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Window cleaning is an industry far more complex than the stereotypical old fashioned view of a squeegee and bucket being used as sole cleaning equipment. For a truly thorough job the squeegee has to be made from the specially constructed fabric known as microfiber which is very soft and can hold up to eight times its weight in water. Microfiber products also have the advantage of being able to absorb thicker liquids like oils, yet not rough enough to scratch paintwork which makes them perfect for window cleaning. In order for microfiber to be effective it is imperative that this material be used alongside an effective cleaning solution. At a basic level household dish soap is most commonly used in window cleaning, but its success pales in comparison to that of more powerful detergents containing stronger formulas like ammonia and acidic chemicals. Nevertheless dish soap is a useful way for professional window cleaners to begin softening the water in preparation for when more potent chemicals are added. There is of course one very important factor in any window cleaners job being successful; they must possess a quality ladder which will allow them to conveniently and comfortably reach high window frames. However, within recent years the use of ladders has diminished greatly in favour of extension poles which can be used to clean windows up to a height of 4 storeys often unreachable with a ladder. The toughest task for window cleaning professionals is high rise window cleaning on the exterior of tall buildings like skyscrapers where ladders and extension poles are incapable of reaching. Most skyscraper designs do not have flat roofs so window cleaners have to use bolts attached to each side of the building to allow for a rope operated platform known as a cradle to be used for several window cleaners to stand on. This practice is used around the world with major structures like the Empire State Building in New York still employing it. Scaffolds are also a frequent part of cleaning large building maintenance, particularly in the case of more comprehensive cleaning jobs like the practices of pressure washing, caulking, repairs, and other exterior building conservation. When most buildings are designed, the needs of window cleaners are often not taken into consideration so its not always easy for them to find a safe place on the roof to attach their harnesses to which has led to improvisation such as placing supporting rigs to the building structure. One effective although very daring method of high rise window washing is the practice of abseiling which involves one window cleaner at a time quite literally abseiling down the exterior of a building with their bucket clipped onto the side of a chair which they sit in whilst connected to a body harness linked to a separate line in case the primary abseiling rope becomes disconcerted. This is similar to the kind of safety scenarios found in the abseiling of mountain rescues.
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window, windows, window cleaning,
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