I always see you guys on youtube working with extension poles and it is far quicker than my pace. I like to dry the blade off before each pull, but this looks very amateur and takes forever.
How do you use a pole and do not dry it, and do not leave residue on the top, pulling edge?
Thanks
Ev
I always detail the top after I’m done. Tapping the squeegee on the wall after each pass also helps.
I know guys who tap their squeegie and I think THAT looks very unprofessional (no offense). For one I think you wear through your rubber faster, and two if you’ve ever been on the other side of the window when a cleaner is tapping his squeegie it is VERY loud and obnoxious. Just my $.02…
wait, I just saw where you put wall not window. Maybe not as loud but I still think it tears your rubbers up.
I’ve never had it damage my rubber.
Ev-Man…
Dange here…Your basic procedure is a good start and it will help you to better utilize and enhance your processes and you’ll ADVANCE…
So scrub the whole plate…Run your squeegee across the top right or left (for which ever way you pull down) to make a dry spot. Once you dragged it across the top to one end then in the same motion when you reach the end pull down all in a fluid motion.
After the first pull go back to the top and drag your squeegee thru the dry spot to the first pull and then make a second pull down ! Continue on until you reach the point of the last pull !
On the last pull you could either dry your squeegee off with a natural sea-sponge or an Aquadry-Rag, and then make your final pull, or you can feather you rubber into the top of the glass and then pull down (feathering is an advanced technique). Also you can lightly tap your squeegee on the dry spot of the lower glass and then proceed to the top !
I’ll feather it first, or next I’ll either sponge dry/Aquadry-dry my squeegee…Tapping is just a back up if I can’t do anything else or if the glass calls for it !
Tapping your squeegee on a non glass surface may mar your rubber or drag debris that is there on that surface to your rubber, and then to the glass, and maybe leave streaks. Also tapping your squeegee in the water is a little backwards, because tapping a squeegee is to clear the water from the rubber and tapping in water really doesn’t clear the water from the rubber ! Tapping in water is a last resort seldom to be done !
Two last points, 1) when you drag thru the dry spot at the top you don’t need to go back to the beginning just go back maybe about 2 squeegee lengths, dragging thru the dry spot drys your squeegee so when you make your pull down there’s less chance of leaving a streak. 2) When you pull down also slightly point the end of the your squeegee that is in the dry area down , that way the water will run up back to the wet area and you’ll avoid leaving a streak !
Using a new rubber always makes for better pulls… Always be checking your rubbers and change them when needed ! Don’t let them get to the point of a bald tire ! ETTORE,[SIZE=“1”]TSP[/SIZE],ETTORE, ETTORE.
Well there you go EV-MAN, the process I’ve given you is the Advanced process from what your doing now ! Practice makes perfect…So give it time !
Dange-Man
I appreciate the helpful advice once again, and the minimized “tsp.” I found TSP without phosphate in the store, tried it out and wow, it cleaned the window far better than anything I’ve used thus far.
Thanks again!
So, the phosphate-free TSP works that well? Good to read know.
I think pole work can be done in so many ways, and each job vary on technique. I picked it up easy and was lucky there, but some people it will take years before they get it. Go with what is working and keep looking for new video’s that may help you. Wiping the blade on a residential job is one thing, but on comm. you are wasting time for sure.
Thank you for the humbling response EMM-Man… I think you should just give the standard TSP a try it’s much better then the make believe stuff. DW’s point is a good one also ! Work the field !
If the fake stuff works for you, then great I’ll humbly bow to that…TSP,TSP ! 
Dange on th Range
I always found this video good to show new comers about basic pole work.
YouTube - Window Cleaning Using an Extension Pole
It is pretty loud (when tapping) on the otherside. We still do it though, just lightly 
If you learn to fan on a pole you can move the squeegee across the top in a motion that will leave no water on the top. The sqeegee never leaves the glass. You will need one of these and lots of practice but do not give up
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This may have touched on something I was wondering about. Do the cleaning solutions for commercial differ from what I would use in residential due to the fact that you are not really detailing and often cleaning the windows more frequently? I use gg4. How do you use the TSP? Sorry if this is covered frequently, I just figured I would ask since it came up.
Hey Mal…
You know the soap that everyone uses works on just about anything…Soap is soap ! Glass gleam is some decent stuff and it works well whether it’s the 4 or 3 , Joy, Dawn, generic dish soap all work but get a bit sudsy ! Any of all soap can be used on commercial and residential !
I like TSP because it’s very slippery and it cuts grease and finger prints and such like oh so very well ! It also doesn’t leave a film behind that shows up after time ! A large box will last me close to 3 months so the costs are small !
I like it ! It works great !
Detailing should always be part of the process…Leaving slop on a commercial job leads one to leave slop on other jobs, ergo a slop artist ! The right process is better use your squeegee to cut your edges so you minimize detailing on any job. Still detailing is a key element to a quality product. 31 years and I still detail commercial or residential, if needed.
Dangerous Dange
I agree that when you tap the squeegee out of control, the sound on the other side is ridiculous. I tap lightly like Justin. To also help I tilt the channel down toward the water I haven’t cleared yet with about one inch in the area I have cleared. I’m with those who think that wiping the blade after each pass is both a time-waster and unprofessional looking. Unless it gets so filthy that tapping can’t clear the junk on the blade.
I have two videos that may help you out. The lesson 2 addresses the pole work, but I would encourage you to watch the lesson 1 first as lesson 2 builds on the first one.
Hope this helps you.
Matt
Really? To a casual, non-window cleaning professional? Why would that type of person even consider that?
When I have painted interiors of houses that people smoked in I always used TSP to clean the walls first to cut through the nicotine…How do you use TSP for windows cleaning without destroying your hands…Having soapy water getting on our hands all day is harsh enough as it is. TSP is one of the harsher cleaners I know of.
Hey Nick…
Hows the back going… Yeah TSP can be harsh on certain people’s hands, those with dry skin and or a tendency for dermatitis …The old days dish washing soap did the same thing but the manufacturer started putting emollients into the dish soap to prevent what was called dishpan hands ! Even with the emollients my wife still has problems with dish soap…She has dermatitis !
Karl posted on his thread about using different kinds of lotions here the site…
Robinson-Solutions Professional Window Cleaning: Dry, Cracked & Chapped Window Cleaners Hands, Fingers & Skin
Anyways some folks just have a problem and they need to do what they need to do !
Take care Nick, I hope things are improving for you !
Dange
PS…My hands are like a babies bottom…Very smooth !
