FREE - A Woman’s View: Professional Window Cleaning part 6 - Ladders

Here are some supplies that every window cleaner could use:

Nov 21 2008

FREE - A Woman’s View: Professional Window Cleaning part 6 - Ladders

Published by chatobstewart at 7:03 pm under Low Rise, WFP, Window cleaning Edit This

FREE - A Woman’s View: Professional Window Cleaning part 6 - Ladders

A Woman’s View: Professional Window Cleaning Part

Written by: Judy Suval
Contributed & Edited by:Cleaning Solutions Magazine

Window Cleaning ladders are slowly becoming like the VCR, you still need them but only if you have not updated your equipment. We are see a total over haul of the window cleaning ladder work industry with the improvements of the WFP (WATER FED POLES). These poles are just what they sound like, the difference is they use pure water to clean the glass and you don’t need a squeegee. This is where the large invest is but when you take into consideration the time savings and safety of cleaning the windows from the ground you will quickly see why they are starting to be as essential part of you window cleaning tools.

Ladders

My first ladder was a wooden eight-foot ladder with three legs. I recommend this type over the conventional four-legged ladder because of its stability on uneven ground. Orchard ladders come in aluminum which is much lighter than wood.

My second ladder was a 24 foot heavy-duty construction aluminum extension ladder. Be sure you buy one that is very stable. I designed a sleeve cap (cut from the sleeves of a sweatshirt) to go over the top of the extended portion of the ladder to prevent marring walls. You could use cotton gloves or socks for the same purpose. For one of my commercial accounts, I made a wooden block the exact size of the step. It made two steps the level of one and accommodated the ladder bottom. I stored the block at the business so it was readily available. Remember: When you’re on a ladder–don’t step back and admire your work!

Both of my ladders fit on top of the roof rack of my station wagon, the orchard on top of the extension. If you have a smaller vehicle, you can add some bracing up from the front and back bumpers to create a rack over the top. The ladders are secured to the rack with heavy duty rubber cords. They have metal “S” hooks on both ends for attachment.

There is also a Combo Ladder. The combo ladder carries like a suitcase with a handle; its OSHA-approved, safe, stable, easy to fold and lightweight. Another type of ladder made for professional window cleaners is sectional. The top piece tapers at the end for placement between windows. There are several reasons why many window cleaners use sectional ladders:

With the pointed top they are easy to set up above, below or on the window frame itself
They work well in smaller areas indoors since they don’t open up like a folding ladder
They are lightweight and maneuverable
They can be carried easily atop/in a smaller type of vehicle
Sectional ladders, however, are not much good above 25 feet or so–some state regulations even say they cannot exceed 26 feet.

A ladder stabilizer rack can be a nifty tool to improve ease and range of movement as well as safety. It holds the ladder away from the window as well as stabilizing it.

Ladder safety is very important for the window cleaner engaged in any work above the ground floor. Always follow the 25% rule–base of the ladder 5 feet out for every 20 feet high (or, out one quarter of up). In general, the feet of the ladder should never be less than 4 feet or more than 6 feet from the wall. The ladder feet should be articulated for better friction.You can also purchase ladder levelers which will keep a ladder straight even when set up on a stairway.

For heights of 40 feet or more, some cleaners prefer to use a self-propelled lift of some kind, which can be rented. Some prefer rolling scaffolds, which allow more room for equipment but are too unstable above three stories or on uneven surfaces.