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

Outside windows are especially susceptible to contamination. Dust, dirt settles on them, and smudges from rain appear.

You won’t have to look through a cloudy, dirty window, even if it’s at a height. It’s enough just to use modern gadgets.

Read the article about how to properly and safely wash outside windows if you live on a high floor.

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.

Complex contaminants

Sometimes specific contaminants form on the profile and glass that a regular solution cannot cope with. How to deal with each of them is described in the table:

Problem	An effective remedy
Profile yellowness	Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide
Polyurethane foam on glass	Cosmofen, dimexide (handle with gloves only!), solvent
Masking tape, adhesive protective film or tape	Vegetable oil, drying oil, isopropyl alcohol, hair dryer, cermet scraper
Dye	Solvent, nail polish remover, scraper for cleaning metal ceramics
Lime	Gel Cif
Cement on glass	Phosphoric acid (avoid contact with the profile), Comet gel, acetic acid

During repairs, it is advisable to cover the window with film to avoid contact with building solutions. It is not recommended to clean complex stains on plastic with a melamine sponge. It is effective, but creates microdamages on the surface.

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.

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.