Are There Any Window Cleaners On Board Please?

[windywillow]

Can you recommend a window scrubber and squeegee please? I'm struggling to find a window cleaner in my area so I have decided to have a go at doing them myself. I live in a bungalow, so that's a plus.

I've tried with a couple of cheap squeegees and a pack of 'special window cleaning cloths' but cannot get a good streak-free result. I don't mind paying more for something that works. Any recommendations please? Thanks for any replies.

[Gizmonster]

I'm a window cleaner ..... bear with me whilst I scour the internet and browse some sites that I use.
I'll be back in a jiffy :)

[Atheist]

You could try a Karcher window vac. I mainly use mine for keeping the bath/shower dry (so as to avoid black mould appearance) but they also can be used for cleaning windows. The squeegee has a suction function to trap all the dirty water, and there is a little bottle attachment to let you scrub the glass with detergent before you suck (popular with the ladies, I'm told).

[windywillow]

Thanks Giz, appreciated.

Thanks Atheist. I've got one of those, I bought it a while ago but couldn't get on with it. Pesky streaks.

Perhaps I should get it out and try again, but I really like the idea of doing a good job with a scrubber and squeegee.

[mallyh]

i wash the windows with water with a squirt of washing up liquid and white vinegar ,hose off then use my karcher but after every downward stroke wipe the blade with kitchen roll ,they come up lovely ,no streaks .x

[windywillow]

That's good to know, thanks mallyh.

[Gizmonster]

You really only need a sponge to put the water on your window. Use a sponge similar to one you'd use for washing your car. Make your water soapy, but not too soapy, probably about the same as if you were doing the dishes. You could buy an applicator, but a sponge would be more than adequate.
If you wanted to be flash and use an applicator, you'd need to buy a t-bar and sleeve (I use a 25cm one)

The critical thing is to buy a decent squeegee - ettore and unger are probably the best.
I use the unger ergotec because it's got a quick release spring action when you need to change the rubber blade.
This is the one I use (30cm squeegee):
https://windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/products/unger-ergotec%C2%AE-s-channel-squeegee?variant=29408266846277

[Gizmonster]

Another site sells the handle and blade separately, but it works out a little cheaper:
https://www.wintecs.co.uk/window-cleaning-tools/squeegees-and-rubber/squeegee-handles/unger-ergotec-squeegee-handle/

https://www.wintecs.co.uk/traditional/squeegees-and-rubber/squeegee-channels/unger-s-channel-c-w-hard-or-soft-rubber/

[windywillow]

Thanks Giz, that's very kind of you. I'm going to dig out the Karcher to give it another go, and I will also buy one of those you recommend.

Re changing the rubber blade - do you have to do that often, and are replacements easy to find? I do of course realize you will wash a lot more windows than I will. :0)

[Gizmonster]

The black rubbers used to last me about a week or so, but I've found some really good hard-wearing ones that are red and I can sometimes get a few weeks, maybe a month out of one rubber.
For home use, I'd stick with the black ones and I'd be surprised if you had to change it more than once a year.

https://www.wintecs.co.uk/window-cleaning-kit/squeegees-and-rubber/squeegee-rubber/pulex-squeegee-rubber-ipc-eagle/

[windywillow]

Giz, I see there are 2 types of rubber (soft and hard). Could I get away with just buying one type of rubber?

[windywillow]

Thanks Giz. Cross-posted.

[Gizmonster]

The hard and soft rubbers are just different types of rubber - the hard is meant to last longer, but the soft is meant to feel easier to handle ..... but to be honest, I can never tell the difference and I usually just choose the hard rubber.

[jennyjoan]

I am back to chamois with white vinegar then dry off with newspapers windows like diamonds

[windywillow]

I've just ordered one from the first website, Giz.

I didn't see any mention of soft or hard rubber and the order has gone through, so I'll just see what turns up. Thanks again, much appreciated.

[windywillow]

Thanks Jenny, I thought about trying that but OH reckons some types of printing ink are bad for the windows. :0/

Perhaps I'll give it a go anyway. There's something very satisfying about having gleaming windows. Don't know how I managed to scare the window cleaner away. He only came once, then I never saw him again.

[diddlydo]

Why over-complicate an easy task? All you need is a wet E-cloth (or similar) with plain water to wash over followed by a dry E-cloth the wipe dry. Sparkling every time and no nasty chemicals used so very eco.

[Canary42]

I use plain water then polish dry with paper towels - perfectly clean and no smears. If greasy, a pre-wash with soapy water copes.

Too many people today are taken in by Marketing Hype.

[DTCwordfan]

wash as canary says but with a smidge of vinegar and wipe down and dry with Daily Telegraph pages - I am serious.

[windywillow]

Not tried E-cloths but I did buy a Spontex set of 2 window cloths, was expecting super streak-free windows (going by the reviews). Alas, I got no such thing.

[jennyjoan]

I have a Karcher and I do use it for windows that you can't see ie dining room as they are very large as shop windows - that's ok

But the sparkling ones are in the living room. This white vinegar has been phenomenal to me as I also use it for washing my laminate floors because with all the floor cleaners I used they were coming up streaky too. Now no streaks and the floor does look very clean.