Extendable Window Cleaning Equipment Pros and Cons
Commercial window cleaning equipment is an investment, no matter which solution you choose, especially if you’re considering a pure water cleaning system. However, whether you go with a pure water solution or not, one thing that’s for certain is that when working above ground level, extendable window cleaning equipment is a necessity both for job performance and safety reasons. When evaluating which option is right for your facility and cleaning needs, we recommend considering the following pros and cons of this critical category of commercial cleaning equipment.
The Pros of Telescopic Window Cleaner Tools
- Time Saving & Efficient
Traditional window washing tools, especially for interior window and glass cleaning, often require extraneous, time-consuming tasks, like rearranging furniture and overreaching/stretching to connect with high access surfaces. These extra steps in the cleaning process only impairs the time it takes to get the job done.
Window cleaning kits with telescoping poles address these efficiency roadblocks. Extension poles provide the flexibility and rigidity to get the job done without the cleaning professional having to move furniture and/or position themselves awkwardly to access hard to reach surfaces. For exterior window cleaning, extendable pure water cleaning poles eliminate the need for a squeegee and drying cloth, cleaning windows in one simple step and in less time.
- Lower Risk of Fall Accidents
Ladders and lifts used to reach either interior or exterior windows pose a constant fall risk to window cleaning professionals. Replacing these tools with telescoping poles allows cleaning up to 5 stories and minimizes potential fall scenarios without jeopardizing the level of clean.
Whereas telescopic poles are not new to the cleaning industry, what has evolved is their effectiveness at greater heights. The most advanced pole systems are modular and made of composite materials, such as carbon fiber. Identical pole sections are connected to each other with specialized adapters that allow the pole to remain stiff up to 65 feet. With these advances in pole design, the cleaning task can be executed efficiently, without a ladder, keeping cleaners safely on the ground.
- Less Physical Strain
Using an ultra-lightweight extension pole reduces the possibility of repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) that are often contributed to extending to access hard to reach areas. When combined with pure water cleaning systems, you can also eliminate the tedious process of drying with a window squeegee or microfiber cloth. Using these drying tools requires repetitive arm and shoulder movement, which over time can damage the shoulder.
- More Cost Efficient
When cleaning low to mid-rise buildings, traditionally it made sense to rent an aerial lift or scaffolding. But this equipment not only costs additional money to rent, but it could also require additional insurance if used.
For indoor window cleaning, renting a lift requires extra precautions. You have to make sure you get a lift designed for interior cleaning that can both fit through the facility’s doorway and will not damage the floors when properly secured in the work area. Then considering the footprint, you also have to thoroughly block off the surrounding area from foot traffic to protect yourself and other building occupants from potential injury.
Disadvantages of Extendable Window Cleaning Equipment
While we can’t think of any disadvantages when utilized for indoor window washing, working side-by-side with commercial window washers and facility managers, we understand what they identify as the disadvantages of telescopic poles paired with pure water systems. For many, the upfront cost of a system is expensive when compared to purchasing individual window washing tools. But at the same time, those that say it is expensive, also feel that the advantages make it worth the investment.
There’s also a learning curve to correctly using these telescoping pure water systems. With proper training, any professional should be able to easily use it, but it does take some time to get use to it and perfect the technique as to not leave any water behind. After the initial adoption, these perceived disadvantages deliver a well-trained professional and a high-quality, easy to use system that will deliver long-term benefits to both the user and the facility.
Sourcing a Professional Window Cleaning Solution
Understanding that clean windows inside and outside a facility is an important, repetitive task, sourcing the best window washer tools is critical. Click here to read about what to look for when sourcing indoor window cleaning tools and here for guidance on selecting the best outdoor professional window cleaning solution.