[FR] Cleaning windows without streaks ? Instructions for use

Cleaning windows without leaving streaks can be a real challenge… Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks to make the job easy and professional. With RAJA, choose the right cleaning product and apply our tips at home or in the office for crystal-clear results.

1. The weather is your best friend

To start with, we recommend looking outside. Is it raining? If so, there’s no point in starting to clean windows. The same applies if the sun is shining too brightly. The power and heat of the rays can cause the detergent to dry too quickly. The result is stubborn marks that you want to avoid. In short, it’s best to clean your windows on a dry, overcast day.

2. Window cleaners: essential for streak-free cleaning

A good window cleaner is the absolute foundation of your cleaning. This product loosens dirt and removes grease residues. All that’s left is a streak-free shine. And that’s exactly what we want!

There are many brands of window cleaner. You can even decide to use Marseille soap or brown soap, which are often just as effective. Most window cleaners you’ll find on the market dry quickly and have a high degreasing power. You can buy them in 5-litre bottles, sprays, aerosols or even wipes. More and more of these products are made from sustainable ingredients, making them an interesting and equally effective alternative to traditional cleaning products.

3. The right equipment for cleaning windows with

With the right equipment, you can clean your windows effectively, without streaks or scratches. Simply keep the items below to hand.

1. Lint-free microfibre cloth: essential during the preparation process. It will remove most of the dust and dirt from the window before you start cleaning.
2. Wetting agent or sponge: used to wet windows.
3. Squeegees : this cleaning equipment wipes dirt from the window and collects dirty water. Soft and flexible squeegees are suitable for low temperatures and relatively irregular surfaces. A rigid squeegee is recommended for higher temperatures and very large, flat surfaces. Finally, you can use a cleaning cloth to wipe away excess dirty water
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4. Chamois leather : makes it much easier to wipe the glass at the end of the cleaning process.
5. Telescopic handle: use this type of handle to gently wash a large number of windows. Even without a ladder, it makes it easy to reach high surfaces.
6. Window scraper: use this scraper to get rid of even the toughest stains. You can remove dirt, paint and glue effortlessly. Remember to always use a window scraper at the beginning of the cleaning process, i.e. before you start the streak-free wash.

4. What is the best technique?

Once you’ve chosen the right window cleaner and cleaning equipment, you can follow the steps below for a perfect, streak-free wash.

4.1 Prepare the windows

Before cleaning the glass itself, we recommend carefully dusting the window frame (i.e. the edges of the window) with a cloth. Start on the inside. This will prevent any dirt from the window frame getting back onto the glass during the cleaning process.

Next, place an absorbent cloth (A) under the bottom edge of the window to be cleaned. This cloth will retain any excess dirty water during cleaning. Keep a second absorbent cloth (B) handy to wipe your squeegee after each movement. You can place this cloth over your shoulder or in the back pocket of your work trousers.

4.2 Wet the glass and remove any dirt

For the second step, you can add the glass cleaning product. Apply the product of your choice to the surface of the glass. Start at the top. Rub the glass well and work up a lather using a simple sponge, microfibre cloth or dampener. To avoid drips, rub a cloth 3 or 4 centimetres along the four edges of the glass (top, bottom, left, right).

4.3 Use the window squeegee to finish the job

Hold the squeegee horizontally and start at the top corner of the window, level with the window frame. Press the rubber blade against the glass and work your way down in a steady motion. Make sure you barely touch the window frame at the bottom, so that the dirty water doesn’t run off too quickly.

After each movement, wipe the squeegee with a cloth (B). Reposition the tool at the top of the window and scrape a new vertical strip. Leave a few centimetres of overlap with the previous strip you wiped off. No dirty water or window cleaner should remain between two strips. Repeat these steps until the entire window has been cleaned.

As a final step, briefly scrape horizontally across the bottom of the window until you reach the absorbent cloth (A). This should catch the last drops of dirty water. If necessary, wipe the area around the window with a cloth or mop.

5. Cleaning windows the “American way

The “American” cleaning technique involves wiping the entire pane in a single stroke, without lifting the squeegee. This technique is quicker, but requires more experience to really master. Proceed as follows.

After thoroughly wetting the window with the glass cleaner, place the squeegee vertically on the top left of the window frame (or on the right if you’re left-handed). Using a smooth movement, pull the squeegee vertically to the right, along the edge of the window frame, without lifting the squeegee. Once on the right, turn your wrist 180° downwards and pass the squeegee in the opposite direction across the window, sweeping a new strip overlapping the previous one by a few centimetres.

No cleaning product should remain on the glass between these two strips. Continue in this way until you reach the absorbent cloth (A) at the bottom of the window, which will collect any excess dirty water. Wipe the glass again with a clean cloth (B) to remove the last traces of the squeegee. For a perfect, streak-free result, we recommend using a microfibre cloth or chamois.