Squeegee vs Microfibre for Windows in Lorraine: What Actually Works

Lorraine has a lot of demanding windows. Not just any windows: the kind that face east and catch the morning sun through the trees, the kind where every streak shows up like a neon sign by 10 a.m. If you're a homeowner here, you know what we mean. You don't hire someone just to wipe glass. You hire them so you don't have to see last week's fingerprints.

So when it comes to squeegee versus microfibre, this isn't academic. It's about what actually leaves the glass clean when the light hits it just right. And we have a clear take.

What's the real difference between squeegee and microfibre?

A squeegee is the old-school tool: a rubber blade on a handle, pulled across wet glass to shear off water and dirt in one smooth motion. It's fast. It's efficient on big panes. And if the operator knows what they're doing, it leaves almost nothing behind.

Microfibre is different. It's a soft, dense cloth (usually used dry or slightly damp) that you wipe across the glass in circles or figure-eights. It grabs dust and light grime. It's gentle. But on its own? It often just moves the dirt around unless you keep flipping to a clean section.

Here's the thing nobody tells you: the best results don't come from picking one. They come from using both, in the right order.

Why Altara uses squeegee first, then microfibre for detail

For exterior glass, we use pure-water-fed poles with a soft brush head, with no squeegee involved. The deionized water dries spot-free because it has no minerals to leave residue. The pole reaches up to three storeys from the ground, which covers the bungalows, split-levels and two-storey homes that make up most of Lorraine. That exterior work, glass, frames and sills with screens rinsed in place, is what the flat rate covers.

Inside is where the squeegee and microfibre combo shines, when you add interior cleaning to your visit. We spray a residential-safe glass cleaner, then use a professional squeegee to remove the bulk of the liquid and loosened grime. After that, we go over the edges, corners and any stubborn spots with a clean, dry microfibre cloth. That's how we catch what the squeegee misses, especially on older windows with uneven putty or slightly warped frames.

Skipping the microfibre step to save time is a mistake. You end up with faint streaks along the blade's path, or lint stuck in the corners. It takes ten extra seconds per window. It makes all the difference.

What happens when you rely on just one method?

If you only use a squeegee indoors, you're likely to leave moisture in the corners, especially on textured or patterned glass common in Lorraine's older split-levels. That moisture evaporates slowly and can leave mineral traces if the water isn't pure. Not a streak, exactly. More like a hazy film you notice when the sun's low.

If you only use microfibre? You're working harder than you need to. A lot of homeowners try it this way: spray cleaner, then wipe in circles with a cloth that never gets rinsed. After twenty minutes, the glass looks… smeared. Not dirty, not clean. Just worked over. And your arms are tired.

Picture an older Lorraine home where the owner has used microfibre only for months, and the windows 'never feel right.' A squeegee-first pass, then microfibre detail, leaves the inside pane smooth to the touch. That's the difference.

Is one method better for screens or tracks?

Neither. On an exterior visit, screens are rinsed in place. With the interior add-on, we remove them, wash them with a soft brush and mild soap, then rinse and reinstall. Microfibre's too delicate for scrubbing mesh; a squeegee is useless. For tracks, also part of the add-on, we clear loose debris first, then wipe with a damp microfibre cloth that picks up fine grit without scratching vinyl or aluminum.

This is where some cut-rate services fail. They wipe the glass and call it done. Screens stay dusty. Tracks stay full of dead bugs and pollen. In Lorraine, where spring means maple seeds and fall means wet leaves, that stuff builds up fast. You notice it when you open the window and get a gritty handful.

That's why we're upfront about it: screen washing and track cleaning are an add-on at extra cost, listed clearly so you decide before the visit. If your tracks are grimy, it's often worth adding, because you're going to touch them, and then you're going to touch the glass.

How does Lorraine's weather affect the choice?

Humidity here in summer means glass takes longer to dry. If you're using a squeegee and leave even a thin film, it lingers. That's why the microfibre follow-up matters: it picks up what the blade doesn't shear off cleanly.

In winter, condensation on the inside? Same deal. The squeegee removes the bulk. Microfibre handles the residual dampness near the seal. Exterior work is seasonal, roughly March to November, but interior cleaning can be done year-round.

And let's be real: Lorraine isn't known for extreme weather, but the temperature swings between seasons can stress older window seals. Keeping tracks clean and glass free of abrasive residue helps them last longer. It's not glamorous, but it's practical.

What about cost? Does method affect price?

Not directly. Our pricing is flat-rate by window-count tier for the exterior clean, and interior work is a clearly separate add-on. Whether we spend extra time on microfibre detail or not, the price you see on our pricing page is the same. No in-person visit needed for a typical home: you pick your tier, book, and we show up with the right tools.

If a company charges more for 'microfibre premium' or 'squeegee elite,' it's probably just upselling a basic step. The real value is in the crew's training: knowing when to use which tool, and how to combine them.

Speaking of price, a spring and fall program gives you automated reminders before each visit, but it isn't discounted. Discounts apply to quarterly (10%), bi-monthly (15%) and monthly (20%) service. Whatever schedule you choose, every visit gets the same streak-free standard.

Who should care about this?

If you live in a newer build in Lorraine with large, modern windows and minimal detailing, you might get away with less fuss. But even then, edge streaks show up fast on big glass.

If you're in an older home (think a pre-2000 split-level or bungalow with wood-frame windows), the combo method isn't just nice to have. It's necessary. Those frames hold moisture. The glass isn't always perfectly flat. You need both tools to get it truly clean.

And if you've ever hired a window cleaner who left streaks, or surprised you with extra charges, you'll appreciate that we spot-check every window before leaving. If you see a streak afterwards, contact us within 24 hours and the crew comes back to re-clean it at no charge.

One last thing: cheap microfibre cloths shed lint like crazy. After three windows, you're leaving more fuzz than you started with. We use commercial-grade, lint-free microfibre that holds up to dozens of washes. It's a small thing, but it's the kind of detail that separates 'okay' from 'actually clean.'

Should you try this yourself?

You can. Buy a decent squeegee (not the cheapest one at the hardware store; get one with a replaceable rubber blade), a couple of quality microfibre cloths, and a residential-safe glass cleaner. Work in shade. Don't rush the edges.

But if you'd rather spend your Saturday doing literally anything else, and you want a streak-free result, that's what we're here for.

We know the light in Lorraine. We know the dust. We know what it takes to make the glass disappear, so you only see the view.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use a squeegee or a microfibre cloth to clean windows without streaks?

Use both, in that order. A squeegee removes most of the cleaner and loosened grime in one pass, then a clean, dry microfibre cloth picks up what is left on the edges and corners. Microfibre alone tends to smear, and a squeegee alone can leave moisture in the corners.

Do professional window cleaners use a squeegee on exterior glass?

Altara doesn't. Exterior glass is cleaned with pure-water poles and a soft brush head, and the deionized water dries spot-free without a squeegee. The squeegee and microfibre combination is used on interior glass, which is available as an add-on.

What kind of microfibre cloth works best on windows?

A lint-free, commercial-grade cloth that holds up to repeated washing. Cheap cloths shed fuzz after a few windows and leave more lint than they remove. Keep flipping to a clean section so you aren't just moving dirt around.

Can windows be cleaned in winter in Lorraine?

Interior windows can be cleaned year-round. Exterior work is seasonal and runs roughly from March to November, so exterior cleaning waits for the milder months.

Want streak-free glass without spending your Saturday on it? Pick your window-count tier on our pricing page, or send us a question.