Well I have to say, all these guys in all the videos I’ve been watching sure make this stuff easy! I got my new supplies in this week and broke it all out today to see what I could do on my own windows. Wow! Much harder than I ever expected. I will say that I tend to be a perfectionist, but I just couldn’t get any of these windows streak free. Definitely couldn’t fan, and straight pulls left a line. My best pulls were side to side pulls and then right to left were definitely better than left to right. Anyway, definitely will have a learning curve here for sure! And a LOT of reading to do!
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just keep practicing and watching vids of people squeegeeing you will get it in a few months .
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Everyone’s going to have a different opinion so take mine with a grain of salt…
I found it easier training guys on a slimline wagtail squeegee because noobs tend to have a a tendency to turn corners too tight and getting water on the back side of the squeegee leaving an oval tear drop shaped water mark. with a specalty squeegee (there’s lots out there, just something that pivots the channel when you twist your wrist) seemed to help my new employees.
If you’ve got the spare change, it might also be worth getting a few different types of squeegees to see what works best for you personally…? I’ve spent thousands in gear and chemical to figure out what I like, and what I like training new hires with.
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I bought one of the starter kits though WCR because I definitely didn’t have any idea of what to get. It came with a Ettore 10” backflip, an 8” and an 18”. I was using the 10” by its self today. I broke the backflip apart. I was actually thinking about getting a couple more different ones to try. I’ll look into the Wagtail. Thanks for the suggestion
Welcome to the forum. Window washing is not easy! The guys on YouTube make it look easy just like professional hockey players make skating look easy.
Most new hires are let go because washing a window quickly without streaks or drips is harder than it looks. They simply can’t catch on and we are forced to let them go. Work hard and put in the time to master the trade. It’s worth it. The income is excellent if you’re good.
Unger made a great training video a few years back. Here’s the first of a four part series. Use to cost $50 now it’s free on YouTube. 
Save yourself hundreds of dollars and just buy a small window cleaning kit made by Unger. I believe they’re the most popular brand in the world by professional window cleaners.
Keep It Simple.
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Thanks for the reply @BostonMike. But your right, it’s not easy. Not that I thought it would be, but was actually surprised at just how bad my first few attempts went! I cleaned the same window no less that 50 times.
Thanks for the video link, I’ll def take a look. And I didn’t know what to get so ended up getting the backflip boys starter kit through WCR. I’ve already been looking at the Unger products and that will more than likely be my next purchase.
Let me ask you (and the other guys) a question. How much does the soap make a difference? I got some Winsol Blue on the recommendation of @TheWindowCleanse and followed the mixing directions on the bottle. There wasn’t a lot of suds and my squeegee didn’t seem to glide all that well at times.
Thanks!
Dawn dish soap seems to win every soap war on the forum. Almost everybody loves it. Haha
Keep iIt Simple.
PS
I added another video to my last post. Practice that until you can do what she does with your right and left had in your sleep. 
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Been using Dawn for 16 years. My soap of choice.
I use a 20 inch squeegee, a 12, and a 6 and that takes care of 96 percent of the jobs I have ever run into out of thousands of commercial jobs and residential homes. Ettore brass squeegees and handles, and I use 1 Ettore Ledgeez for all commercial work (It is my go to handle for all of my window cleaning). Homer 5 gallon bucket, some rags…and some Dawn soap.
Please remember, this is a SKILLED trade and is NOT something you “master” in a week or two. I have been doing this for 16 years and I still am learning. Do your house, do your families home, friends, etc…BEFORE you start charging money. Get it to where you “look like you know what you are doing”, but remember the first few years you will run into a lot of issues-- but that is all part of the job.
I am in the process of getting my side business off the ground. I figure I’ve been doing this for so long, might as well make myself money on my days off. Otherwise, it’s just wasted potential and I am not getting any younger! Good luck to you my friend, I wish you the best and hope to hear your success story down the road!!!
Thanks for the reply @SeabreezeWC. I completely agree this is a SKILL! I believe it more than ever now that I’ve actually tried it. My intent is to offer exterior windows after I complete a house wash (I’m a pressure washer by trade) using a WFP, but I want to learn traditional as well. I used my WFP for the first time today and I think it’s definitely going to be a smaller learning curve with it and will allow me to start up selling windows after the wash. But I’ll keep working on my traditional skills and hopefully be able to hold my own and be confident enough to actually charge for it!
Let’s be honest though, gliding around on ice with boots strapped to ice knifes at the bottom is harder than wiping water off of glass. lol
@SurfaceMedic
most guys use Dawn Dish soap (I’m in the boat of the majority).
There’s a VERY insightful and great piece of advice I once received from a 40 something year old who owned a wood pallet business with 50 ish employees. I asked him for advice on my business and he said his best advice was “don’t listen to the advice people give you.” He went on to tell me how he collected and sold pallets growing up as a kid for some extra money. But people criticized him and thought he wouldn’t be successful. Who’s heard of a millionaire who made their money from selling wood pallets? So he didn’t listen to what others told him and it helped him out tremendously.
The guys on the forum have great advice, I’m not saying to write off what we say here, its just more along the lines of this; if someone paints a black and white picture, just understand its more likely a picture of color, they just can’t see the other colors.
You ever fall asleep after a 14 hour day dreaming about cleaning glass? 
It’s happened to me more than once. lol Shoot I’m sure it’s probably happened to any of us that has been in the business for more than a year. haha
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@BostonMike and @SeabreezeWC are right about Dawn. I use Liquid Squeegee by Waxie but keep Dawn or Mrs. MEyers to get some extra slip sometimes.
As for learning and squeegees: New cleaners tend to be able to master the zero detail squeegees faster than those that have been doing it with the old channels. My daughter and nephew just started 3 weeks ago and they’ve used 3 different wide body channels and 3 slim channels with different handles and BOTH settled on the moerman excelerator with the liquidator channel. I use a combination of channels with the excelerator handle.
don’t be afraid of the moerman axcelerator 2.0 handle (Moerman Excelerator 2.0 | Squeegee Handle | WCR – WindowCleaner.com) with a moerman liquidator (https://windowcleaner.com/moerman-liquidator-squeegee-channel-2-0) or ettore brass or unger S plus ( https://windowcleaner.com/unger-s-plus-squeegee-channel) channel. The moerman liquidator and unger S plus go right in with the teeth but the ettore needs a slight modification.
Perfect practice makes perfect. You’ll do fine.
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Thank you for the advice. I was actually looking at the Moerman but was told that it might be a little difficult for a beginner. I will definitely have to order one and give it a try. Lots of practice to be done and looks like I will be ordering a few more squeegees!
The Moerman head was a game changer for us! We use it with Ettore brass but also use the Moerman end clips. It cuts down on the detailing work and the Fliq pad helps to cut down on time when it’s not a hard clean (regular client or interior work). It did take time getting used it, but worth it!
FYI: a shower or siding door is a great practice place
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you use the end clips on the brass!?!?!?! 
I’m trying it tomorrow.
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this is the opposite, it is difficult for those who have ingrained ideas and techniques.
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Don’t worry on what you order and if it replaces existing equipment.
Consider it a learning curve or experience. Sort of like any other work tools: At first you get that tool item for the price and based on other’s input, you like it but find something that suits you more. So many things are personal taste and area that you work in. Not every window cleaner has a need for winter gloves or heavy jackets (for example).
@WindowGuysLV - Yes, I don’t really recall why we tried it, but we use those liquidator clips on some larger brass, even when not using the Moerman head or Fliq pad. Cutting is different, but you get the hang of it.
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Sound advice. And your right. I definitely have my favorites in the pressure washing side where my employee has his. And like @DelirousDungo said above, I don’t have any habits or ingrained techniques to break at this point. I have a couple Ettore squeegees and about to order a couple others to see what I like best. I’m actually getting a little better with the Ettore after several days of practicing so we will see. Thanks!
Fanning didn’t click with me until I used the Excelerator. Best of luck. I always tell people I could teach them how to clean most windows in about 5 minutes, and they could spend the next 6 months or more practicing to get it right. Straight pulls are how I and most people start. In my opinion, once you understand the different aspects that affect the work (soap and amount of it, angle of squeegee and pressure, etc.) then you are more prepared for fanning.
And, you as a pressure washer understand this, but for the longest time I took dwell time for granted. You want to allow some dwell time in most cases for dirty windows, but you don’t want to wait so long that you have to rewet the window as then you usually lose the benefit you were trying to get as it would have just been better to sit there and scrub more. That usually applies more to trad though as its not as big a deal if a wfp window has to be rewet. Presoaking on wfp is also super helpful.
Hello. I’ve been in the business for quite a while. I’ve mastered the skill sets and the business side as well; hiring, pay, systems, retention, financials, etc., etc. If you or Surface Medic need any help on the business side, feel free to call me. I’m happy to help. It’s another side to the business that many struggle with whether window cleaning or any of the ‘trades’. This industry, my business has been very good to me and what I can tell you, if you attempt to master the business side like you are with the skills, it will absolutely change your life. My number is 704-451-0409 and my site is WindowWashingWealth.com. Good luck and feel free to reach out.
He’s back!
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