How to wash windows outside on a high floor: tips and safety rules

The designers of most high-rise buildings hardly thought about how apartment residents would wash windows and balcony glazing from the outside. Otherwise, they would not have come up with window designs with blind sashes and transoms that cannot be cleaned without special devices.

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Owners of apartments with “problem” windows have to show miracles of ingenuity, “dig” the Internet in search of new solutions and test many ways to clean windows at height.

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To mark the opening of the spring window cleaning season, we decided to release a series of useful thematic articles with life hacks, selections of useful equipment and reviews of specialized household appliances. In this article we will talk about glass cleaning devices on the market. Let's analyze their advantages and disadvantages so that you can clearly understand - “Do I need it?”

Should you wash your windows yourself?

If the apartment is located high, it is dangerous to wash the windows from the outside. It is worth using the services of a cleaning company.

The main advantages of professional cleaning include:

Equipment for working at height and insurance. Cleaners can work at heights without risking their lives, so they will clean the glass better.
Professional tools and chemistry. No streaks or stains: special detergents remove dirt, even in the most difficult to reach places (cracks, hinges, locking mechanisms).
Fast and high quality work. Cleaners can handle even a large range of work without compromising the quality of washing.

Help from specialists: where to find and how much will the service cost?

If it is impossible to cope with the task yourself, it is necessary to involve specialists . To do this, just contact any cleaning company.

Their employees will help you wash windows, regardless of the number of floors in the building. As a rule, it is enough to wash the glass 2-3 times a year to keep it clean.

Turning to professionals allows you to solve several problems at once : do not put your life in danger and do not purchase a glass washing device.

Such services are inexpensive. The price starts from 250 rubles per square meter.

Devices for washing windows from the outside

If you decide to clean your windows yourself, consider popular and practical tools that will make the job easier.

Telescopic brush

At first glance, this is an ordinary mop, equipped with a brush and scraper, which can be bought at any hardware store. Its main advantage is in the design of the handle: you can increase its length to 2 meters. The brush is selected according to the height of the person

and the height of the window.

The position of the sponge and scraper can also be adjusted using a special lever. If you decide to wash windows on high floors with a telescopic brush, it is better not to stand on a stool to avoid accidental falls and injury.

Sponges and scrapers with long handles

These devices are an inexpensive and less functional analogue of a telescopic brush. The glass is first wiped with a sponge made of a hygroscopic material (for example, microfiber is often used), and then the water is collected with a rubber scraper. Devices must be washed frequently so that they remove dirt without leaving streaks.

Magnetic brush

The device consists of two brushes, which are fixed on both sides of the glass using magnets. The design consists of magnetic parts, felt pads and a rubber scraper for draining water. If the mount demagnetizes, the brush will not fall out into the street, thanks to the additional fixation with a rope.

A smart device helps housewives clean glass on both sides at once: this is convenient if the sashes do not open or there are bars on the windows. Most magnetic brushes are suitable for windows up to 8mm thick. Therefore, they can be used for washing balcony glass and single-glazed windows: to wash double-chamber windows, you will have to look for another method.

Robot cleaner

This is the most modern cleaning device. There are two main types of devices:

Magnetic. This is a mechanical analogue of a magnetic brush. It has limitations: as a rule, the thickness of the glass must be at least 5 mm, but not more than 28 mm.
Vacuum. The device is attached to the glass using a vacuum pump. This results in reliable adhesion to the surface on windows with any number of chambers.

A smart robot can work without human intervention, but there are also models that need to be controlled using buttons on the panel, a remote control, or a special application on a smartphone.

Steam generator

The principle of operation of a steam brush: water is poured into a special compartment and the desired temperature is set. The device emits hot steam, which easily dissolves and removes dirt.

Steam generators have several attachments for difficult stains. Take safety precautions when using the device. Do not direct steam at cold glass - it may burst. It is better to choose a warm sunny day for cleaning.

Helpful information

Tips for cleaning glass at height:

To protect yourself from falling from a height, you can purchase a safety belt. Such devices are sold in construction stores. The belt is attached with a carabiner to a secure place, which in case of emergency can support the weight of a person.
When choosing magnetic brushes, you need to take into account the thickness of the glass unit. There are separate devices for single-chamber, double-chamber windows, shop windows and balcony glasses.
When using a robotic glass cleaner without a water tank, you need to periodically moisten the cloth or apply a cleaning solution to the glass.
When using a steam mop, do not fill the water tank completely. It will be difficult to work with such a device. It is better to add liquid as it evaporates.

Even when using modern devices, it is better to ask relatives to insure themselves. This will reduce all risks to a minimum.

Safety regulations

The issue of washing windows at height must be approached with caution. A few general rules:

When choosing a tool, be guided by your height and the height of the window frame.
Do not use sharp objects in your work: it is better to soak dried dirt rather than scrape it off.
Avoid abrasives to avoid scratching the glass. Do not use products containing gasoline, alkali or solvents. Aggressive substances will damage the protective layer on the glass, which blocks ultraviolet radiation and can change the color of the frame.
If you use chairs or a stepladder, have someone help you.

Comprehensive measures

The solution to the problem should be approached comprehensively. Even having completely protected yourself, it is necessary to reduce the time spent in the “open space” as much as possible. It's not just skill that matters here. You need to choose a cleaning composition that can quickly remove dirt. Equally important is the choice of tools and devices designed to facilitate the process.

Window cleaning technique

Before washing the windows from the outside, you need to clean the glass inside: this way dirt from the street side is more clearly visible.

Window cleaning technique:

Choose a comfortable position. If you use a stepladder, place it sideways to the window, checking its stability.
Wet the sponge well and scrub the glass and frames with the cleaning solution from top to bottom, starting from the far top corner.
Remove excess water using a scraper. If dirt remains, wash the glass again with soap.
To ensure there are no streaks left on the window, wipe the glass dry with a clean rag or paper towel.

Don't use too much water, otherwise it will be difficult to get rid of streaks.

Algorithm for washing plastic windows

First, the opening doors are washed.
Then the doors are opened and washed.
Plastic, glass, seal are washable.
Wiped off dry.
When washing parts from above, you need to climb on a stepladder.
Put on a safety belt, or require the help of another person to hold you.
A mop with a soft attachment will help you reach the top of the window. The handle must be adjustable.
Wet the glass with soapy mixture for a short time.
Glasses are washed from the far corner towards you.
Rinse off. The entire solution is washed off.
Wipe dry with a rag.

How to wash windows outside: preventing stains

Have you thoroughly washed your windows, but water stains and dirty stains are still visible in the light? Proven remedies will help you avoid problems.

Wiper

This is a special glass cleaner that evaporates quickly and therefore leaves no residue. There are three types of funds:

alcohol based;
with ammonia;
with surfactants (surfactants).

It is believed that alcohol-based products deal best with stains, but they have a pungent odor that is difficult to drown out with fragrance. Surfactants can be harmful to health: only non-ionic surfactants are considered safe - pay attention to this when choosing a product.

Effective means for cleaning glass and mirrors in cars, which are released in the form of liquid or foam. Many of them can be used at home.

Dish detergents

You can use any gel: it copes not only with fat, but also with other contaminants. A couple of drops are enough for washing: dip a sponge into the soap solution and apply it to the glass. Next, the foam along with the dirt is carefully collected with a scraper.

To clean very dirty areas, you can apply the gel directly to the glass, lightly rub with a sponge and wait until the stain dissolves. Then you can collect the dirt with a scraper and repeat the procedure - the glass will become perfectly clean and transparent.

Ammonia

This inexpensive product is available in any pharmacy. Using ammonia, you can prepare a cleaning solution that is not inferior to industrial glass cleaners in efficiency.

You need to add 2 tsp to a glass of water. alcohol and the same amount of salt, mix thoroughly. The resulting solution can be used at any time of the year, including winter, since the salt will prevent it from freezing.

Vinegar

Folk remedy for divorce. To prepare the solution, add a tablespoon of vinegar per liter of water - due to its high acidity, the liquid dissolves any dirt. Use the resulting mixture to wipe the glass, and then remove the remaining water with a scraper. You can wipe the surface dry with microfiber.

For severe stains, vinegar is mixed with dishwashing gel. To do this, use table vinegar or acetic acid powder in proportions of 2–3 tablespoons per liter of water. This is an environmentally friendly way to wash windows, which allows you not only to speed up the process of removing dirt, but also to return the glass to its original transparency and shine.

We fight complex pollution

Dust, dirt and smog do not have the best effect on the surfaces of balcony windows. A few secrets will help restore them to their original appearance:

By wiping the frames of a balcony window with a cloth soaked in ammonia, you can quickly remove the yellowish coating from them, and by wiping the glass, you can restore their shine.
A solvent (gasoline, white alcohol or acetone) will help get rid of old paint stains on glass. Simply soak a rag in the chemical and apply it to the stain. After five minutes, the softened paint can be easily removed with a paper napkin or sponge.
A hairdryer will help remove the sticker or adhesive tape from the balcony window frame. It is necessary to direct a stream of hot air at the sticker, wait until it becomes soft, pry up the corner and remove it from the surface. Alcohol will help remove stickers from glass. It is necessary to generously moisten a cotton swab with alcohol (any alcohol-containing product), apply it to the sticker and wait ten minutes. The glue will dissolve and the sticker can be easily removed from the glass.
Remains of polyurethane foam frozen on the balcony window are removed using vegetable oil. Before cleaning, the foam is carefully scraped off with a sharp stationery knife, after which marks on the frame or glass are wiped off with a sponge soaked in warm vegetable oil.

The sooner you start removing complex stains, the greater the chances of achieving the desired cleanliness result.

External window cleanliness at its best: reliable methods and safety parameters

To complete all work stages successfully and without negative consequences, adhere to the following recommendations:

When cleaning, do not lean on glass or plastic areas.
Don't reach out of the window to wash away dirt from distant areas.
The work is carried out with a soapy mixture, therefore it is prohibited to turn on electrical appliances.
When using a ladder, place it on a stable floor without curvature.
Cover your hands with gloves and your face with a respiratory mask.
Products containing aggressive agents are extremely harmful due to their adverse effects on humans.

How to wash balcony glass from the outside: traditional methods

Those who love non-hazardous products can make their own detergents for successful cleaning. They contain only natural ingredients that are not harmful to the body.

One of the products is stirred in a liter jar of water:

half a glass of alcohol;
a spoonful of vinegar solution;
20 ml of dish detergent;
50 ml corn starch.

All recipes have been tested over the years and the experience of numerous housewives. With the help of the proposed instructions, you will be able to wash your balcony windows without streaks. And the air in the house will be filled with fresh notes.

There are recipes for the winter season. They will save the glass from fogging and freezing. The rags are impregnated with any of the following compounds:

pour 20 g of chalk powder and 2 tbsp into boiling water. l. acetic substance;
50 g of salt are dissolved in a cup of water;
pour 2 tbsp into 1 liter of water. l. dish gel and the same amount of alcohol substance;
For 500 ml of water take a spoonful of glycerin and a similar volume of alcohol.

Robot glass cleaner

Robots that clean smooth surfaces are a technological innovation. The machine can clean glass by moving along it in a vertical plane thanks to the operation of a vacuum pump. The adhesion to the glass is controlled by a sensor - if it becomes below normal, the robot will stop cleaning and start sending distress signals.

The machine does not damage 3 mm thick glass and can detect window corners. If, however, the mechanism falls from the surface being cleaned, the safety cord will prevent it from breaking on the ground. The owner of the apartment will send him commands using the remote control.

Technological progress to help the housewife

Japanese scientists have come up with another lifesaver for home and professional use. The glass cleaning robot is attached to the glass using two magnetic blocks and rubs it until it shines with four microfiber-coated brushes.

The robot is guided by the readings of a laser sensor that determines the boundaries of the window. The work uses a special solution that does not leave streaks or drips. Saturation is adjusted depending on the intensity of contamination.