Squeegee vs Microfibre for Windows in Lorraine: What Actually Works

I’ve cleaned a lot of windows in Lorraine. Not just any windows — the kind that face east and catch the morning sun right off the Rivière des Prairies, the kind where every streak shows up like a neon sign by 10 a.m. If you’re a homeowner here, you know what I mean. You don’t hire someone just to wipe glass. You hire them so you don’t have to see your own fingerprints from last week.

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 after years of doing this work — and fixing what other guys missed — I’ve got a clear take.

What’s the real difference between squeegee and microfibre?

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’re constantly 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 — no squeegee involved there. The deionized water dries spot-free because it’s got no minerals to leave residue. That’s standard for two-storey homes in Lorraine, where most houses are bungalows or split-levels with easy eaves access.

But inside? That’s where the squeegee-microfibre combo shines. We spray a residential-safe glass cleaner, then use a professional-grade 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.

I’ve seen guys skip the microfibre step to save time. Big mistake. You end up with faint streaks along the rubber’s path, or lint stuck in the tracks. Takes ten extra seconds per window. 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 behind 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. I’ve watched homeowners try this themselves — spraying cleaner, then wiping in circles with a cloth they never rinse. After twenty minutes, the glass looks… smeared. Not dirty, not clean. Just… worked over. And their arms are tired.

One job last fall in Vieux-Lorraine stands out. The homeowner had tried microfibre only for months. Said the windows ‘never felt right.’ We came in, did the squeegee-first pass, then microfibre detail. She ran her finger along the inside pane and said, ‘I can’t believe how smooth that is.’ That’s the difference.

Is one method better for screens or tracks?

Neither. For screens, we remove them, wash them with a soft brush and mild soap, then rinse and reinstall. Microfibre’s too delicate for scrubbing mesh; squeegee’s useless. For tracks, we vacuum loose debris first, then wipe with a damp microfibre cloth — the kind that picks up fine grit without scratching vinyl or aluminum.

This is where some cut-rate services fail. They’ll wipe the glass and call it done. Leave the screens dusty. Leave the tracks 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.

We include screens and tracks in every standard job. No upsell. It’s part of the streak-free guarantee — because if your tracks are grimy, 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, frost or condensation on the inside? Same deal. Squeegee removes the bulk. Microfibre handles the residual dampness near the seal. We don’t clean exterior glass when it’s below freezing — safety first — but interior work goes on year-round.

And let’s be real: Lorraine’s not 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 — interior and exterior, screens and tracks included. Whether we spend extra time on microfibre detail or not, the quote you get online is the same. No in-person visit needed. You plug in your window count, get a number, and we show up with the right tools.

I’ll be honest: if a company charges more for ‘microfibre premium’ or ‘squeegee elite,’ they’re 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, our bi-annual program (spring and fall) runs about 15% less per visit than booking two singles. For a typical two-storey home in Lorraine with 18 windows, that’s meaningful over a year. You get automated reminders, weather-safe rescheduling, and the same streak-free guarantee every time.

Who should care about this?

If you live in a newer build in Lorraine — say, near the boulevard des Mille-Îles — 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 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 charged extra for screens, or made you wait for a quote — you’ll appreciate that we show up, do the full job interior and exterior, and leave no loose ends.

One last thing: I’ve used microfibre cloths that shed lint like crazy. Cheap ones. After three windows, you’re leaving more fuzz than you started with. We use commercial-grade, lint-free microfibre — the kind 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 $5 kind from 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 the guarantee that comes with a streak-free return policy — that’s what we’re here for.

We’ve cleaned over 7,800 homes’ worth of windows since we started. A lot of them are right here in Lorraine. We know the light. We know the dust. We know what it takes to make the glass disappear — so you only see the view.

get a flat-rate quote | standard window cleaning | bi-annual program