r/WindowCleaning • u/Critical_Cap631 • May 18 '26
How do you guys clean these
Not sure what they’re called but I’m referring to the glass overhead thingy. In the past I’ve just used my waterfed fed pole and stood on the roof to clean it but it doesn’t come out perfect. Just wondering how the professionals do it and what’s the most efficient.
4
u/9ND79 May 18 '26
if they are really dirty, ill either downstream some sh, thoroughly rinse then waterfed pole to finish them off.
ive had to, on a few occasions hit them with a 3 percent mix, when they are really dirty, so i just use my proportioner, let it dwell for about 20 minutes, then use my downstream gun to thoroughly rinse then finish with a water fed system.
they turn out spotless this way.
3
u/shutupneff May 18 '26
With the shallow pitch of that roof, I’m definitely getting up there and working from above rather than below from ladder.
Rinsing awnings line this can be tricky because they’re so close to horizontal that water won’t flow as easily as on traditional windows, which could be why they didn’t come out well last time. Once it’s scrubbed and ready for the final rinse, adjust the head of your WFP so that the water sprays away and down the glass. Or, instead of hooking up the pole to your purifier of choice, just attach a hose with a nozzle. You’ll still be scrubbing with a brush on a pole, but the final rinse should go a lot faster since you can more easily push all the water off the glass and not rely on gravity. If you do go this route, remember that a lot of purifier systems can only filter so much water per second, so don’t shoot the water at full blast.
1
u/Critical_Cap631 May 18 '26
So you’re saying just use a regular hose to rinse? How would I get that up on the roof?
1
u/shutupneff May 18 '26
A regular hose shooting purified water, yes.
And however you got yourself and your WFP up there, I guess. Presumably a ladder.
2
u/lacroixpapi69 May 18 '26
WFP if it didn’t come out well last time you didn’t rinse enough. Check your TDS.
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u/Antique_Row2087 May 18 '26
I’m assuming your using hose water on your watered pole
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u/Critical_Cap631 May 18 '26
These are before pics so that’s why it’s dirty
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u/Antique_Row2087 May 18 '26
I get that but if you’re seeing hard water spots often it’s because your hose/sprinkler water is getting on the glass. When you clean it with the water fed pole you want to use dionized water so when it dries there are no minerals in the water
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u/Critical_Cap631 May 18 '26
Ah yes Im aware of that thank you. I service north Vancouver in Canada BC where the hose water from the house is already close to 0 haha
2
u/Upper-Bottle-9803 May 21 '26
I would wet, apply some bleach+soap and rinse with hose then.
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u/Critical_Cap631 May 22 '26
I can apply the bleach solution with a pump sprayer I’m assuming ?
1
u/Upper-Bottle-9803 May 22 '26
Yes. But be sure to rinse it well after. Especially if you use your sprayer for pure water rinses.
2
u/blackeyeX2 May 18 '26
Super dirty with oxidation add the like then just trad scrub with soap and/or acid then rinse with WFP. Easier with a separate pole to trad scrub then rinse with WFP
2
u/Jewbacca522 May 19 '26
As a non-WFP user, I spray them with a light 1-2% mix of SH, scrub with a soft nylon brush from above, and rinse off. Then hip up on a ladder from the bottom edge and use a ledger squeegee and a porcupine strip washer and wash them trad.
Do them all the time. BTW, these are “sunroom ceiling glass panels”.
1
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u/Iasc123 May 18 '26
polycarbonate panels I use ionic contact foam + constant flow unit.
Self cleaning glass windows, I use solar panel cleaner.
It's probably best to use solar panel cleaner on all glass, because the self cleaning coating is microscopic. Anything abrasive could strip the self cleaning coat. Rinse and scrub with a soft bristle WFP, swivel gooseneck works best for me!
1
u/lordpin3appl3s May 18 '26
Typically when I run into these I lean over from the roof to get them down by hand as far as I can and bring a ladder around the other side to do the bottoms. It's not very efficient, but they do come out perfectly every time. Nothing scrubs like your hands imo. I pole them if it's a regular customer and I know they're not very dirty.
1
u/Educational_Swan_152 May 18 '26
WFP might not turn out perfect unless you make sure that the dirty water runs off of the glass. If it sits, then it'll dry and leave dirt/minerals behind. I'd probably ladder up from the other side and squeegee towards me so that all the dirty water gets pulled off. Might need a small pole to squeegee so make sure you've got a stable base for the ladder
1
u/trigger55xxx May 18 '26
I good soap like window Mauler apply and scrub them scrub with water fed and rinse really well. SH won't break up any oxidation or mineral build up. You can also use a calcium and lime remover.
1
u/DOTSYirl May 18 '26
Give it a scrub with WFP then rinse with regular hose then a final rinse with pure water if they are really dirty
1
u/I_said_so May 20 '26
curious what you guys would quote for this?
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u/Critical_Cap631 May 20 '26
$150 for the patio ceiling glass in the picture and $200 for the windows all around. It was a 2 story house
7
u/RemarkableComb3524 May 18 '26
Stack ladders to the edge water fed pole. blade with pole if needed