Squeegee vs Microfibre for Windows: What Actually Works in NDG Homes

Say an NDG homeowner tries to clean his own windows on a spring Saturday with a spray bottle and a microfibre cloth. By noon he's on his third attempt, streaks still ghosting across the glass. You scrub, you wipe, you step back, and there it is: a faint haze, right 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 indoors, and something else entirely outdoors, because each tool solves a different part of the problem. Here's how they actually work in real NDG homes, not in a demo video.

What We Use on Exterior Glass: Pure Water on a Pole

For exterior windows, especially on the two-storey homes and duplexes common in NDG, neither a squeegee nor a cloth is the main tool. We use a water-fed pole: a brush head on a long pole, fed with deionized pure water. The brush loosens dirt on the glass, frames and sills, and the pure water rinses it away. Because the water has no minerals in it, it dries clear without needing to be squeegeed off. No soap. No residue.

That matters on a windy day in NDG, with mature trees shedding pollen and debris. Soapy water left on the glass grabs that dust and bakes it on by afternoon. Pure water leaves nothing behind to grab it. The poles reach up to three storeys from the ground, so the crew isn't hauling ladders down narrow NDG side yards or onto back balconies.

This exterior clean, with screens rinsed in place, is what our flat rate covers.

Where the Squeegee Earns Its Place: Interior Glass

Inside the home, you can't flood the glass with water, so the classic method comes back. When you add interior glass to your visit, the crew applies a residential-safe glass cleaner and pulls it off with a squeegee in smooth, overlapping passes. A squeegee removes the bulk of the liquid in one stroke, which is why it beats a cloth on a large pane.

The downside? It takes skill. A jerky stroke or a tilted blade leaves a line. Angle, pressure and overlap are what separate a clean pane from a streaky one. A bad squeegee job is worse than none at all, but in experienced hands it's hard to beat.

Where Microfibre Actually Shines

Microfibre is the finishing tool. Think about interior windows in an NDG condo or townhouse: fingerprints, cooking residue, maybe a bit of film near the kitchen. After the squeegee pass, a damp microfibre cloth catches the edges, the corners near the frame and any stubborn spots. Because the cloth traps dust instead of scattering it, you're not moving grime from one corner to another.

Compare that with paper towel on a bathroom mirror: fuzz everywhere, streaks guaranteed. A damp microfibre cloth leaves no lint and no smears.

But microfibre only works if it's clean. A cloth rinsed once in a bucket of dirty water and reused all day just redistributes grime. Fresh cloths, swapped often, make 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 NDG homes have a mix of older casements, modern sliders and tilt-turn windows, and each surface calls for its own tool. Exterior: pure water on a pole. Interior: squeegee with a residential-safe glass cleaner, then microfibre for the detail. Tracks, when you add track cleaning: vacuum first, then a damp microfibre wipe.

Picture a duplex in NDG with hard-to-reach rear windows. A cloth-only approach struggles to reach them and leaves the outside hazy. A water-fed pole for the outside and squeegee plus microfibre for the inside makes the difference obvious within minutes.

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, your exterior glass benefits most from a pure-water pole system. It handles wind, pollen and spot-free drying better than any cloth-based method. For interior glass, especially in kitchens and bathrooms where films build up, the squeegee and microfibre combination gives the best finish.

Screens and tracks are worth thinking about too, since NDG's trees drop seeds and debris all season. Our flat rate rinses screens in place. Screen removal and washing, window track cleaning and interior glass are optional add-ons you can request at extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Is a squeegee or microfibre better for exterior windows in NDG?

Neither is the main tool outside. We clean exterior glass with a water-fed pole and deionized pure water: the brush loosens dirt and the pure water rinses it away and dries clear, with no squeegee needed and no soap film left behind.

Why do my windows still streak after I clean them with microfibre?

Microfibre only works when the cloth is clean. A cloth rinsed once in dirty water and reused all day just spreads grime around, so it leaves a haze. On large panes, a squeegee removes the liquid more cleanly; save the microfibre for edges and detail.

Does professional window cleaning in NDG include screens and tracks?

Our flat rate covers exterior glass, frames and sills, with screens rinsed in place. Screen removal and washing and track cleaning are optional add-ons at extra cost, as is interior glass.

How often should NDG homeowners get their windows cleaned?

Twice a year, in spring and fall, suits many NDG homes. Spring clears winter grime and pollen, and fall catches leaves and seed pods before they stick. If you only book one visit, make it spring. Quarterly, bi-monthly and monthly plans are available too, with discounts of 10%, 15% and 20%.

How to Get a Real Price Without Guesswork

We don't do in-home estimates. No salesperson showing up to "assess your needs." You count your windows, pick the matching tier on our pricing page and book online, adding interior glass, screens or tracks if you want them. No surprises on the day. Only homes taller than three storeys or with difficult access get a site visit before pricing.

A spring and fall routine works well for many NDG homeowners, and our bi-annual program sends an automated reminder before your next visit. Exterior work runs roughly from March to November; interior glass can be done year-round.

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 pure water on a pole outside, squeegee and microfibre inside, and a crew that spot-checks every window before leaving. If you see a streak, contact us within 24 hours and the crew returns to re-clean it at no charge.

Ready to book? Pick your window-count tier online, or contact us with questions about your NDG home.