Search in blog

Blog categories

View all categories

Latest posts

Why Your Squeegee Leaves Streaks: The 10 Most Common Causes

Posted in: Traditional Window Cleaning

20 Nov 2025

Get streak-free results every time with professional squeegees, replacement rubbers, channels, and accessories....

The Window Cleaning Warehouse in London: Your Complete Cleaning Solutions Partner

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, Traditional Window Cleaning, Carpet Cleaning

6 Nov 2025

Your trusted London window cleaning warehouse supplying professional tools, kits, machines and cleaning products with...

Carpet Cleaning Machinery buyer’s guide

Posted in: Carpet Cleaning, Carpet Cleaner machines

5 Nov 2025

What is Waterfed Window Cleaning? | Benefits & How it Works for Window Cleaning

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, Waterfed Poles

24 Jun 2022

What is Waterfed Window Cleaning? | Benefits & How it Works for Window Cleaning

The Complete Guide to TDS Meters for Window Cleaning

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, DI Resin, TDS meters

24 Jun 2022

The Complete Guide to TDS Meters for Window Cleaning

View all latest posts

Featured posts

Why Your Squeegee Leaves Streaks: The 10 Most Common Causes

Posted in: Traditional Window Cleaning

20 Nov 2025

Get streak-free results every time with professional squeegees, replacement rubbers, channels, and accessories....

The Window Cleaning Warehouse in London: Your Complete Cleaning Solutions Partner

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, Traditional Window Cleaning, Carpet Cleaning

6 Nov 2025

Your trusted London window cleaning warehouse supplying professional tools, kits, machines and cleaning products with...

Carpet Cleaning Machinery buyer’s guide

Posted in: Carpet Cleaning, Carpet Cleaner machines

5 Nov 2025

What is Waterfed Window Cleaning? | Benefits & How it Works for Window Cleaning

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, Waterfed Poles

24 Jun 2022

What is Waterfed Window Cleaning? | Benefits & How it Works for Window Cleaning

The Complete Guide to TDS Meters for Window Cleaning

Posted in: Water Fed Window Cleaning, DI Resin, TDS meters

24 Jun 2022

The Complete Guide to TDS Meters for Window Cleaning

View all featured posts

Blog tags

rubber blades fittings battery brush moerman squeegee window cleaning kit pump traditional window cleaning wfp minibore carpet cleaning machinery waterfed pole hose v16 window cleaning warehouse brushes window cleaning microbore

Photo gallery

WASH2O Trolley

View all Photos

Archived posts

Why Your Squeegee Leaves Streaks: The 10 Most Common Causes

Streaks can turn a quick window clean into a frustrating, time-consuming job. Whether you’re a professional window cleaner or a homeowner who wants spotless glass, knowing what causes streaks is the first step to eliminating them. Below are the most common reasons your squeegee leaves marks behind — and what you can do to get a clean, smear-free finish every time.

1. Old or Worn Squeegee Rubber

Your rubber blade is the heart of the squeegee. When it becomes nicked, rounded, swollen, or simply worn out, streaks are inevitable. Professionals often swap their rubber weekly — sometimes daily — depending on usage and weather.

Upgrade your replacement rubbers here: Squeegee Rubbers

2. Channel Misalignment

If the rubber isn't sitting straight in the channel, or the end clips aren’t holding it firmly, the edge won’t glide evenly across the glass. Even a tiny misalignment can create faint drag lines that show up as streaks once the glass dries.

Find quality channels and handles: Squeegee Channels

3. Poor Technique: Fanning vs Straight Pulls

Technique plays a huge role in streak-free results. Many beginners struggle with fanning because the angle changes constantly. Straight pulls are easier but require overlapping strokes to avoid water lines.

Common technique pitfalls include:

Not keeping the squeegee at the correct angle
Lifting too early and leaving tails on the glass
Not wiping the rubber between passes
Not overlapping enough during straight pulls

Mastering either method removes more water in fewer strokes — and prevents streaks before they happen.

4. Hard Water Deposits on the Glass

When the glass has limescale spots or mineral build-up, no technique will save you — the squeegee will glide unevenly. Hard water is especially common around coastal areas and older properties.

A good pre-clean or pure water rinse can make a huge difference.

5. Incorrect Soap Mix Ratios

Too much detergent creates foam that leaves residue. Too little detergent reduces glide and increases friction, which leads to drag marks.

A typical professional mix often uses just a few drops per litre, depending on the product. Over-soaping is one of the most common causes of streaks for beginners.

Explore professional detergents: Window Cleaning Detergents

6. Dirty or Contaminated Water

Bucket water picks up dirt quickly. If you’re using the same water for too long, that muck gets pushed across the glass, leaving dull smears behind.

Refreshing the bucket more often — and rinsing your applicator properly — helps prevent cloudy streaks.

7. Weather Conditions Working Against You

Direct sunlight causes water to dry before you can squeegee it, leaving instant streaks. Cold weather can make rubber harder, affecting glide. Wind can blow dirt straight onto freshly cleaned glass.

Professional window cleaners often adapt their rubber hardness and technique depending on the season.

8. Dirty Microfibre Cloths or Scrims

Wiping edges, frames, and corners with a dirty cloth undoes all your squeegee work. If your scrim or microfibre is damp, oily, or contains old detergent, you'll get ghost smears and marks.

Upgrade to quality cloths: Scrims & Microfibre Cloths

9. Damaged or Dirty Squeegee Channels

Bent channels or dirt lodged inside the channel can create uneven pressure across the glass. Even a slight bend produces a faint streak across every pass.

Check your channel regularly — replacing a cheap part can save hours of frustration.

10. Poor Quality Glass or Previous Chemical Residue

Sometimes streaks have nothing to do with your tools. Hydrophobic coatings, silicone residue from builders, or previous use of household cleaners leave a film that reacts badly with your mix.

A deep pre-clean normally fixes this. Products designed for removing residue or restoring glass clarity help prevent recurring streaks.

Final Tips for a Streak-Free Finish

Getting perfect windows every time comes down to a mix of good tools, correct technique, and keeping your equipment in top condition. Fresh rubbers, aligned channels, the right soap ratio, and clean cloths solve 90% of streaking problems.

Shop the essentials you need:

With the right setup, streak-free windows become the norm — not the exception.

Tags : Rubber blades, Squeegee channels, Squeegee rubbers, Squeegees, Streak free cleaning, Window cleaning tools

Posted in: Traditional Window Cleaning