Need some straight advice from you pros

Okay. Maybe bit off more than I can chew.
Agreed to clean windows in addition to the floor cleaning provided our commercial cleaning company. My partner and I have been having serious issues with leaving behind very unseemly foggy/streaking marks around the windows boarders. Also the decals on the windows seem to make getting all the water off the window- INSANLEY difficult. Give it to me strait. What tools do I need to just purchase. What would help us not spend an hour and a half cleaning what may take others 30 mins. This is a commercial resturant with lots of greasy fingers! The windows are very large. What solution, towels and equipment.

A lot of janitorial company’s sub their window cleaning out to professionals. Maybe you could search around your area for a local window cleaner to pass work to.

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Many janitorial companies do not do windows because they simply are not equipped to do so, or staff is too busy with the rest of their duties to clean windows too. Often times people think that it can’t be that hard to clean windows, then when they are actually in a position to do it for a living, they find out that there is a lot more to it.
As already stated, perhaps you should sub it out to a professional window cleaner.

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All you need is a squeegee, some soapy water, a towel, and about 2000 hours of practice.

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On the one hand, window cleaning isn’t rocket science. On the other hand, it’s actually not nearly as easy as it looks (to do it right). Like @Samuel said, it takes lots of practice.

For those stickers you’ll need to use as little water as possible. I actually like to pass the squeegee over them twice. Then wipe each one with your rag before it drips. Finish by detailing any drips that may have gotten through anyway. Shouldn’t take long.

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If I were doing storefronts I’d so buy one of these,

https://windowcleaner.com/unger-stingray-indoor-cleaning-kit

I started out in the cleaning business as a storefront window cleaner. I started taking on JANITORIAL ACCOUNTS and window cleaning business changed into a janitorial business that did some windows. I found out how hard it is to clean windows professionally when I tried to train the office cleaning people to clean windows. I eventually sold my window cleaning business off because training the help was to difficult. When all I did was windows it was much easier to find and develop window cleaners.

I have done almost every kind of cleaning there is, and it’s my opinion that cleaning windows professionally is the most difficult to learn. JMO

PS
As a general rule janitorial staff suck at window cleaning. That’s a fact.

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Do the windows with the decals on them first.
Let them drip out while you do something else.
Come back and detail around them when the water around the decals has dried.

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restaurants are hard work if theyve not been done every week consistently . i think if i was you id clean and reclean them about 3 times [whole panes] and by the end of that third clean they should be acceptable

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Magic eraser dipped in your cleaning solutuon will help get all those smudge and finger prints off- easy peasy.

Fogging streaking is usually because the solution drys out before you squeege it. Need more water/ solution on the window.

As far as solution, because your new to WC, i’d suggest dawn and water. 1/4 oz / gallon.

Towels: i suggest surgical towels. One will go a long way.

Then of course, get an applicator and squeegee if you don’t have one. I like Sorbo with Ninja handle.

As far as the decals, im not sure i understand your dilemma.

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When grease is involved it’s hard to beat TSP.

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Thanks for the response!

Few quick questions.

How long will a single magic eraser last?
Best surgical towel brand?
And just to clarify a Sorbo rubber with the ninja handle?

And about the decals. Here is a picture I found on google- almost exactly what I’m dealing with. There is always a nasty ring around the sticker edge. Sometimes even a drip.

It feels like the entire job has been practicing every weekend. Fortunately the business owner is understanding and is giving us time to get better. Much respect. This stuff is difficult!

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It really isn’t that difficult. The difficulty manifests itself in the form of stamina…

There’s just a set of steps to take to achive professional results. That’s why we consider ourselves professionals. Because we take the time needed in order to learn the steps inside and out. The best window cleaners, IMO, specialize in cleaning glass.

In terms of the vinyl, just run a dry towel around the edge…

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Magic eraser will last depending on use of course. I average 1 a week. But have had jobs where i go though a brand-new one.
These are the towels i use. From Amazon. I also have a scrim.

I use 22" sorbo channel (also from Amazon, comes with good rubber) with Unger Ninja handle (very light weight).

Decals: it’s normal for them to drip after squeegee. Always dry around them. If they are perforated decals, then you should not wash over them.

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I wash over perforated vinyl all the time… Lol

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You’re not new to the industry.

I do too, but I’ve seen many ruiend decals (edges, and stained) from ppl washing over them.

0000 Steel wool. Takes away any mess don’t catch with my mop. If you do buy it beware it can rust when exposed to water. But a strip or so will last a day no problem.

They don’t last long if they get wet. But they are cheap. I prefer white scrubby pads.

Rarely do I need to use anything but Extra soap in the water to cut the greasy smudges and finger print.

You can get all your supplies here WCR has everything you will need. The customer service is fantastic. Here a link to the store.

https://shopwindowcleaningresource.com/

Here’s a link to a popular thread to help you decide what setup (tools) you should use.

I use a 18" washer swivel handle and 18" squeegee channel with a ledge eze handle and 6" channel for frames on storefronts, I also always carry a zero degree handle, for storefronts. I use dawn for the soap I add glisten when its hot out to the solution of water and dawn it lessen the evaporation time of your solution on hot glass, during the winter I add windshield washer fluid to the solution so the water won’t freeze.

Huck towel just pick up a dozen from the store here or a 5lbs bag of them.
In regards to the decals wipe the initial drips and then once there dry wipe the edges of the decal.

Hope this helps.

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Look into learning the dive bomb technique, this will help on your edges, for decal work, try not to use too much solution and you may have to squeegee up and down and left to right so you get most of the decal lettering, even after that a lil detailing might be necessary

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