Starter kit: what the first paid job needs
Window cleaning starts with very little: a squeegee, a washer, a scraper and a bucket. A water-fed pole system is the big step up for second stories and commercial work.
| Item | Why you need it | Price on the maker's site |
|---|---|---|
| Professional squeegee and channels in two sizes | Most panes | $33 (Ettore Pro+ squeegee, 14 in, Ettore) |
| Strip washer | Wetting and scrubbing the glass | $28 (Ettore Golden Glove washer, 14 in, Ettore) |
| Glass scraper with spare blades | Paint, stickers and debris | $16.19 (Ettore Pro+ 6 in scraper, Ettore) |
| Extension pole | Reaching without a ladder | $34 (Ettore InterPro 2-section extension pole, 4 ft, Ettore) |
| Bucket and window soap | Clean, slick water | $15.81 (Ettore Squeegee-Off window soap, 1 gallon, Ettore) |
| Microfiber and huck towels | Detailing edges | Varies by brand |
| Tool belt and holsters | Carrying tools on ladders | Varies by brand |
| Multi-position ladder with standoff | Second-story windows | $535 (Little Giant Revolution 2.0, Model 17, Little Giant) |
Pro kit: what a busy shop adds
Add these when the calendar is full and the starter kit is slowing you down. Most window cleaners buy them one at a time, when a job pays for one.
| Item | Why it pays | Price on the maker's site |
|---|---|---|
| Water-fed pole, carbon fiber | Second and third stories from the ground | $677 (Ettore AquaClean carbon fiber water-fed pole, 25 ft, Ettore) |
| Pure water system: RO or DI filters | Spot-free rinsing with the water-fed pole | Varies by brand |
| Hose reel and tank | Feeding the pole | Varies by brand |
| Screen cleaning setup | Add-on revenue | Varies by brand |
| Track cleaning brushes and a vacuum | Add-on revenue | Varies by brand |
Van stock: what you restock every week
Parts and supplies that let you finish on the first visit. Keep a short list on your phone and restock on the same day each week.
- Squeegee rubbers. Sharp rubber leaves no streaks.
- Scraper blades. Fresh blades every day.
- Window soap. Every job.
- DI resin or RO filters. Pure water.
- Towels and sleeves. Clean ones every day.
What a window cleaning kit costs
The 6 starter kit items we could price add up to $662 at the maker's listed price, out of 8 on the list. The rest vary too much by brand and size to give one honest number, so price them with your supplier.
The 1 pro kit items we could price add up to $677 at the maker's listed price, out of 5 on the list. The rest vary too much by brand and size to give one honest number, so price them with your supplier.
The water-fed pole and pure water system swing the total most. A starter kit of hand tools is a small share by comparison.
Prices are the ones shown on each maker's own site on the date in the sources. Dealers and sales change them, so treat them as a starting point.
Where to buy it
Most window cleaners buy hand tools and small parts wherever is closest, and set up a trade account for the items they buy every week. Our window cleaning suppliers list names the distributors and pro programs for this trade, and the Home Depot Pro vs Lowe's Pro page compares the two big-box programs row by row.
With Koira: the office side of the kit
The kit gets you to the job. Koira runs the rest: estimates with signing and deposits, invoices and card payments and your day plan, all on the free Office plan. Start with the window cleaning services list to set your prices.
Sources
- Ettore: Ettore Pro+ squeegee, 14 in, checked October 9, 2026
- Ettore: Ettore Golden Glove washer, 14 in, checked October 9, 2026
- Ettore: Ettore Pro+ 6 in scraper, checked October 9, 2026
- Ettore: Ettore InterPro 2-section extension pole, 4 ft, checked October 9, 2026
- Ettore: Ettore Squeegee-Off window soap, 1 gallon, checked October 9, 2026
- Little Giant: Little Giant Revolution 2.0, Model 17, checked October 9, 2026
- Ettore: Ettore AquaClean carbon fiber water-fed pole, 25 ft, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.