Types of Squeegees

Window Squeegees

• Window squeegees clean glass surfaces of buildings and automobiles and the blade has two sides. One side has spongy materials used for cleaning dirt and debris; the other side consists of rubbery material used to whisk water away without leaving streaks on the glass. Industrial squeegees cleans windows on skyscrapers and high rises. They sometimes have a triangular head used for getting into the corners of the window where dust gets trapped, as well as adjustable handles made of heavy-duty materials like stainless steel and brass. Smaller squeegees used to clean automobile windows are hand held and fit in buckets.

Floor Squeegees

• Floor squeegees like similar to window squeegees and have either straight blades or curves blades, as well as a long handle like push brooms. The long, adjustable handles lets a cleaner get under beds and sofas without bending or kneeling on the floor. Floor squeegees work better than a mop. Instead of spreading water around like a mop, they push water to drains or outside. Hospital use them to clean long halls and operating rooms. Homeowners use them to clean kitchen floors, outside decks and garages.

Screen Printing Squeegees

• Screen printing is a process that uses ink-blocking stencil to print images on woven mesh. Artists use this process in the fine arts and in commercial printing, including creating images on t-shirts, hats, posters, glass, CD's and DVD's. Andy Warhol featured screen printing in his 1962 depiction of Marilyn Monroe. Screen printers roll squeegees over the stencil so that images stick to materials such as glass, fabric, wood and paper. The squeegees have square or round flexible blades used to push the ink. Rounded blades work best on fabric, while square blades work best on paper and hard materials.

Film Squeegees

• Photographers use film squeegees to dry washed photograph papers to prevent wrinkles and water spots. Film squeegees are made of styrene, a synthetic chemical used to construct plastics, rubber and resins, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Film squeegees have a soft, flexible multi-extension blade designed to sweep water while flattening photo paper. Select film squeegees have sponges.

Other Types of Squeegees

• Squeegees for tennis courts roll excess water after a rain storm, helping the court dry faster. Other types of squeegees include those used when grouting and adding tiles to floors and ones used to wipe sweat from horses. Fishermen push water and fish parts off their boats using squeegees.