Why don’t you use ladders to clean windows?
We are often asked, “Why don’t your window cleaners use ladders to clean windows?” We don’t use ladders for a few reasons, which should be the same for any reputable company.
1) Health & Safety:
The HSE website states. Users can use ladders in a measured and controlled way. We use them for various tasks but only for short durations to minimise the risk. If you were to use them all day, every day, for window cleaning, the risk of an accident would be extremely high. As a company, it puts staff at risk of potential, life-changing and even threatening injuries.
Safety alone, nobody should use ladders to clean windows when equipment on the market offers a safe alternative. Water Fed Pole is 100% the safest option as the operator’s feet never leave the ground. We will only ever use a water-fed pole to clean all windows on domestic properties. Safety for our company is paramount.
2) We use the best method that doesn’t require ladders – Water Fed Pole.
We hear a lot of comments from disgruntled new customers who have had a bad experience with the water-fed pole. Unfortunately, there are a lot of users out there that need to understand how to use the method correctly.
In our experience, there are a few reasons that Water Fed Pole can leave poor results.
We have seen a significant increase in window cleaners entering this industry, thinking it’s an accessible start-up business. We see new start-ups buying a water-fed pole system and using it with no real clue as to what they are doing. You can’t brush a window a few times, and magically, the windows will be clean. When we take on a new employee with no experience, we will only allow them out on their own once we are satisfied they know how to use the system to a good enough standard. There are various ways a user would get the best results. They may need to rinse more; They may need to be too quick in cleaning all the glass and frames; their attention to detail may be insignificant. They need help understanding how to clean different types of windows/frames; They may be using water that isn’t 100% pure. These are just a few reasons you may receive or have received poor results from an unskilled operator.
On rare occasions, it may not be a user error. The poor results may be down to your actual glass or window unit.
Spotting left from vents:
When we take on new customers, we allow our cleaners as long as it takes to get the clean right from the first clean. Sometimes you may be left with the odd spots that may take a couple of cleans to get rid of, but the most significant cause of leaving runs or marks can be dirty vents. Many window cleaners may stay away from the top of the frames and not clean them due to fear that they may leave runs or spots. In our experience, this is nothing to fear as long as we get it right from the start. Some vents need ample time to be flushed out to make sure the vents have minimal dirt left behind. The dirt in the vent would cause the water to be contaminated, and then, if it rolls down the glass after we have finished, it would leave spotting or running.
Broken or leaky frames:
For us to achieve the best results, a new, flawless double-glazed UPVC frame would achieve the best results every time. Sometimes it can be tricky with old wooden structures that are not regularly maintained if there are gaps between the glass and the frames on the edge, then as with vents. Water can become contaminated due to the build-up of dirt within the frame leaving spots or runs.
Chalky or oxidised frames:
If the UPVC frame has perished over time and the top layer has a chalky residue when you rub your hands over it. A milky substance may be left on the glass if it needs to be scrubbed and rinsed enough. Metal frames can oxidise over time, just as UVPC would leave a layer of dust that would cause a similar milkiness. This should clear after a few cleans, but it depends on the window frames’ condition. If the window cleaner has enough experience, he should be able to eliminate this quickly.
Glass type: Hydrophilic vs Hydrophobic.
We will only know the type of glass we are cleaning once we start cleaning it. But if you have Hydrophilic Glass, the water will rinse in “Sheeting”. When this water sheets off the glass, it quickly leaves the best results with no real problems. If you have a Hydrophobic glass, the water will clump together in beads when rinsed off. If not rinsed properly, then this could leave spotting on your glass. We can still achieve the best results, but it knows that when faced with this issue, we give it the correct amount of rinsing to achieve the best results possible.
We are not anti-traditional methods. We use the best tool for each job as it’s required. Our staff are all trained to use hand tools as sometimes it is the best and safest method. A water-fed pole is a self-drying process. It could be better for cleaning in places such as busy high streets at ground level, and of course, you can’t use water-fed poles indoors, so we tend multiple sites indoors using traditional methods.
The above explains why we don’t use ladders to clean windows. However, We understand that some customers may still prefer someone to get up close and personal. That is the customer’s choice. We hope we have given you some insight into why you should reconsider this way of thinking.
Suppose you were to choose us to clean your windows. We will always do our utmost to ensure you receive nothing short of excellent service. And hopefully, we will make you see that not using ladders to clean windows does make sense in these modern times.
If we can help you further then please don’t hesitate to contact us here.