One of the first things that you learn in any construction or woodworking job is that you have to have the right tools for the right job. It’s true in construction, it’s true in golf (you wouldn’t use a putter at the opening tee, would you?) and it’s true when it comes to cleaning office buildings. Many of today’s office buildings have large windows at the storefront area to allow customers passing by on the sidewalk or street to see the goods on display. Even office buildings have large windows in order to help get more natural light in during the day for employees. Large windows means that they are prone to attract dust, pollen, and other debris as the weather progresses and that brings about the need to constantly keep them clean and looking nice for your employees and for potential shoppers. So, in today’s article, we’re going to cover the basics that you will need in order to clean a set of large office windows. 

Option 1: The DIY Route

You can definitely clean your office windows by hand, but it’s a lot of work and you will need a specialized set of tools to accomplish it successfully and without leaving unsightly streaks and even scratches on the surface. Here is a basic kit of things that you will need in order to clean a large pane or several large panes of glass on a commercial sized window such as a storefront, cafe front, or restaurant viewing area. 

• 1 bottle of a store-bought window cleaning product
• 1 five gallon bucket
• A cobweb brush or soft bristled broom to help sweep away cobwebs and dust before applying the cleaning liquids
• 1 squeegee (don’t skimp on this! Definitely spring for a nice one with a wide blade)
• Several soft microfiber cloths
• A dry sponge for wiping the squeegee on 
• Warm water for the bucket to help with the initial rinse of the windows before applying the cleaning solution
• The process: Start by sweeping the outer edges of each pane with the brush. Then wet your microfiber cloth and rinse down each pane from top to bottom. Squeegee dry. Then take a clean cloth and spray the windows with cleaning solutions and wipe clean. Squeegee until dry. Repeat the last steps as necessary if you continue to have dirty spots or streaks. 

Option 2: Hire A Commercial Cleaner (Recommended!)

While we love the self sustaining spirit of the DIY’er, we also know that some jobs are better left to the professionals. Here’s a few reasons to not do it yourself. 

Less financial risk

• Commercial cleaners are insured in order to account for the occasional mistake, scratch, or broken pane of glass that comes with the tough job of cleaning hundreds of windows every year. If you are doing it yourself and you end up scratching, damaging, cracking, or even breaking a window, then you are 100% on the hook as a business owner to replace it, whereas if you hire a commercial cleaner, then they would be responsible for correcting any damage they cause. 

Better quality clean

• Let’s face it. You’re probably not the best around at cleaning windows. You’d rather be concentrating on the success of your own business rather than making sure that all of your company’s windows are streak free and spotless. Let the pros take care of it so you can concentrate on growing your business in other ways. 

Faster job completion, less time interrupting your client’s use of the window space

• Even if you are pretty good at cleaning your own windows, you’re probably not as fast as a pro. They can get the job done with less downtime and less loss of potential sales or interested customers due to the obstruction of your windows. 

For The Road

Cleaning your office windows is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!