Window Cleaning Tools You Actually Need to Start 2025

Must-Have Core Tools

These are the tools you can’t skip. If you’re serious about getting paid to clean windows, this is your baseline kit.

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🪟 Squeegee

This is your money-maker. Start with a 12- to 18-inch squeegee for general residential work. A 14″ is a solid middle ground if you’re only getting one.

Smaller squeegees (like 6″ or 4″) are great for French panes or tight spaces. Larger squeegees let you move faster on big glass, but they’re harder to control when you’re new. Most pros carry a few sizes and swap them depending on the job.

Stick with known brands like Ettore, Unger, or Moerman—cheap squeegees will leave streaks and drive you nuts.

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🧽 Scrubber (T-Bar + Sleeve)

This is what you use to apply soap and break up dirt. You want a good T-bar handle and a microfiber sleeve that holds plenty of water. Microfiber is the way to go—abrasive sleeves dry out fast and are overkill if you’re already using steel wool.

I recommend having at least two sleeves so you can swap them out when one gets too dirty.

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🪣 Bucket

A rectangular window cleaning bucket is best. It fits your tools and keeps things organized. If you’re on a tight budget, a basic 5-gallon round bucket will work, but it’s more awkward to use.

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🪜 Bucket on a Belt (BOAB)

In my opinion, this isn’t optional. A BOAB lets you keep your squeegee and scrubber on your hip so you’re not constantly walking back to a bucket—or worse, dripping water all over a client’s hardwood floors. It keeps you efficient, clean, and looking like you know what you’re doing.

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🧼 Soap

Dawn dish soap works great. No need to buy expensive window cleaning soap starting out. Just don’t go overboard. Rectangular buckets typically have a 3 gallon water line on them. We fill them up to that line with water and use 60ml of soap for that amount of water (20ml/gal of water) we are currently experimenting with slightly more, but too much soap will make you blow through towels.

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🧴 #0000 Steel Wool

This is your secret weapon for polishing glass. #0000-grade (that’s four 0’s) steel wool is super fine and safe for most glass.

Use it for:

• Hard water spots
• Tree sap
• Bug guts
• Light construction debris

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Scraper / Razor Blade

Scrapers are for serious stuck-on stuff: paint overspray, stickers, tape residue, or anything steel wool won’t budge. A 4″ or 6″ scraper gives you a wide surface area and better control.

Always use a new blade and a low angle. Test a corner of the glass first, and avoid using scrapers on tempered or tinted windows or you’ll have a bad day and angry client.

Access & Efficiency Tools

These are just as critical as your squeegee and scrubber. Without them, you’re either cutting corners or wasting time. If you plan to clean real homes, these tools are non-negotiable.

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🪜 Ladders

You’re going to need ladders. Period.

• Step Ladder: Great for interiors, sunrooms, or anything just out of reach.
• Extension Ladder (16’–24′): Essential for second-story windows, tall entryways, or uneven terrain.
• Ladder Stabilizer: Does exactly what the name says. Much safer and keeps you father from the window so you’re not hugging the glass as you clean it.

We use Gorilla Ladders because of their A-frame versatility. They’re a bit pricier, but safer and more flexible than most ladders out there, especially when you’re working on odd angles, tight landscaping, sloped ground, or stairs.

Choose a ladder that’s light enough to carry all day, sturdy enough to trust with your life, and adaptable enough for the homes you want to work on.

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🧰 Toolbelt or Pouch

You can only fit so much in your pockets. A good pouch or toolbelt keeps your scraper, detailing towels, and maybe a second squeegee right where you need them.

It speeds you up, keeps you organized, and saves you from setting tools down on clients’ counters, ledges, or planters. Plus, it makes you look like you know what you’re doing. And when trust is your biggest currency, that makes a difference.

Safety & Detailing Tools

This is the stuff that keeps you looking professional, protects your client’s property, and keeps you safe on the job.

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Microfiber Towels

You’ll use these constantly for drying edges and sills, detailing tracks, and cleaning up drips. We recommend Kirkland yellow microfiber towels. They’re affordable, durable, and better than most “pro” towels sold online.

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Recycled Surgical Towels (Huck Towels)

These are your fine detail towels. Use them to wipe any tiny bits of remaining water on the windows after you pass them with your Microfiber towels. They leave minimal streaks and give the window that last touch of water removal that makes a clean window stand out.

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👟 Shoes with Grip

If you’re climbing ladders or walking across slick stone patios, your shoes matter. You want something lightweight, supportive, and with serious traction. No sandals. No worn-out sneakers.

Running shoes fit the bill for this one, but 511’s work really well too and look clean but casual.

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🧢 Personal Protection (for Comfort and Longevity)

This work is outside. That means sun, heat, and glare.

• Wear a hat.
• Use polarized sunglasses.
• Keep sunscreen in the truck and actually use it, bro. No one wants to see a guy with a farmer’s tan burn.

A little goes a long way here. Just get the right clothing and you’ll look and feel much better.

Where to Buy (Without Overpaying)

There are a ton of sites selling window cleaning tools, but not all of them are priced for beginners or built for pros. Here’s where to go and what to avoid.

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🛒 Best Places to Buy Gear

• WCR (Window Cleaning Resource): Great selection, trusted brands, good customer service.
• Detroit Sponge: Another solid option for professional gear. Great for price checking and in my experience they have some good niche tools as well. Look here when you decide to invest in a water-fed pole.
• Amazon: Convenient, but quality can vary. Double-check brands and read reviews.

If you’re just getting started, it’s tempting to grab a “starter kit.” But most of those kits include tools you’ll replace within a few months. You’re better off buying the essentials one by one and building your setup the right way.

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🧰 Skip These

• Random eBay kits
• Anything that looks like it came from a dollar store
• “Pro” gear that doesn’t list the brand

You don’t need a truckload of tools to start a window cleaning business, you just need the right ones.

Start lean, buy quality, and get to work. Every tool on this list has been battle-tested on real jobs. Skip the fluff, master your craft, and you’ll be way ahead of the guys spending more time browsing gear than booking clients.

If you’re ready to go beyond just gear and actually build a business that gets clients and grows, check out my full guide:
👉 How to Start a Window Cleaning Business in 2025