There are a lot of Water Fed Pole Brushes available today. It can be overwhelming at first when you don’t quite know what you need. Most avid Water Fed Pole users ultimately end up with a collection of different brushes that they use for various situations. Below we explain the common brush types and the subtle differences between them.
But which type of Brush is best?
Well, that is hard to say because it depends on the windows and condition they are in. Here at Window Cleaning Resource, we offer many types of waterfed brushes that come in nylon, boar's hair or hybrid (both). It all depends on what you are cleaning. Something like a boar's hair brush has a really good scrub but is a bit more sensitive to damage. A brush such as the Tucker hybrid which is both synthetic and boars har, can give you the best of both worlds. You can’t really have too many waterfed brushes in your arsenal because some just seem to work better than other depending on the situation and the various types of glass.
One of our most popular selling brushes is the Tucker Alpha Brush. It comes in Nylon, Hybrid and Boar's Hair and you can choose between 12 and 18 inches. This brush is fitted with an Over The Top Rinse Bar and Tucker Swivel Gooseneck (both also sold separately). You have the option of rinsing inside the bristles or using the over the top with the rinse bar. The Swivel Gooseneck will give you a swivel option on your brush rather than a fixed angle. This is super versatile setup and one we routinely recommend!
Three Basic Brush
Materials Available
Full Nylon is great for maintenance cleans, Boars Hair is more aggressive and Hybrid gives you the best of both worlds.
Nylon Brushes
Nylon (also called Monofilament) bristles are made of a soft, plastic material. Nylon brushes are typically gentle, lighter and not as aggressive as Boar's Hair. Nylon brushes are best for regular maintenance cleans that don't require much scrubbing. Nylon does tend to last longer than Boar's Hair and are usually less expensive than Boar's Hair brushes. Also, you can rinse with the brush on the glass so they are great for any height!
Boars Hair Brushes
Boar's Hair bristles are all natural real Boars Hair. They have the most aggressive scrubbing power so they are perfect for filthy, first time cleans or irregular cleans. It can clean with fewer passes but it is heavier than Nylon so it is not recommended for above 3 stories. These brushes absorb a ton of dirt so you must rinse with the brush off the glass.
Hybrid Brushes
As the name suggests, Hybrid brushes contain bristles that are a mix of Nylon and Boar's Hair so it's the best of both worlds! It is currently the most popular type of brush we sell. With these brushes, typically the nylon fibers are on the outside and the shorter boar's hair bristles are in middle. Price wise, Hybrid brushes are most comparable to Boar's Hair Brushes. All of our XERO Waterfed Poles, for example, come with Tucker Hybrid brushes.
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NYLON
Characteristics- Bristles are soft plastic material
- Gentle; Not as aggressive as Boars Hair
- Lighter than Boars Hair
- Sometimes called Monofilament
- You can rinse with brush on glass
Best For- Working at any height
- Regular maintenance cleans
Cost- Cheaper than Boars Hair
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BOARS HAIR
Characteristics- Bristles are all natural real Boars Hair
- More aggressive scrubbing power
- Can clean with fewer passes
- Heavier than Nylon
- You must rinse with the brush off the glass
Best For- Less than 30′ or 3 stories
- First time or irregular cleans
Cost- More expensive than Nylon
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HYBRID
Characteristics
- Bristles are a mix of Nylon & Boars Hair
- The Best of both worlds
- Currently the most popular
Best For- Any Situation
- Commercial or Residential
Cost- Comparable to Boars Hair
Jets: Pencil vs. Fan
What is the difference? What is best for you? Keep reading to learn more about pencil and fan jets!
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BRUSH JETS
Every brush comes with a set of jets that allow water to spray onto your glass surface, Brushes come equipped with either single jets or dual jets. A brush with single jets only has one pair of jets where a brush with dual jets has two pairs of jets. Smaller brushes, those that are 12 inches typically come with single jets, while larger brushes (18 inches) usually come with dual jets. Both have pros and cons depending on the surface and what you are cleaning.
PENCIL JETS
Pencil jets emit a small, circular jet of water that provides a heavier rinse. It's also easier to be more precise with pencil jets.
FAN JETS
Fan jets emit a fine "fanned" mist of water over a larger area. If the glass doesn’t require tons of cleaning, fan jets are usually preferable because they allow you rinse quicker. Fan jets allow for a final rinsing of the window while still in contact with the surface.
Two Important Terms
Understand and know the difference between Hydrophilic Glass and Hydrophobic Glass!
Hydrophilic VS Hydrophobic
To put it in the simplest of terms, something defined as hydrophilic is actually attracted to water, while something that is hydrophobic resists water.
Hydrophilic Glass
Hydrophilic Glass directly translates to “Water loving.” Hydrophilic surfaces become wet very easily and can maintain that wetness longer. Water will sheet on the glass when it gets wet which makes it easier to clean. This type of glass is preferred, windows will come clean easily. While it's easiest to clean, it may also be more prone to hard water staining and pollutants if not maintained. Pencil jets are great to use on Hydrophilic Glass.
Hydrophobic Glass
Hydrophobic Glass translates to “Fear of water” or “water hating.” Water will bead and run off hydrophobic surfaces very quickly. It is suggested to use fan jets on hydrophobic glass for more reliable rinse coverage. This type of glass is not preferred and bad spotting is more likely. This can make cleaning with a water fed pole less than desirable but certainly not impossible. Be sure to go slow and scrub well.
Bristle Trim
Learn the difference between single trim versus dual trim!
Bristle Trim
Bristle trim is referred to the length, or “trim,” of the bristles on your water fed brush. Water fed brushes will come in either single trim or dual trim, and is another important factor to consider when choosing a water fed brush.
Single Trim
Single Trim means the bristles of the waterfed brush have a straight trim and are the same length throughout. Boar's Hair brushes, for example, are usually single trim. Boar's Hair bristles are all one length and work together when you apply pressure to the glass.
Dual Trim
Dual Trim brushes consist of two layers of bristle lengths. Typically the outside bristles are longer and the middle bristles are shorter. Dual trim bristles are common in both Nylon and Hybrid brushes. There are a few benefits to double trim brushes. When you apply pressure with the brush, the outside bristles splay out along the glass, cleaning a larger surface area and providing better control while the inner bristles scrub.
Caring For Your
Water Fed Pole Brushes
Extend the performance and life of your brush by giving it proper care.
Keep It Clean
Always try to keep your brush heads in good condition: Be sure that your brush heads are kept clean whenever possible. Leave them soaking in pure water overnight or between jobs if necessary. Keeping it clean will extend the life of your brush.
When Not In Use
When your brush is not in use try not to leave brushes propped up against brick walls or other surfaces, because it will pick up dust and transfer it to the glass. If you must leave it against a wall or put it down on a surface, make sure the head is turned away from the brickwork or surface.
Proper Storage
Think about storing your spare brushes in a toolbox, bucket, or other containment when not in use. Be sure that they are laying flat with nothing pressing against the bristles, so they do not get damaged or deformed.
Waterfed Brush Accessories
These accessories will help you work smarter, not harder!
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XERO CONTACT
ScrubberThis add on saves a ton of time and provides you with some great scrubbing power on the backside of your brush. This Scrubber tool has been designed to fit in a standard angle adapter in most water fed poles. Definite time saver!
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Tucker Swivel
Gooseneck
The Tucker Swivel is a great option for those who want to have a swivel option on your brush rather than a fixed angle. It's easy to add or remove tension to allow for swivel action. Put it in a locked position at any time for any angle.
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Tucker Alpha
Scrubber
When your waterfed brush isn't cutting it, whip out your Alpha Scrubber to tackle those extra dirty jobs. Cuts through grime easily. Great for first time/initial cleanings. Comes with 10 pads.
