have all of the necessary supplies, the first step is to scrub the window. Make sure you get every inch of the glass. We find it best to work horizontally, but you may mix those strokes with vertical and angled movements as well.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make a clean strip.<\/strong>\u00a0By tilting your squeegee, you can use the corner of it to create a strip of clean window glass down one side. This small clean space will give you a starting point and make the rest of the glass easier to clean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start at the top.<\/strong>\u00a0Place your squeegee against the glass where your clean strip is. Keep the pressure on it as you drag it horizontally across the window. Make sure that you keep the edge of the squeegee against the top edge of the window.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wipe the Squeegee.<\/strong>\u00a0This is how you get perfect streak-free windows. Wipe the blade of the squeegee across the clean towel. We find that it helps to tuck it partially into your pocket. This gets rid of excess water and gives you a clean blade for the next swipe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeat.<\/strong>\u00a0As you clean your way down the window, make sure to overlap the previous stroke by\u00a0<strong>about two inches<\/strong>. It also helps to angle the squeegee slightly. This pushes any excess water down to the part you haven\u2019t cleaned yet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Final touches.<\/strong>\u00a0Once you have squeegeed the entire window grab a clean rag. Take your finger and a clean, dry spot on the cloth and run it around the perimeter of the window.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enjoy your clean window!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1624 aligncenter lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/10\/westlake-pool-150x150-1.jpg\" alt=\"Shine window cleaners cleaning a house with a pool in westlake\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\" \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Want clean windows in one easy step?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Shine Window Cleaning<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>\u00a0guarantees you\u2019ll love your clean windows or your money back! Shine is now cleaning windows across the\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/location\/highland-park\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Dallas\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>and\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake\/?utm_source=GMB&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=WestLakeHills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Austin\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>areas of Texas.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Related:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/dallas-highland-park\/about-us\/blog\/2021\/may\/how-to-prepare-for-an-open-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Prepare for an Open House<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not just for outside window cleaning! Clean your inside windows too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can quickly adapt this same cleaning method inside your house as well. Pro cleaners have been known to use squeegees on many different surfaces, too, like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bobvila.com\/articles\/how-to-varnish-wood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">varnished woodwork<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/our-services\/window-cleaning\/interior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cleaning windows indoors<\/a>\u00a0is to\u00a0<strong>keep excess water to a minimum<\/strong>. Be sure to squeeze out the scrubber to\u00a0<strong>prevent dripping<\/strong>. Another way to keep your scrubber free of excess moisture is rather than dropping it back into the bucket, just rest it on edge. Depending on how dirty your windows are,\u00a0<strong>you can wash between five and ten windows before needing to rinse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Keep one rag halfway in your pocket to quickly clean up any runs, and have a separate clean rag to finish wiping away excess water from the glass perimeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Change a Squeegee Blade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Remove the old blade<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Grab the end of the old blade and stretch it out. This will\u00a0<strong>expose a metal clip<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Slide the clip off<\/strong>. Some clips are attached with a few screws, and remove the word blade.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Install the new blade<\/strong>\u00a0by sliding it into the metal channel.<\/li>\n<li>Stretch the new blade and\u00a0<strong>reattach the metal clip<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If necessary,\u00a0<strong>trim the new blade<\/strong>. Be sure to leave some excess.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2992 aligncenter wp-image-397 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/10\/Shine-Employee-Cleaning-Window-5-150x150-1.jpg\" alt=\"shine-employee-cleaning-window\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Tips for Hard to Clean Windows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Related:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/dallas-highland-park\/about-us\/blog\/2021\/march\/why-is-spring-cleaning-important-\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Why is Spring Cleaning Important?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes you will have a window that refuses to come clean, such as those with paint specks or labels. Here are some quick tips to ensure all of your windows look spotless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a\u00a0<strong>razor blade with a holder to help remove surface imperfections or reside<\/strong>. For best results, use a new blade and make sure it\u2019s wet. Rinse the blade between passes to avoid scratching the glass.\u00a0<strong>Never use a razor blade on\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/how-is-tempered-glass-mad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>tempered glass<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Remove any bug droppings\u00a0<strong>with a fine scrub pad<\/strong>. Always test first in an inconspicuous area to ensure you aren\u2019t scratching the surface. Make sure the glass and scrub are both wet.<\/li>\n<li>For adamant glass stains such as mineral deposits, you can use\u00a0<strong>mild household abrasive cleaners and a power drill<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Mix\u00a0<strong>\u00bd cup of ammonia with a gallon of water<\/strong>\u00a0for a heavier cleaner.<\/li>\n<li>Products like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/goofoffproducts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Goof Off<\/a>\u00a0can easily be picked up at a hardware store and can help\u00a0<strong>remove sticky residue from windows<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Want clean windows without the hassle?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shine-windowcleaning.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Shine Window Cleaning<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>\u00a0helps you spend more time with your family while making your home brighter.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all know that there\u2019s no better clean feeling than one that\u2019s been professionally done. That\u2019s why realtors hire people to deep clean a house before showing. Professional cleaning just has a better feel. Windows are no different. In Texas, those windows can get filthy from dust and rain and that lovely gulf humidity. It\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":506,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions\/506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}