Window washing can be a tedious, unpleasant experience. This is especially true if you are not using the right cleaners and techniques. However, even when you do know how to clean like a professional, some things can make window cleaning scary. Below are three of the scariest things about cleaning the exterior side of your windows.
- Heights and Scrubbing:
For those afraid of heights, anything above ground level can be daunting. For those who have windows on the eighth floor of an apartment complex, it can be even scarier. Fire escapes may just provide a welded ladder on the outside of your windows. In other situations, a window-washing basket may be required. These are lowered from the top of a tall building to allow professionals access to the outside surface of your windows. For those of us who just have a second floor to deal with, ladders tend to be the go-to solution. Balancing on a ladder while vigorously scrubbing at a window can be a challenge. For those standing on a slanting roof to reach the windows of their cape cod, the fear of slipping off the surface is also a big one depending on how steep the slope is.
Decrease the risk: To make heights a bit less scary, make sure your ladder is placed on a solid, level surface. Decreasing the unevenness can help prevent the ladder from slipping sideways on you while you scrub. Presoaking the area can also help loosen any dirt and debris on the window surface and reduce scrubbing.
- Winds:
Winds can pose two risks. If you are cleaning windows from a ladder, the winds can create serious safety concerns. In addition to balancing on your ladder while scrubbing, the winds add a while new element you have to fight. In addition to this, winds can blow back cleaning chemicals as you spray them. Depending on what you are using to clean your windows with, this can be a potential safety concern as well. For example, getting bleach in your eyes can blind you. If you happen to be spraying bleach from atop a ladder, the blinding sear of a few drops in your eyes can cause falls.
Decrease the risk: Obviously, cleaning your windows on a non-windy day would be best. If you must clean on a windy day, however, use a non-toxic cleaner. Simple Green is available in most stores. However, you can create your own solution from dish soap or white vinegar mixed with warm water. These mixtures are simple, easy and not going to permanently blind you. If you must use a harsh, toxic chemical, make sure you wear protective eyewear.
- Power Washers:
Power washers have their own set of concerns. As with scrubbing from atop a ladder, power washers can propel you backwards off a ladder should the power be set too high. Electric power washers are also a danger in and of themselves.
Decrease the risk: Power washers can easily reach second story windows from the ground. You may not need to actually use a ladder to get those second floor windows spotless. In addition, check out gas power washers. Electric power washers are okay, but you need to keep the cords well out of the way of the water stream or puddles.
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