Glass surfaces are dust and dirt magnets.
Because of their crystal clear appearance, it’s easy to notice when they’re dirty, have finger marks all over, and especially water streaks after a poor clean.
Have you ever noticed streak marks all over your glass windows, doors, and walls, even though the cleaner just cleaned them 5 minutes ago?
Do they look almost as dirty as they were before?
We won’t deny that glass cleaning can be a tedious task. However, it must be done regularly, and by a commercial cleaning service who knows how to get the job done the right way.
So how should glass surfaces be cleaned? Is there a correct procedure or technique that needs to be followed?
At In-Tec, we have many clients come to us regarding glass cleaning and how it should be done. That’s why in this article, we’re going to go through the exact process so you’ll know exactly what’s involved when your cleaner conducts this regular periodical.
Did you know that it’s best to clean glass during the day?
Let’s consider a scenario.
At one point or another, you may have noticed a cobweb in the corner of your home during the day. But when you’ve gone back to that same spot at night time to see it, it’s not there…or, at least, you can’t see it.
This also happens with glass cleaning!
Cleaning glass during the night is difficult as the cleaner won’t be able to see any watermarks or spots that may have been left on the glass. Whereas during the day, the cleaner has natural light coming into the space that enables them to see more.
If you want the best outcome, your cleaners should be cleaning your glass surfaces during the day. They’ll be able to see any visible streak marks that may appear on the glass.
“How is it possible to clean glass without leaving streaks? I’ve tried it before, and it just doesn’t work!”
The real question we need to ask then is – how should a commercial cleaner properly clean glass surfaces?
But wait, before we get ahead of ourselves, what type of glass surfaces are we talking about?
Anything from glass windows, doors, and walls!
In this section of the article, we’re going to go through the glass cleaning process from start to finish. We’re also going to mention what solutions and equipment the team at In-Tec use to get the job done.
Before our cleaners start any major tasks, they need to do all the important behind-the-scenes stuff to get them prepared for the job to come.
This includes removing anything off the glass walls, doors, and/or windows such as sticky tape or blu tack.
The cleaner then makes sure the area is safe to work in. For instance, if any water was to fall on the ground, the cleaner makes sure it won’t become a slip hazard for themselves and for any employees that are working nearby.
This may come as a surprise, but glass surfaces are actually cleaned with a solution that is very similar to commercial dish soap.
Who would have thought, right?
At In-Tec, we use a mild soap-based chemical called Lift by Agar. Its main purpose is to lubricate the surface and soften the dirt to be removed. To get a bit more technical, the detergent is there to change the surface tension of the water. It enables the water to get underneath/behind the dirt, which lifts the dirt from the glass (imagine the dirt floating just off the surface) so that the dirt can be easily removed via a squeegee.
The soap is then diluted with water – the temperature of the water and the dilution rate depends on the situation. For instance, the hotter the weather, the less chemical you use and cooler water. This is so the solution doesn’t dry too quickly on the glass. Whereas in cooler weather, even in inside areas where the air-conditioning is on, the cleaner would use warmer water and a bit more chemical.
There is one more important thing to note: Cleaners need to be cautious when using certain chemicals on windows.
Why?
Some windows have tint on them. If a cleaner were to use ammonia-based cleaner on a window, the ammonia can dry the glue or sticky substance that was used to put the tint on the window originally. This can lead to the tint becoming brittle over time.
What now? How does the cleaner apply the soap and water dilution to the glass surface?
The answer: a T-bar washer.
The T-bar cleaner is essentially like a woolly jumper at the end of a handheld pole that is either made from cotton or microfibre. The cleaner would soak the T-bar in the bucket with the diluted chemical and apply it to the glass via an S motion. They start from the top of the glass surface and make their way down.
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for… clean glass!
So far, the cleaners have applied the soap to the glass and now it’s time to blade the water off with a squeegee. The squeegee is essentially a rubber blade that removes the water and soap in a streak-free way.
Wow, streak-free…how does the cleaner manage that?
Every cleaner has a different technique when it comes to glass cleaning.
Let’s go through two different methods to show you why one tends to leave streaks and the other doesn’t.
You may have seen a cleaner squeegee a window in a straight line from top to bottom. Though this can clean glass quite well, often you’ll see straight lines on the glass from where the cleaner has run the squeegee down in sections. Although this technique certainly gets rid of the dust and dirt, it’s not achieving the most optimal result.
At In-Tec all our cleaners follow a specific method. They will start slightly off the edge of the glass panel and then work their way to the top always following the edge. Once they reach the top, they then bring the squeegee down in an S motion. Essentially, they are snaking their way down the glass from right to left and then left to right. This allows the cleaner to collect the runs as they’re going.
Just check out the link below to see how the team at In-Tec clean glass with a squeegee!
Glass Cleaning With Squeegee
This is the fastest and most efficient way to leave the glass squeaky clean and streak-free.
It’s not uncommon to miss a few spots when cleaning glass surfaces – it happens to us all.
To make sure the glass is left spotless, our cleaners will conduct a spot check and touch up any missed areas with a glass cleaning chemical. At In-Tec, we use HALO.
For instance, if any visible sticky marks couldn’t come off with the squeegee, or the edges of the glass are still a bit dirty where the squeegee might not reach, this is all taken care of with the HALO spray and a dry microfibre cloth. A good commercial cleaner will use a microfibre cloth as they don’t leave behind any specks or lint on the glass surface.
Before the cleaner moves on to the next glass panel, they make sure the area is left clean and tidy. This includes wiping down all the ledges and windowsills in case any water dripped and also mopping the floor if need be.
And there you have it, a complete rundown of how a commercial cleaner should clean glass surfaces without leaving streak marks.
We’ve spoken about how glass surfaces should be properly cleaned, yet we still need to talk about one more important aspect.
And that is, how does this matter to you?
Let’s go through some of the benefits of having your glass surfaces cleaned regularly.
Do you think you need regular glass cleaning performed at your workplace? (Hint: everyone does!)
Using improper glass cleaning techniques and equipment can leave your glass surfaces never looking completely clean.
The glass will always have streaks of dirt, unpleasant lines that remain, and/or fingerprints all over the glass.
Did you also know that a bad cleaner can damage or scratch the glass?
A good commercial cleaning company will ensure their cleaners are using the appropriate soaps and handheld equipment, such as the squeegee, to get the job done properly… with no dirt and no streak marks!
At In-Tec, our cleaners are highly trained in using the correct techniques for commercial glass cleaning.
If your workplace is in need of glass cleaning, schedule a call with Paul or Caitlin to find out more. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about this periodical clean, or any others you wish to have completed on your site.