🧽 How to Clean a Window Like the Professionals (Step-by-Stp Guide)

🧽 How to Clean a Window Like the Professionals (Step-by-Step Guide)

Video duration: ~6 minutes By: Total Asset Maintenance (TAM-QLD) – Brisbane’s Rope Access & Façade Maintenance Specialists

👀 Ever wondered how the pros get that perfect, streak-free shine?

There’s more to professional window cleaning than just soap and water. In this video, our rope access technicians take you through exactly how we clean windows at height, from filling the bucket to finishing with a crysta-clear, streak-free result.

Whether you’re a building manager, strata committee member, or just someone who wants to achieve that flawless professional finish, this guide covers the same techniques our technicians use on high-rise façades across Brisbane.

🪣 Step 1: Start with the Right Setup

Professional window cleaning starts before you even touch the glass. Here's what we use:

• Bucket: Fill with clean water, ideally cold to lukewarm.

• Detergent: A few drops of quality dish soap or professional window cleaning solution (we use low-suds, biodegradable detergent). Morning Fresh is the best.

• Tools: Applicator (or mop), squeegee, scraper, and lint-free cloths.

• Safety gear: For rope access or elevated work, we always use full harness, lanyards, and anchor-certified systems (as per Australian Standards).

Tip: Dirty or contaminated water causes streaks before you even start, change it often.

🧼 Step 2: Apply the Solution Evenly

Dip the applicator into your bucket and wring out lightly, you want it wet, not dripping.

Apply to the window in overlapping circular motions, working from top to bottom. This loosens dirt, dust, bird droppings, and other contaminants that have bonded to the glass.

Pro insight: For high-rise façades, we pre-inspect for silicone run-off, mineral staining, and oxidisation, issues that can’t be fixed with detergent alone.

🪟 Step 3: Remove Stubborn Marks

Use a scraper blade at a shallow angle to carefully remove paint spots, stickers, or mineral buildup. Always wet the glass first, scraping on a dry surface risks scratching.

For glass that’s been exposed to Brisbne’s subtropical elements, you might also encounter algae or mineral leaching around window seals. Our technicians use mild neutral cleaners or restoration pads for these cases.

💦 Step 4: Squeegee Like a Pro

This is where the magic happens.

1. Start at the top corner of the glass.

2. Pull the squeegee smoothly across in a continuous motion, slightly overlapping each pass.

3. Wipe the squeegee blade with a cloth after each stroke.

Pro tip: Keep your wrist relaxed and use consistent pressure, too light, and you’ll leave water lines; too heavy, and you’ll drag the rubber.

✨ Step 5: The Finishing Touches

Once the bulk of the water is removed, use a clean microfiber cloth or chamois to polish edges and corners. Wipe any drips on frames, ledges, or seals.

Step back, check from multiple angles, and admire that mirror-like finish.

For high-rise façades, our abseil teams repeat this process across hundreds of panels, and the same principles apply whether you’re at ground level or 30 storeys up.

⚙️ Troubleshooting Common Problems

Problem	Cause	Fix
Streaks after drying	Dirty water, old rubber blade, wrong angle/	Use clean water and replace squeegee rubbers regularly, keeo correct 45 degree angle
Cloudy or hazy finish	Soap residue, wrong angle	Use less detergent or rinse more thoroughly
Water spots	Hard water or mineral deposits	Use purified water or glass restoration cleaner
Smears after polishing	Over-buffing with dirty cloth	Always use clean, dry microfiber cloths

🏢 Want That Same Professional Finish on Your Building?

Total Asset Maintenance (TAM-QLD) provides professional rope access window cleaning for commercial, high-rise, and strata properties across Brisbane and SEQ.

Our IRATA-qualified technicians deliver:

• Streak-free window cleaning at any height

• Façade washing, leak detection, and sealant repairs

• Anchor point certification & height safety inspections

If you’d like to see your building sparkle like the day it was built without scaffolding or disruption, contact our team today. office@tam-qld.com.au or 1300 TAM-QLD

📍 Related Services

• Rope Access Window Cleaning

• Façade Maintenance & Inspection

• Height Safety Certification

• Leak Detection & Waterproofing