Clean windows make a room brighter and more pleasant, but streaks and smudges on the glass can undo all your hard work. The secret to great results isn’t an expensive product – it’s the right window cleaning tools and technique. In this guide, we explain what you need both for cleaning windows at home and as a professional window cleaner.

Essential Window Cleaning Tools

For streak-free window cleaning, a few of the right tools are all you need:

  • Window washer (sleeve) with holder – soaks the glass with cleaning solution and lifts dirt. A washable, replaceable sleeve lasts many times longer than a sponge. A good choice is our 35 cm window cleaning kit.
  • Squeegee (rubber blade) – pulls water off the glass evenly. The squeegee is what makes the difference between a streaky window and a sparkling one. See our 35 and 45 cm window squeegee.
  • Hand scraper – removes dried-on paint, sticker residue and construction debris. Use it only on wet glass and at a shallow angle.
  • Microfiber cloth – for drying window edges, corners and frames and for the final polish.
  • Bucket – a long bucket that fits the whole washer is ideal for window cleaning.
  • Telescopic pole – for cleaning high windows and storefronts without a ladder.

If you don’t want to pick tools one by one, a ready-made kit is the easiest solution. For cleaning companies and frequent users, our window cleaning tool kit for cleaning companies is a great fit – it includes a washer, squeegee, cloth, pole, bucket and a cleaning concentrate.

Which Window Cleaner Should You Choose?

Using too much cleaning product is one of the most common causes of streaks. A professional concentrate is diluted with water and goes a long way – for example, TENZI GLASS concentrate works on windows, storefronts and mirrors alike. For small glass surfaces and mirrors, a ready-to-use spray such as LUSTRA is convenient. You’ll find all window cleaners in the window cleaners category.

Streak-Free Window Cleaning Step by Step

  1. Clean the frames and windowsills first, so dirt doesn’t run onto the clean glass later.
  2. Prepare the cleaning solution – warm water and the amount of concentrate recommended on the product data sheet.
  3. Wash the glass with the washer, working from top to bottom. Use the scraper on dried-on dirt.
  4. Pull the water off with the squeegee – hold the squeegee at a slight angle to the glass and wipe the rubber blade dry with a cloth after each stroke.
  5. Dry the edges with a microfiber cloth.

Tip: don’t wash windows in direct sunlight – the cleaning solution dries too quickly and leaves streaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular dish soap to clean windows?

Dish soap foams a lot and leaves a film on the glass that attracts dust. You’ll get better results with a product made for glass that dries without leaving marks.

What width of squeegee should I choose?

A 35 cm squeegee works well at home, while a 45 cm one is faster for large windows and storefronts. Ideally, the squeegee and washer should be the same width.

How often should the sleeve be replaced?

A microfiber sleeve can be machine-washed and used for a long time. Replace it when the fibers are worn and the washer no longer absorbs water.

Recommended Products

Browse all products: Window Cleaning Tools, Window Cleaning. You’ll find the safety data sheet (SDS) and product data sheet for every cleaning product on our safety data sheets page.