Developing A Window Cleaning Soap

The very best window cleaning soap is truly subjective.  Not everyone has the same likes and dislikes.  Although I will tell you this.  No one enjoys bleed.  No one wants a heavy film that leaves white lines in the direct sun.  And no one wants their blade to chatter across the glass.  I think everyone will agree with me on this.

So.  In order to eliminate bleed we must choose a molecule that will not break down the surface tension of water so much that the cleaning solution just runs out from the edge.  We test by cutting the solution with our squeegee and looking at the line of delineation.  The dry line or wet line.  Whichever you want to call it.  If it is straight you are good.  If it has legs then not. Next the film.  Typically long molecules will leave a film.  We like short molecules.  Maybe with chains of just four carbons long. If a surfactant turns to a white solid when left outside in fifty degree weather, this is not a good thing.  If it stays liquid down to ten degrees this is a good thing.  Your blade should not chatter if the surfactant breaks down the surface tension of water adequately.  This is also true of the slip products or chems out there.  TSP has a very short molecule.  It gives you tremendous slip.  No film.  However it will bleed like crazy. Sodium metasilicate or water glass is very similar.  Another slip chem. But enough on the slip chems.

It isn't possible to control the humidity in the air.  If the humidity is high your solution will cause your squeegee to glide better.  But when it is low your rubber will chatter more.  The bottom line is once again the length of the syn-det molecule.  If it is short you will leave very little film.  You see as the rubber moves across the glass your water solution evaporates behind the blade.  It only takes a split second.  But it does take time.  It might only travel out behind the blade by a tenth of an inch or so before it evaporates.  But as it evaporates a film is left.  Every time.  It is the length of the syn-det molecule that determines exactly how thick this film is.  The cleaner surface is always attained by using a short molecule.

Now that we have got this down we know where to go.  We want a single short molecule or a blend of different ones.  We need to break down the surface tension of water to just the right amount.  And we will want to generate just the right amount of sudz.  Certain surfactants will generate more sudz than others. Therefore you must choose the one that you want.

My job is to come up with a number of different surfactants of the four different families and let you mix your own to your own liking.  This will be a non ending work in progress.  But I will let you know as it develops.  Currently I am looking at many contenders.  And am even looking at fluorosurfactants or teflon soaps.  These have so far proven to be the most fascinating to work with. Although they are extremely expensive.  For that reason I see them as small add ins.  Not the main ingredient in the blend.

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Written by Henry Grover Jr.

For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com