Clean a window so they require such little detailing? It is driving me nuts, but when I get done squeegeeing I leave a trail of water on the edge of the window that’s wider than the Mississippi and have to swap my towel out after about five windows because it’s so wet. How do they do it? I know about leaving space on the edge of the window, but I see SteveO jam his mop into a frame’s side then he’ll squeegee and walk away and leave the window beautiful. How the hell does he do that?
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@Stoneface So impatient young grasshopper! 
1.Check that you have MINIMAL rubber overhang.
2. Cut in your edges first.
3. Watch your close out. Slow down just as you get to the end and pull back slightly and if at waist height close out on the bottom ledge instead of sideways.
4. Repeat this action 1,000,000 times! 
I think I have said this before, but have some respect for the likes of Luke and Steve-O etc they have been at this for a while.
Slow down your actions a little as you may be moving too fast for your muscle memory.
You have awesome enthusiasm but remember that you are also still new to window cleaning.
Just keep practicing. 
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Also dont make the edge super wet. If needed to be extra wet for more cleaning, use sponge for wiping excessive moisture off. It will help with minimizing detail work. Also, angle of movement helps too.
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@Lewsqueegee is 100% correct . I think he covered it all. It takes tons of practice, I detailed all my pole work for the first 2 years. It was incredibly frustrating. I think each window cleaner has a “Aha Moment”. One day your just going to get it. At least it was that way for me. Especially for pole work and fanning windows.
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Shoot, when I first started, I was taught to first dry the edges, straight pull, and detail like crazy. It wasn’t until I started my biz that I figured out fanning and cutting in. That was my “ah ha!” Cuts time out like I couldn’t believe.
I view each and every job as an opportunity to learn and I get paid to practice new techniques.
It will come to you @Stoneface don’t let it discourage you.
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Stoneface, have you tried “Dive Bombing” the edges of the glass first? Hold the squeegee so the leading edge along the glass edge is lower than the raised other end,(think 45 degree angle) then “Glide” the center solution down staying away from the edges of the glass.
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Mine don’t come out perfect.
The windows look a lot better in video than in person.
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@Pete1848 I have five bombed, but my squeegee always sticks (it seems like it sticks any time I run over dried glass at all and its frustrating) or leaves rain biw streaks bad. So, so bad.
I know I am new and just getting my feet wet, but I am trying to figure out what to practice on. Practice doesn’t make you perfect, proper practice makes you perfect. If you practiced the wrong way every single time then you would be terrible.
Thanks for all of the replies. I really appreciate them.
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This is as good explanation as it can get.
Set your squeegees rubber right, dont use old ones, and dont squeegees dry areas.
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Maybe this will help, idk if you have seen it yet.
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Stone - what kind of environment are you in? Is it a dry climate, humid or wetter weather? What is your soap mix (soapy water or watery soap)? Do you use a wetting agent or squeegee lubricant?
How often do you change the rubber blade? When I start getting sticky blade or chattering then it is usually time to change the rubber. I use Unger hard rubber bc of my hot humid climate.
Watch videos from SteveO, Jordie, Fluff Daddy and the famous bearded ONE. They are great resources and you may find a style that suits you that you can emulate.
When I got started these videos and resources weren’t available so I had to watch DVD’s from Jim Willingham, Joel Andrews AKA Glass Wizard, Sorbo Samuellson, and the legend himself John Baxter to learn from them. John Baxter has written several books on window cleaning and he has some illustrations on squeegee technique that might help you out as well.
One thing that helped me out in store front glass cleaning was using a widebody channel. The thicker wider channel seemed to help me with some of the same issues you are facing.
@M_Lewis, I am two and a half hours south of the Beaded ONE. Humid always. I have settled on wetting my mop then applying the soap to the mop, but as of today I’ve started watering it down to about 1:1, soap:water. I like this a lot better. No wetting agent or squeegee lubricant. I honestly don’t know how to answer that question. Some times I have just five jobs in a week, sometimes I have 50. Tonight, for example, I’ve booked about six jobs. People have been messaging me like crazy.
Sometimes I change rubbers after a week, sometimes it’s more like a month or better. Just depends. I can’t ever tell a difference in my rubbers outside of the ones in a Liquidator. I just look at them every once in awhile and when they get to looking back I swap them. I don’t know why outside of people telling me to, but I swap them.
I’ve watched every single one of Luke’s videos and I would say about half of Jordie’s and SteveO’s videos. I scan a lot besides that and try to look for people doing things in window cleaning.
Depending on how many windows you are cleaning getting a rubber to last a week is a long time. There are certain jobs that I can burn a rubber up (both sides) in one day. What kind of squeegee blade and handle are you using? Maybe the ends are bent upward? You may be pressing to hard which can make the middle of the blade go downward which leaves minimal pressure in the edges.
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@Stoneface, just a suggestion here. Cleaning windows without having to detail takes a ton of experience and practice. It helps to cut in and fan. From the videos, I’d say @Luke, @TheWindowCleanse, and @SteveO are probably a bit more experienced than I have… but I also have a ton less detailing than I used to. (I started cleaning windows in 2013)
It takes practice and experience Rowdy, take your time, get used to detailing for a while and keep practicing. It’s awesome that you’re so determined but don’t frustrate yourself man.