Hey Guys
After trying Dawn dish soap, am very disappointed it leaves streaks and white residue, even in tiny quantities. It also has no slip. The Joy I just bought is as good as my Unger Soap and cannot tell the difference. Do any of you agree Joy is just as good as the pricey window cleaning soap? I cannot tell the difference between the two. I really like Joy because it is cheaper and it does a fabulous job, as good as my Unger soap
Dawn.
I started 17 years ago on Joy and then too glass gleam and now we use Ecover 95 percent of the time.
For the past couple of years, I’ve been extremely frustrated with Dish Soaps.
I swore up & down that something has not been quite right… with ALL brands I’ve tried.
Just today, I read about a 16 State Ban on Phosphates. I had no clue, but it makes sense… 
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Wow. I don’t get those same results.
For the most part I use GG4/Ecover, equal parts. Having said that I also play with about a dozen different soaps, slips, eye of newt, bat guano, and fairy dust. What ever works on that window on that day is the best. Lets don’t do this again.
It turns brother against brother.
I use dawn with no problems…I like mine sudsy, I see TSP being sold at local home depot but I heard it is horrible on the hands.
JLOC COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
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Honestly after using Dawn it was horrible! I only used 4 drops for 3 gallons and did not provide much slip. It also did not provide any suds. I then used about a tablespoon for 3 gallons and it left milky white residue. I then used Unger’s soap from Home Depot and it works great, squeegee glides over glass easy and it does not leave any streaks. I then today tried Joy, a tablespoon and it worked just as good as unger. Lots of slip and no residue
Must be something to do with the phosphate ban, a particular batch of Dawn or maybe something environmental on the windows because I just cracked a new bottle of Dawn and it works fine.
Then again, NJ isnt on the phosphate ban list.
I like GG4 with a dash of super slip.
The ban started in MA in 2008. Wasn’t enforced to much until the multi state ban with came into effect in 2010.
That being said, I started with dawn and used it for a while and have used it in a pinch recently. Never once had a problem with what you are talking about.
What type of dawn is it?
I started with dawn. More on the sudsy side… Dealt with streaks etc… spent more detail time… But was still a newbie. So that in it’s self say’s it haha… Due also in part to learning which rag’s were better. Micro, cotton etc… Moved to the unger soap you can get at home depot. Liked it. But it’s hard on the skin. plus the msd’s. Bought gg4 took a little to get use to. Not as much sud’s and the slip is a little less than unger. But the clean quality is outstanding imo. Window’s look better using these imo.
Not used e-cover yet. But will prob break down and give it a go. In the near future. Based on what guy’s are saying here about it… Depending on the job. I may use the unger for exterior. Then gg4 for interior… Using gg4 for tds avg of 150 to 200 maybe overkill. And could use 3.
My 2 cents anyway…
I use Dawn, works fine.
Ecover leaves trails like nobody’s business. I don’t feel it ‘thickens’ the water enough, escapes under the rubber easier.
Out of curiosity, when you tried the Dawn and got a milky white residue, what else (if anything other than water) was it mixed with? There is an effect in cleaning chemistry called reverse saponification that takes place when mixing two incompatible chemicals. It produces a heavy residue much like the one you mention, so I’m curious as to whether this might be the case.
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… If it aint broke don’t go tryin ta fix it. Joy, Dawn, Ecover I’ve at least tried them all. Joy I used a lot in the beginning but none of them work as well in the hot dry Arizona climate as GG2. So I’d rather stick with one product rather than switch around and only use GG2 in the hottest times.
I also know Window Resource sells soap that is like 210 dollars for a 5 gallon bucket. I was like how the hell can soap be that freaking expensive and is that really better than others? Anyway, I finally had to pull the trigger and just put in an order for a 280 dollar roof rack and a 660 for the sectional ladders. I now realize unless I get tools that many don’t have, I will be limited to only doing storefronts mostly. My extension poles really suck and now realize that the only real way to clean a window is to be up and personal.
Technically if you use the recommended amount, the gg4 and 3 is more cost effective. 5 gallons would last you a really long time.
3 gallon set up might be a bit much unless you are doing a WHOLE lot of windows or screens too. Maybe the problem lies with the way you are mixing it, or what else goes in besides soap and water? 2 or 3 drops to 3 gallons is WAY too little. There will be no slide with that mixture. Try about a tablespoon to 1/2 to 1 gallon of water.
The milky white residue is likely from oxidation of the window frame. Add about 1/2 cup of alcohol to your mixture when that happens and rinse your scrubber real well to clean out the previous mixture. Soap and oxidation makes it look like you are cleaning with “Half and Half” which should ONLY be used in your coffee. 
ECOVER, period.
someone else chimmed in and said that occurs when aluminum is heavily oxidized
