How to Clean Windows: Removing Stickers

 
Many times when cleaning windows, whether it be at home, or on a commercial job, you will encounter a sticker that needs to be removed. Stickers can be a bit tricky sometimes, as it is tough to get them off with only your hands and a scrubber.  One of the things that we prefer to use when removing stickers and signs from windows, is to scrape the window.

Contrary to popular belief, you can actually take a razor blade to a window without damaging the windows integrity and shine.  The only time that you cannot scrape a window, is if the window is either tinted, or soft tempered.  If the window has tint, it is difficult to scrape, as the tint will become scratched and tainted.  Soft tempered glass scratches no matter what you do, so it is a bad idea and you can ruin an entire job because of scraping soft tempered glass.
 

How to Scrape the Window

 
Once you have encountered a sticker or residue that is resistant to mere scrubbing, you must begin the process of removing the sticker.  First, ensure that you have enough water on your scrubber.  If the window is not thoroughly wet, than no matter the kind of window, you will lace the surface with scratches.  Once the window is wet, on and around the sticker, you may begin scraping the window.  Keep the window wet throughout the process so that you are never scraping a dry glass surface.

You can use a normal razor blade to scrape the window, however, their are nice blades that you can acquire from just about any store.  Keep in mind when removing stickers that a long handle would be nice, and that you don’t want to cut your fingers.  Razor blades can slice open your hand in a heartbeat, so be careful not to get your hands in the way.

A light scraping across the surface of the glass will take the sticker or residue right off, leaving your window pristine and shining.

How to Clean Windows: Preparation

 
Window’s need to be prepared for cleaning.  When you are learning how to clean windows, simply scrubbing and squeegeing isn’t going to make it shine.  First of all, most windows, especially residential, haven’t been cleaned in months, and sometimes years.  This lack of care causes a buildup of dust and cobwebs on the window.  

Although a screen will protect the window from some buildup, the glass still ends up coated with dirt and insects.  This residue will coat your scrubber, and when enough coated windows are cleaned, your scrubber ends up just as dirty as the window and needs to be washed once more.
 

What Preparation Can I Do?

 
What we do to eliminate the residue, is simply do a quick wipe down of the glass.  We use a rag to clear off the cobwebs and dead bugs that surround the window.  If there are any large spots or dirt dobber nests on the window, we clear those off and ensure that only that which needs to be scrubbed is scrubbed.  This keeps our squeegees in better condition, and lets us keep our scrubbers clean for several jobs.  By learning how to clean windows and prepping the window for scrubbing, it eliminates needless decay of the scrubber and squeegee and allows the window to be properly and efficiently cleaned to customer satisfaction.  

When using high quality materials, it is a must for you to make your equipment last as long as possible.  Another way to prep the window, although it causes wear on the scrubber, is to give the window a quick scrub and then use the rag to wipe down the window.  It allows you to remove more dirt, but it does cause more wear on your scrubber. Let us know if this helps you learn how to clean windows and take care of your supplies.  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Old windows like this need preparation.

Want to Learn Window Cleaning Tips?

Here, you can find a constantly updated blog roll that is chock full of window cleaning tips and stories about how to clean windows, solve window related problems, keep your windows as clean as possible, and much more. Be sure to check back often for updates, window cleaning tips, and more!

The Proper Way

Do you have questions on how to properly clean your windows? Or are you simply looking for someone to make your windows shine? We offer our professional services both to commercial, and residential establishments and homes. For those in the Central Florida area, simply give us a call if you are interested in an estimate. For those whom are simply wanting to clean their windows themselves, or have questions about home and commercial window care, we have the answers. On this blog roll, we will answer any questions posted, and also give advice on how to clean windows the proper way.

We prefer to use Dawn dish detergent.  Either the regular, or the concentrated 2x type, it doesn’t matter.  We don’t have a scientific method when it comes to the soap-to-water ratio, however, we attempt to put around 20 swirls of soap per 5 gallon bucket of water.  Either this, or until the liquid is sudsy enough for the water to adhere to the window and work its way into the window.

This combination of soap and water is perfect or either residential, or commercial homes.  Although it may seem as if the detergent and water might stick to the window after taking a squeegee to it, or that it would simply make a bigger mess of the glass, in reality it leaves the window looking shiny and clear, as if it were brand new.  This mixture doens’t take of mineral stains, and there’s not much you can do about the buildup of dust and stains inside of storm windows, your glass will look pristine once it has been properly scrubbed and squeegeed.

Feel free to comment if you have any questions about the soap, squeegees, scrubbers, or overall questions involving window cleaning tips, and we will do our best to respond quickly and efficently!