Nine Tools Professionals Use That Make the Difference

Keeping your windows clean is a great way to enhance the appeal of your home and brighten up your living spaces. To achieve streak-free and spotless windows, having the right tools is essential. In this article, we’ll list a few of the tools professionals use day-to-day and give you the inside scoop on which brands are our favorite.

1. Squeegee

A quality squeegee is a must-have for effective window cleaning. At Penguin, our preferred brand of squeegee is SORBO. It costs a little more to get a “swivel” squeegee but the versatility is worth the investment. Starting with a 18-20" long squeegee is a great idea, but having an additional small squeegee can really pay off depending on the job. For a small squeegee, 6"-12" is a good size.

2. Mop

Also called a scrubber. This is an essential tool for window cleaning and does the bulk of the work removing grime. We recommend the same sizes you would get for a squeegee, but buying a second mop isn’t necessary for most work. A single 18" mop is a great starting point. You can use the ends of the mop to wet smaller windows.

3. Dawn soap

Surprise! The most common solution window cleaners use is water and dawn soap. It is very safe to use - it will not damage your eyes, pets or children around you. A quick squeeze is sufficient for general use. A more soapy mixture is good for restaurants and dining spaces.

4. Microfiber rags

Microfiber rags are excellent for cleaning window sills, frames and removing stubborn fingerprints and grease. We try to keep our microfiber rags dry for as long as possible, but getting a corner slightly damp will increase its cleaning power for getting off small debris. On the other hand, they are not the best rag for wiping residual water after you squeegee (known as “detailing.”) This task is better handled by our next item:

5. Surgical towels

We also call these “detail rags.” We try to keep our detail rags away from dust, dirt and the ground. We also put these rags on our window cleaning poles to “detail” around the frame of hard-to-reach windows. This is an important step so that water does not run down and ruin your hard work!

6. Bucket

Rectangular buckets designed for window cleaning are widely available. However, 5 gallon buckets work fine, and this is what we use.

7. Extension Pole

An extension pole is a great tool if your windows are out of arms reach. A great cheap option are Unger brand poles. $34 at Home Depot gets you a pole that extends from 6 feet to 12. There is an entire market and industry for professional window cleaning poles so there is certainly more to explore, but this will get you started.

8. Steel Wool

For windows with paint overspray or other material that cannot be removed with a microber rag or your fingernail, steel wool can be a great option. Make sure you purchase #0000 grade steel wool as it should be safe on most windows (always test on an inconspicuous area first.) It’s very important that you keep your steel wool dry and dispose of it when rust appears. Rust WILL scratch windows!

9. Scraper

Scrapers are a fantastic tool for removing adhesive, paint, stickers and a variety of other annoyances. This option is the LEAST safe in the hands of an inexperienced operator and is the final option to use ONLY if a homeowner or business agrees to the inherent risk of using this tool. Tempered glass, commonly installed in doors, commercial settings and other areas where glass can be impacted is prone to scratching.

In a future blogpost we’ll discuss the question: can you save money cleaning windows yourself?

Thanks you for reading and have a great day.

Grayson @ Penguin Cleaning Services