My first attempt at pole work

If you’re aware of your tapping, then okay. If it becomes habit, I don’t think it’s a good thing. I tap when on route and I’m using heavy soap to dislodge the suds - I do NOT tap while inside a house. You don’t want the homeowner thinking you’re disrespecting their property.

Outside of heavy soap, I don’t tap.

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Steve , there is no need to tap or wipe ever, many are just stuck in the thought that there is a need for it.

As far as tenant’s complaints not being of concern, that’s just ridiculous. What I referred to was commercial office building windows, executive buildings and such, I should have been clearer.

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So if one is doing straight pulls with pole, how do you prevent a watermark at top of window on last pull without tapping or wiping?

Ill post a video tomorrow of how we pole without tapping.

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Could you explain it now too?

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I cut the top first to pull the water from top edge then do the straight pulls. Same technique that is seen on many of the videos seen anywhere, just don’t tap.

You still have to dry the squeegee off in some way before planting it back on the window. Unless you cut up the side and pull down straight.

I’ll look forward to the video.

  1. Side pole done correctly you don’t need to tap. Just slide the squeegee up the side of the window and side pull. This is easiest with the ettore handles since they adjust on the fly without having to loosen the swivel. Wagtail and Exel would also work.

  2. Cut and slide across the window along the top. The last pull you’ll have to feather it in to get the water, but is quick.

  3. Don’t mop all the way to the top and you can do some quick pulls down.

Regardless, if you have to wipe the top, then just quick turban a towel around the top of your pole and hit it real quick.

I pretty much wipe the top and sides of the sills in this way.

Thanks for posting.

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Sounds like the 7 method much slower than straight feathering imo, I guess we will see.

I worked for a commercial window cleaning company for 12 years, we did commercial jobs 6 days a week much of this time was spent poling it was always a 2 man job a wetter and a a squegeer offa. I think over 12 years we had maybe 5 complaints and the company had over 35 employees most used the tap to remove suds method.
My point is some noise is associated with the job and it was always indicated on the written quotes as for commercial jobs here you need to basically write a manual for each job called a JSA.
They wouldn’t complain to the tradesman who was using power tools, the job has gotta get done.

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Correct some trades require noise some dont.

My goal isn’t to be the silent ninja window cleaner its to get the job done as fast as possible with perfect results. Noise is irrelevant.

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Ok, got it, i think. So we are talking about straight pulls sideways, all the way down to where one can reach, correct? Not straight pulls vertically…

To me, if I’m going to sideways pull after the first pass, i might as well fan it.

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Depends on the size of the glass. I’ll do a side pull if

  1. It’s juuust out of reach and I need to get it down to where I can fan

  2. There’s blinds or shades up top and I need to get under them

  3. If it makes sense and the number of side pull is less than vertical

  4. Or I’m in a house with huge windows and I don’t want to drip - done at the correct speed you can side pull and never drip a drop.

The goal is to get it down to where I can do it by hand since that will always be the fastest.

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I hear you man. When i was doing RESI, straight pulls all day. Not much room for anything else, at least in my area. Storefronts allow for more creativity.

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Look no tapping

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Looks like there was tapping to me… :smiley:

There was a few taps in there, but honestly 18" on that size glass up the size to at least 30", and like I said with the 7 method is FAR slower than feathering. this might work for you but you really shouldn’t be telling people that tapping is WRONG or not needed when the only reason you seem to not like it as it distracts the office workers… CLEANING THE WINDOWS will do that with or without tapping.

The reason people use the tapping method is to remove excess soap and debris trapped between the rubber and the glass… this is going to happen to everybody at some time or another how will you dislodge debris trapped on the rubber?

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Never claimed it to be “WRONG” but correct on calling it not necessary, simple as that.

As always all posts seem to be picked apart on the words used but not the intent to give others personal experience to assist others.

Correct works for me just giving my input on that.

There’s many ways to wash a window wont be same for everyone, that’s why I’m here just to give input and hear others.

It’s on you to pick the words or add them as you need.

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