Window Cleaning

There was a time when window cleaning tools were limited to soap, water, and a clean rag. It wasn't the most efficient way of window cleaning: the rags left streaks on the windows, soap scum accumulated in the cracks, and water stains left the panes looking dirty despite (or even because of) all the window cleaning.

Plus, the tedious scrubbing and wiping left arm muscles sore. Clearly, window cleaning wasn't the most popular chore. 4

Then sometime in the 5th century, the Greeks figured out how to make window cleaning a little easier—by using a tools that, strangely enough, was typically lept to the stables. The horse-sweat squeegee had a long handle perfect for rubbing down animals and scrubbing dirty panes (preferably not at the same time). The first specialized window cleaning tool was born. 2

In 1936, Ettore Sceccone invented the single-blade window cleaning squeegee. It left less streaks and helped ensure that you wouldn't miss a spot.

Other window cleaning tools that emerged during this time helped reduce the other nuisances people would encounter during window cleaning: water stains and lint. These included micro-fiber window cleaning towels, lint-free window cleaning rags, and window cleaning clay foams. Little by little, the window cleaning industry was evolving. 7

Then even good old soap wasn't good enough for window cleaning. By that time the automobile industry had boomed, and manufacturers had developed tinted windows to shield car drivers from the sun.

Unfortunately, the tint was easily damaged by ammonia, a key ingredient in existing window cleaning products. This led to ammonia-free window cleaning detergent, as well as other specialized product for the frosted windows and stained glass windows that became en vogue during the 1960's. 2

By the 1980's a wide variety of window cleaning detergents had hit the market. There were window cleaning detergents that left a thin coating on the panes, protecting it from water spots and leaving an attractive gleam.

There was window polish and window wax—so called "finishing products" to use after window cleaning. People could even buy entire sets of window cleaning products that often came with its own window cleaning tool. These window cleaning packages claimed to create a "complete" approach to window cleaning, and often fully-extendable parts to reach out-of-the-way windows.

Other window cleaning innovations include the automated window cleaning squeeges with rotating heads that reached even the smallest corners, no drip window cleaning rags, disposable window cleaning towels, or even "soapless" window cleaning mops. For extra convenience and ease of us, window cleaning tools were also being made with increasingly lightweight handles made from materials like fiberglass.

To further illustrate how window cleaning has evolved from a simple chore to a specialized skill that some spend their entire lives perfecting, window cleaning professionals are now offering their services (or even their knowledge). People can now ask window cleaning experts to give their panes that extra shine, or even buy e-books explaining the steps to "a flawlessly clean window pane."

Yes, window cleaning has come a long way from soap, rags and water. And scientists have hinted that another breakthrough is on its way: self-cleaning windows. What will they think of next?