Cleaning new windows takes the right tools

Some builders do their clients a favor and provide them with crystal-clear windows on move-in day. But other builders fall a little short. You may see streaks, smudges, etc. from a poor attempt to clean the windows. A builder might hire someone who uses a roll of paper towels and an off-the-shelf cleaner from a grocery store -- and that won't get the job done.

If you have to clean the windows yourself, and want great results, it is not as hard as you might think.

Standard window glass must be treated with care when it is cleaned, especially glass exposed to the harsh new-construction environment. Glass is actually relatively soft, and it is porous.

Cement, paint, urethanes and sealers can penetrate the surface and stick tenaciously to the glass. Sand from brick mortar and stucco, asphalt shingle granules and heavy dust from construction can all scratch new glass.

The best way to avoid scratches on new glass is to protect it with a plastic covering during construction.

Windows that have construction splatter on them need to be cleaned with care. When used with flowing water, a new 3- or 4-inch-wide sharp, flexible putty knife that has no burrs on the edge will help you get material off the exterior surfaces of the glass.

A mist of soapy water will help lubricate the surface to help prevent scratches as you gently scrape off any built-up deposits.

When you wash your car, I doubt that you spray it with a solution and then rub this solution with paper towels in a circular motion over the car's painted finish. If you did, a significant amount of dirt would still be left on the car. The same thing happens if you use this method on windows: You remove some of the dirt and spread the rest of it around.

To get windows perfectly clean, you must remove all of the dirt from the glass. Professional window cleaners do that by using a sponge or wand to apply a cleaning solution, which is usually just a mixture of water and a mild soap degreasing agent. As they wipe the glass, dirt is transferred to the sponge. They then use squeegees to remove the solution left on the glass.

A professional squeegee is often constructed with a brass channel that holds a rubber blade; brass is a soft metal that will not scratch glass. The rubber often projects past the brass just one-eighth inch or so, making it very rigid.

You can find professional squeegees in some hardware stores or in businesses that sell janitorial supplies and equipment. These distributors may also sell concentrated glass-cleaning solutions, but you can make your own window-cleaning solution using a liquid dish soap and water.

You may want to consider hiring a professional window cleaner instead of fussing with your windows. Professionals have the right tools and equipment to allow them to easily clean windows with minimal effort. Plus, the cost to you should be relatively low. When you consider the hassle, danger involved in working on ladders, and the amount of money you spend on paper towels, you may find that calling a professional is a much better way to go.

Write to Tim Carter, c/o the Chicago Tribune, P.O. Box 36352, Cincinnati, OH 45236-0352. Or contact him on the Internet at askthebuilder.com.

You can call him any Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at 1-888-737-1450.

For sources of professional squeegees, cleaning solutions and other tips on using squeegees to clean glass, send $5 and a business-sized stamped, self-addressed envelope to Tim Carter at the above address. Ask for Builder Bulletin No. 297.

Look for Tim Carter's Ask the Contractor column weekly in the Your Place section as he answers questions pertaining to home rehab, repair and maintenance.