Squeegee vs Microfibre for Windows: What Actually Works in NDG Homes
Last spring, I watched a neighbour in NDG try to clean his own windows with a spray bottle and a microfibre cloth. He was on his third attempt by noon, streaks still ghosting across the glass. I’ve been there. You scrub, you wipe, you step back — and there it is: a faint haze, just where the light hits. It’s frustrating. And it’s why most homeowners eventually call a pro.
But not all pros clean the same way. Some swear by the squeegee. Others reach for microfibre first. At Altara, we use both — not because we’re hedging, but because each tool solves a different part of the problem. Let me break down how they actually work in real NDG homes, not in a lab or a demo video.
Why the Squeegee Still Rules Exterior Glass
For exterior windows, especially on two-storey homes common in NDG’s detached and duplex mix, the squeegee isn’t old-school — it’s the most reliable tool we’ve got. Paired with a pure-water system (deionized water fed through a pole), it lifts dirt without leaving minerals behind. No soap. No residue. Just water that evaporates clean.
I’ve seen techs try to replace the squeegee with microfibre pads on water-fed poles. It seems logical — softer, less abrasive. But in practice, microfibre just pushes dirty water around. On a large pane, you’ll get swirl marks. On a windy day in NDG, with mature trees shedding pollen and debris, those swirls bake into the glass by afternoon. The squeegee, by contrast, sheds water in a single smooth pass. It’s fast. It’s repeatable. And when done right, it leaves zero streaks.
The downside? It takes skill. A jerky stroke or a tilted blade leaves a line. That’s why we train our crews on proper angle, pressure, and overlap — not just once, but every season. A bad squeegee job is worse than no job at all. But in the hands of someone who’s done hundreds of NDG homes? It’s unbeatable for exterior glass.
Where Microfibre Actually Shines (And It’s Not Where You Think)
Inside the home, microfibre isn’t just useful — it’s essential. Think about interior windows in an NDG condo or townhouse: you’ve got fingerprints, cooking residue, maybe even a bit of vape film near the kitchen. Glass cleaner sprayed on a microfibre cloth lifts that stuff without scratching. And because the cloth traps dust instead of scattering it, you’re not just moving grime from one corner to another.
I’ll admit it — I used to think microfibre was overhyped. Then I tried cleaning a bathroom mirror with paper towel. Fuzz everywhere. Streaks guaranteed. Switched to a damp microfibre cloth, and it was like night and day. No lint. No smears. Just clarity. That’s why we use it for interior detailing: after the squeegee removes the bulk of moisture, microfibre catches the edges, the sills, and any stubborn spots near the frame.
But here’s the grip: microfibre only works if it’s clean. I’ve seen crews reuse the same cloth all day, rinsing it once in a bucket of dirty water. By hour three, you’re just redistributing grime. We swap cloths every two hours — or sooner if they’re visibly soiled. It’s a small thing, but it makes the difference between ‘clean enough’ and ‘actually streak-free.’
Why We Don’t Pick One Over the Other
Some companies market themselves as ‘squeegee-only’ or ‘microfibre experts.’ Sounds neat. But in real-world NDG homes — with their mix of older casements, modern sliders, and tilt-turn windows — you need both. Exterior? Squeegee with pure water. Interior? Microfibre with a residential-safe glass cleaner. Screens and tracks? Vacuum first, then wipe with damp microfibre. It’s not about loyalty to a tool. It’s about using what works for each surface.
I remember a job in NDG last fall — a three-storey duplex with hard-to-reach rear windows. The homeowner had tried a ‘microfibre-only’ service the year before. They paid less, but the exterior still looked hazy. When we came in, we used the water-fed pole with squeegee for the outside, microfibre for the inside. The difference was obvious within minutes. The homeowner said it was the first time in years they could see the tree line clearly.
That’s not marketing. That’s just matching the right tool to the right job.
What This Means for Your NDG Home
If you live in a two-storey home in NDG — which most of us do — your exterior glass benefits most from a pure-water squeegee system. It handles wind, pollen, and mineral-free drying better than any cloth-based method. For interior glass, especially in kitchens or bathrooms where films build up, microfibre is the better choice for detail work.
And don’t overlook screens and tracks. Cheaper services often upcharge for screen removal or skip track cleaning entirely. At Altara, screens come out, get washed, and go back in. Tracks get vacuumed and wiped. It’s included — not an add-on. That matters in NDG, where trees drop seeds and debris all season long.
How to Get a Real Quote — No Guesswork
We don’t do in-home estimates. No salesperson showing up to ‘assess your needs.’ Instead, you use our online form. Count your windows (we guide you through it), pick interior/exterior/screens/tracks, and get a flat-rate quote in under an hour. No surprises. No upsell on the day.
For most NDG homeowners, bi-annual (spring + fall) is the sweet spot. Spring clears winter grime and pollen. Fall catches leaves and seed pods before they stick. If you only do one, spring is the minimum — but you’ll regret skipping fall when you’re wiping mud off your frames in November.
And if you’ve ever had a cleaner miss a streak and refuse to come back? That won’t happen here. Our streak-free guarantee means if you see a mark within 24 hours, we return — free of charge. No forms. No runaround. We just fix it.
If you want to see how we handle a standard two-storey home in NDG, or learn more about our bi-annual program, check out these pages:
Honestly? The best window cleaning isn’t about the fanciest tool. It’s about using the right one for the job — and knowing when to switch. In NDG homes, that means squeegee for outside, microfibre for inside, and a crew that actually cares about the details. If you’re tired of streaks and second-guessing, it’s time to try a service that gets it right the first time.