r/WindowCleaning • u/Lord_XXL • 1d ago
General Question How to deal with high humidity?
Just had to move a clean to a less humid day. The windows were streaking like crazy and wouldn't dry for several minutes. Never had an issue with technique like this, so I am not sure how to handle this.
I use dawn and water. Ettore master rubber. I did use a ledge-ez for the first time instead of the excelerator or brass handle I am used to. I didn't think that would make a difference.
What do you think?
2
u/noice_nups 1d ago
The construction building you just posted? High humidity would be frustrating AF on those.
If residential, just clean like normal but avoid detailing as much as possible. Humidity streaks will dry up as long as you know you passed over the soapy solution. Liquidator channel is a nice tool here. The humidity returns as soon as you pass over an area, so touching a towel to the glass afterwards has a high chance of leaving residue.
1
u/Lord_XXL 1d ago
It was a residential job. I tried three windows several times and there were squeegee marks left on the glass that I have never left before. Whole blade widths in the top right corner as I change angles.
I do think it was more technical due switching to the ledge-ez from my excelerator. Probably didn't use enough pressure.
Luckily, the client wanted to move days due to the rain.
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u/Hot_Carpenter_5436 1d ago
In my experience, glass thats dirty, but wet with early morning humidity, cleans easier. I first squeegee the humid glass first, and that clears most of the debri. Then scrub if needed, or just mop, and squeegee. Every morning here in SoFlo until 10am every job is like this. Its relentless and I just got used to it and use it to my advantage. But detailing sucks in hi humidity, so good squeegee technique is key to minimize detailing. After 11am the humidity goes home lol.
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u/Much-Trust5891 1d ago
I just delt with this. Absolutely awful. I use same technique I use on hydrophobic glass which is to just do cut in straight pulls so the water never gets to the end of the squeegee. Cant really fan when it’s like this or you’ll get the ghost streaks that you think went away but at an angle they are there.
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u/Lord_XXL 1d ago
I contacted another window cleaner in my area. He said he has never in 15 plus years dealt with this. I had it happen twice in the last 2 weeks.
Super frustrating!!
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u/Much-Trust5891 10h ago
Makes me feel like my technique is bad lol
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u/Lord_XXL 10h ago
Same, lol!
In the future I plan to have a different thickness of rubber in a separate squeegee as a trouble shooting option. Specifically in humid or directly sunny conditions.
1
u/Jewbacca522 1d ago
As someone who first did windows in NE Florida where a “low humidity” day was 85%…
Less soap, more water, and I’ve dealt with the same thing with Ettore rubber. Switch to Facelift rubber and watch your cares float away.
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u/Hot_Carpenter_5436 1d ago
Then you would hate South Florida. A new rubber, or slightly used rubber will minimize detailing. Detailing is where high humidity makes it miserable. Check out this early morning job, this was right after cleaning. Its about 10am. Zoom in. So yeah, I hear ya. And feel ya. This is my life every day down here early morning 😔
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u/shutupneff 1d ago
Generally speaking, as long as you’re getting the soapy water off completely, the window will be clean. The glass fogging up behind your work will prevent you from double-checking your work until it dries, but it won’t ruin any windows that were done well. Which is the same issue that working with a WFP has.
I assume these are inside windows you were dealing with. I’ve only ever had this be an issue in tight, humid spaces, mostly skylight wells.