So I’ve been faced with this problem and trying to figure out what’s going on? I’ve got new Ettore rubber in the channel and I still get a single small, streak on the top of my turns? What’s the deal? I’m having to go back with my huck and clean away the streak, which upsets me and slows down the process (*always having to look for these streaks)! Anyone got any suggestions? Videos for me to watch and improve my skills, it’s weird because it just started happening about a month ago. Thanks in advance!
If you don’t think its technique, it may be a ding in your channel
It’s funny, I just looked down the forum list and saw another gent with the same problem. I’m leaning towards not changing the rubber out often enough. I’ll go through a few jobs using the same rubber. Do you suggest I change out every job, flipping all the while?
When this happened to me a while back it appeared to be a combination of where I was cutting in along with not ridding the channels of excess solution on the way down. Weird thing though is that it never happened on my 18ut always seemed to happen on my 18" Unger with Ettore rubber.
We refer to them as “tip lines”. It is a little frustrating to have to go back up to grab them from time to time. I have seen alot of these here lately due to the humidity in my area. It could be that you arent channeling the water down enough cuasing it to ride back up and creating a line at the top. you can correct this most of the time by not trying to take out so much soap on a pass. The smaller the squeegee, the more likely it will happen. it could be a nick in the rubber too causing it. Also look for signs of animal/human hair on your rubber. Hair will wreak havoc- Steve
That’s a great tip. I never paid attention to the amount of soap I was taking down. I’ll pay closer attention to that. I started noticing if I didn’t tip the squeegee channel down enough on each pass the lines started showing up but now that you said it I did notice it more on my 12" than my 18".
Greg,
If your squeegee is really vertical when you are going from one side to the other, it will definately work its way up to the top of the rubber. When im making the pass, I try to take about 1/3 of the soap my squeegee can handle. Window cleaning is basically knowing how to channel water/soap down to the sill. I still get those tip lines from time to time too.
Steve
Cool, thanks Steve. I will try that. I don’t get them too often but I do get them as well and I’ve never paid much attention to how much soap I’m taking with each pass. It makes perfect sense. I was at a storefront job last week that I did a month ago and on my first window I saw 1 of the tip lines that I missed last time. Last time it was so sunny I could barely see anything with the reflections. I checked it in and out last time but must have missed it. This time was kind of overcast and I picked it up like a neon sign.
Steve and Greg, thanks for all the wise comments. I’m going to try a few of the thing you’re talking about (1/3 of the soap, checking the rubber/ changing more frequently, and watching the amount of solution to water mixture). I just went back to a client’s house and saw the disgraceful job that was performed due to all of the above I do imagine. I was the first to admit the fault as well as schedule another date and time to return and redo the windows 
It’s a bummer but very necessary. Running a business with your work involved is a very tricky thing; you can’t stand behind something/one if it doesn’t perform. Accountability in business is such a huge lesson that I will continue to learn.
Also, while I was at the house, I noticed that some of the windows were just smeared, from what it looks like; the dirty just got moved around? Like it had been cleaned but you could still see all the dirt? The only thing I can think of is that I’m not re-wetting my applicator enough? How often do you gents go back to the bucket and re-wet?
It is to much solution on the window.
I had that happen the other day on a dental office and the windows were right inline with the sun on a 90 degree day when I was doing them. It was like it was baking on the solution and making smudges. I switched over to the monsoon and wetted the heck out of the glass cooling it down a little more and things were much better. Not saying this what happened to you but something to consider.
Simply Glass, do you think this is the problem? I’m using Winsol Windows - 120? It’s saying to dilute 1/3 ounce of solution with 1 gallon of water? I admit, I haven’t been watching the solution amount? I didn’t realize the it would make such a difference?
What do you use? Where have you found success?
Greg, it was super sunny, beautiful day, but this might be the problem as well.
Found the problem… WAY TOO MUCH SOLUTION. I cut it down to the required 1/3 ounces per gallon… MAGIC!! It’s all good.
I Hope you have microfiber cloths
I dont know if this is correct for sure but when I finish my J hook I like to get the rubber more kind of vertical for a good period of time to let the water release and dry out that top edge. I am really enjoying getting better after all these years, it kind of breaks the tension. I have actually had a couple places where that fancy 360 degree circle move actually worked and was not just show boating.
GC1, I’m using hucks, they work well! So I see that you are serving the OC area. I offer a gutter cleaning service however, I’d like to put it aside and focus primarily on window cleaning and pressure washing. Would you be interested in linking our sites and referring business to one another?
Yes. I use Dawn because it only makes sense. Window Cleaner Louisville KY
Consistent solution ratios help. You can’t get that w/ dish soap. (couldn’t resist Dejay :D)
That’s funny Tony. I’ve been using dawn and have found that if I put two lines across the bottom of my unger bucket and fill it 2/3 it seems pretty good. I did just order some GG4 and Winsol per your advice from Chris a couple days ago. Looking forward to trying it out. I’ve got 3 or 4 family/friends gigs booked for the next couple weeks so hopefully I can make’m shine good for them. I’m still gonna Dawn it for my storefront though.
My sister in law was telling me the other day that she used to work at a Redwings shoe store and the guy that did the windows there always said he couldn’t tell them his special solution for cleaning the glass, haha. Any bets on what it was…
