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A window cleaner maintains the cleanliness of windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces. The work is mostly cleaning of exterior window panes - interior panes are usually maintained by maids or janitors though many exterior cleaners will clean both sides of a pane if required. (US slang: 'window washer'.)

Often thought of as a simple, unskilled job, window cleaning requires mastery of difficult techniques that sets the amateurs apart from the experts. A window cleaner lacking in experience or training can take considerably longer to complete a project and the work may be of a lower standard. Moreover, the use of proper window cleaning tools, i.e. a squeegee, results in a far better overall clean than home methods such as rubbing windows with newspaper or a wet rag. Rubbing a pane of glass with a cloth can result in 'stroke' marks visible in sunlight due to minute amounts of residue being left behind. "All that rubbing isn't a good idea," says Brent Weingard, owner of Expert Window Cleaners in New York City. "You're just moving dirt around from one spot to another and putting a static charge on the glass, which attracts dust and dirt." [2]

To become a successful exterior cleaner such as a window cleaner, the person must be able to:

* be fit and healthy
* be prepared to work outdoors in all weathers, except high winds and storms
* be able to work at heights, i.e. climb ladders if appropriate to the role
* be able to learn to use power-operated lifting equipment or abseil, if appropriate to the role
* be happy to work alone (although some may work in teams)
* be very safety-conscious - it is the most dangerous job in the UK [3]

Contents
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* 1 The methods
* 2 Window cleaner history
* 3 Hazards of the trade
* 4 Ecology and water shortages
* 5 Associations
* 6 Common misconceptions
* 7 See also
* 8 References

[edit] The methods

Until the late 90s, almost all window cleaners used a squeegee where possible to save time and avoid 'stroke marks' from 'scrims' (cleaning cloths) though scrims have to be used sometimes, i.e. to wipe drips or to rub 'frosted' glass or tiny windows. Though recently WFP (official name - stands for 'water-fed pole' - nicknamed: 'reach and wash' ) systems have entered the industry and are in use by some firms, especially large companies seeking high access work. However, ladder, telescopic pole, and squeegee remains the principal method of the industry as a whole.


To window clean with a squeegee, first, a soapy solution or a professional cleaner is added with an applicator (US: strip sponge). In the U.S, JOY dishwashing soap is the preferred "secret solution." In not only lubricates better than any other, it has a "waxing" effect on the glass, leaving a slight coating to protect and remove static charge. It acts as a lubricant and breaks up the dirt. A hand-held window squeegee is used to remove applied cleaning fluid or water from a glass surface - the dirt is now water-borne and is removed off the glass leaving a perfectly clean surface. The "swivel method", or "fan method" as it is referred to by professionals, uses a series of strokes combined with turns that hold the water just away from the leading edge of the squeegee so that when the turn is completed and you proceed back in the opposing direction, there is no water, therefore no dirt left isolated. If one misses just a few spots, a chamois leather, towel of cloth or paper was traditionally used, but is now unpopular. Today, synthetic chamois, scrim or micro-fibre cloth works better for touch up.

WFP systems are becoming increasingly popular, especially with large cleaning firms. It is at least twice as fast as traditional window cleaning methods, which is of great interest to this often underpaid industry - though at anything between £2,000- £12,000 it does have a considerable investment cost as opposed to a ladder and a ladderstopper. Large firms often have a large container of de-ionised or purified water in the back of their van, which pumps the water up the WFP to the window, whereas small firms or those aiming for access, i.e. to backs of homes, use trolleys or backpacks to move about a small container and pump unit. Basically the window and frames are scrubbed with a wet brush and either purified or de-ionised water to loosen dirt. The dirt is then rinsed from the window; because the water is purified/de-ionised, it leaves no marks when it dries.

Safety isn't a major factor for the use of WFP - people have been putting squeegees on poles for decades before WFPs came along. The real advantage of a WFP system is that it is faster than a squeegee, it gets more muck out the grooves on window frames, it reaches windows in occasional places it's too dangerous to put a ladder, and it can reach higher stories than a ladder. However, some clients say it leaves drip marks and that without getting up close to the window with soap, they are not really cleaned.

For very high access, neither poles or ladders will reach. Therefore, the window cleaners use access platforms such as cherrypickers, or if it is very high, i.e. a skyscraper, abseil down buildings or use a cradle.


[edit] Window cleaner history

In the 20th century, window cleaners began using the Chicago squeegee, a bulky tool with two heavy pink rubber blades. Changing the blades required the loosening of twelve separate screws. The modern single-blade window cleaning squeegee was patented by Ettore Steccone in 1936; it was lightweight brass with a very flexible and sharp rubber blade. The Ettore Products Co. is still the leader in the squeegee market today.[1]

During the September 11, 2001 attacks, window washer Jan Demczur used a squeegee to free himself and five others from an elevator shaft in the World Trade Center. [2]

According to Guinness World Records, the world's fastest window cleaner is Jason Hughey of South Ockendon, Essex, England, who cleaned three standard 45-inch x 45-inch office windows set in a frame in 9.24 seconds at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in March 2005. He used an 11.8-inch squeegee and 2.4 gallons of water.[3]

[edit] Hazards of the trade

Falls from height and slips on water are the foremost risk for window cleaners. Unlike in Scotland, there is no government licensing in The United States, England or Wales - this means anyone can claim to be a window cleaner. [4] The industry sadly attracts all kinds of rogues, and many people due to foolish use of ladders, i.e. standing on the top rung, have fallen off, while others have fallen off ladders they haven't secured.

It is the most dangerous job in the UK - due to bad practice of the exterior cleaning discipline, several window cleaners die a year, and many are injured. [5] [6] Many rogue window cleaners can tell stories of their unfooted ladders slipping or how many times they have fallen off, however, this merely relects their amateur status and adds to the dangerous image of a job that is no riskier than putting up wallpaper or entering a loft.

Many window cleaning businesses are claiming that laws are about to come into force due to European Directive 2001/45/EC that will mean ladders are illegal for window cleaners and so they must use a WFP system. Though the government denies such because use of ladders for window cleaning is "low risk and short duration" [7]:

To clarify the situation HSE is not attempting to ban ladders or stepladders, but ladders should not be the automatic first choice of access. They should only be used after a suitable assessment of the alternatives and the prevailing site conditions. The selection process for access equipment is coming under increasing scrutiny at HSE inspections. This guidance clarifies that for short duration work like window cleaning, provided a number of well-recognised precautions are taken, ladders will remain a common tool for many jobs. [8]

The Working At Height Regulations actually came into force back in 2005 and do not ban ladders [9] but merely resticts their use to safe methods, i.e. foot it by person or with a ladderstopper:

4.2.2. The feet of portable ladders must be prevented from slipping during use by securing the stiles at or near their upper or lower ends, by any anti-slip device or by any other arrangement of equivalent effectiveness. Ladders used for access must be long enough to protrude sufficiently beyond the access platform, unless other measures have been taken to ensure a firm handhold. Interlocking ladders and extension ladders must be used so that the different sections are prevented from moving relative to one another. Mobile ladders must be prevented from moving before they are stepped on. [10] [11]

The HSE actually favours the use of scaffold towers, i.e. temporary workstations, for window cleaning but acknowledges this is rather awkward,

"For some jobs, a mobile elevating work platform will be the best option. However, for many jobs, especially on domestic and small commercial buildings, risk assessment will demonstrate that because of the short duration of the work and features on the building that cannot be altered, ladders are the only realistic option." [12]

Though hailed as safer than ladders, WFP is not as safe as it sounds - as the Health and Safety Executive acknowledges [13], they spill lots of water which not only the window cleaner could slip on, but so could the client, especially as window cleaners don't wipe up the water. The the water can freeze in winter and be very slippery. However, the ground gets wet anyway when it rains. Water-fed-poles system's can be used in the rain as rainfall will not re-activate any soap residue that causes white rain spots. With most homes the problem with water is no even an issue.

[edit] Ecology and water shortages

Another issue that is becoming more important for window cleaners and their customers is how green their companies are seen to be especially in light of water restrictions becoming more of an issue especially in the UK. During the spring of 2006 Defra considered banning the non essential use of water and extending their already tight restrictions to prevent the use of water-fed safer which reach up to 60ft. Window cleaners could return to the bucket-and-mop method, because Health and Safety Working at Heights allows such for temporary access, [14], but the use of water-fed poles is far safer and also more practical than installing abseilling equipment and using safety harnesses. [4]

Mark Groves, of Brighton-based Groves Window Cleaning Ltd, said: "It is going to affect all window cleaners. If there is a total ban, it will be imposed on thousands of people." [5]

[edit] Associations

The first organisation to represent window cleaners throughout Great Britain was started in the late 40s and became known as the National Federation of Master Window Cleaners, later the National Federation of Master Window and General Cleaners and now the Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC). It is commonly viewed as being stuck in the past and not very useful. Therefore a while ago, frustrated Federation members and window cleaners who had never bothered to join the archaic “Fed”, formed various new professional bodies, e.g. the Association of Professional Window Cleaners (APWC).

However, FWC and APWC fail to stand for fundamental points, are an expensive way to gain accreditation, and in my peoples' opinion do little to help the window cleaner or the public. Hence, Scottish window cleaners formed the Scottish Licensed Window Cleaners Network (SLWCN) - however, this was applicable to Scotland, not England or Wales. Therefore, in 2006, after discussion between some window cleaners in Southampton, they formed the Association of Window Cleaners (AWC) - known these days as the Institute of Exterior Cleaning.

In the USA and though out the world the International Window Cleaning Association, IWCA [15], strives to address the safety concerns and issues that face the window cleaning industry today. The IWCA was formed in Lubbock, Texas, USA in 1989 and as of 2006 had more than 650 member companies in over 25 countries. The IWCA has developed guidelines for the window cleaning industry. Through distribution of the I 14 Window Cleaning Safety Standard and its Safety and Training Program, the IWCA endeavors to raise the level of safety awareness, decreasing the frequency of accidents and injuries. The International Window Cleaner Certification Institute offers the educational materials, and assessment that will help you and your team of professionals excel.

The National Window Cleaning Directory NWCD [16]was founded in 2003 to meet the needs of window cleaning professional requiring inexpensive marketing and networking opportunities, and homeowners and business owners needing to locate professional window cleaners without fumbling through the pages of the phone book, and boasts over 1000 member window cleaning companies nationwide. It is also home to the NWCD Forums [17] which is one of the most popular destinations for window cleaners online.

In 2006 the Australian Window Cleaning Federation [18] was established by a group of Australian window cleaners as a way of furthering information and professionalism among window cleaners within Australia.

[edit] Common misconceptions

There are many misconceptions and myths regarding the industry:

* It is often claimed by clients and some workers that window cleaning cannot be carried out in the rain. However, this is a myth. [19]
* Using ladders while cleaning windows is claimed by many to be illegal. The UK government has denied such a claim. [20]
* A group of three or more window cleaners is called a Flotilla (source?)