The Well-Balanced Guide to Cleaning Your Second Storey Windows

Posted on: 17 March 2017

All homes with more than one level present something of a problem for otherwise simple maintenance issues, like cleaning your windows. The difficulty is that working at height is often conducted in a dangerous manner by people who have not been specifically trained to do so. Before you decide to lean out of your bedroom windows in order to wipe them down – with potentially disastrous results – take the time to read the guide below which will ensure that a good job is done every time.

  • Rule #1 – Weight and Stability

Don't try to carry large buckets of water up to your home's upper window level. Water is heavy and can make you lose balance when you are climbing to the top of a ladder or a scaffold. Therefore, you should take a minimum of fluid with you to get the job done. Professional window cleaners tend to have a spray bottle of soapy water on them only. One bottle is often enough to get all of your windows done, so why carry more? What's more, spray-gun bottles can be hooked into your trouser belt so that your hands are free, thereby helping you to maintain good contact when ascending and descending.

  • Rule #2 – Ascending and Descending

Set your ladder up using a 1:4 ratio. This means that if you are climbing up to a height of 3 metres that your ladder should be a minimum of 75 centimetres away from the wall before you climb up on it. Only use a ladder where there is room to set it up this way. The ground should be firm enough to accept a ladder and it is always advisable to have someone steady it for you at the bottom, too. If you need to go higher, live on soft ground or are on your own, then you ought to use a scissor lift. Typically, scissor lift hire is a cheaper option than many people think and is certainly a lot safer than ladders.

  • Rule #3 – Removing Grime

Upper storey windows tend to get cleaned less often and are more exposed to hard-to-remove dirt, such as bird excrement. As such, dirt can be harder to get rid of. When you wipe over your soapy water, don't be tempted to push hard with your cleaning rag or you may find that you overbalance backwards. A light touch is preferable even if it takes you longer to get your windows sparkling. Once the window is clear of grime, use a squeegee to remove any soap and water that may remain and to prevent streaks.

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