Kevin Mullins

The technology available to the professionals in the window cleaning industry is ever evolving. The standard squeegee and T-bar has been used for years, and although there will always be a place for those tools, window cleaners have more options than ever before. With the development of pure water and automated high-rise window cleaning systems, productivity and safety has grown to new heights. In the evolution of water purification, reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) technology has made the window cleaning industry safer, more productive and increasingly more environmentally friendly. The advancements in window cleaning technology are best explained by first analyzing what pure water is and how it is revolutionizing the entire industry. Pure Water Simplified Creating pure water involves a four-stage filtration and separation process utilizing carbon, sediment, a reverse osmosis membrane and deionization filtration to purify ordinary tap water and produce mineral-free water. Pure water makes cleaning chemicals more efficient and effective by eliminating the need for the chemicals to treat the water and apply all of its cleaning energy to dissolve and carry the soil that needs to be removed. Pure water is not found in nature; it is unstable in a sense, carrying with it pent up cleaning energy to solubilize soils and other contaminants it comes in contact with. The result from cleaning with pure water as opposed to a mineral-laden liquid is spot-free windows. Some specialized systems have been developed that provide high-volume pure water to clean windows up to five stories safely from the ground. Using special water-fed poles from the ground eliminates the need for ladders and other equipment used to reach high windows, allowing one to clean windows in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Water-fed poles come in numerous lengths — from five feet to 55 feet depending on the job at hand. For areas with notoriously low water pressure, electric, gas and battery boosts are available to give the water an extra push. A closer look at how the numbers break down: The average cost of water per 10 square feet on a ladder is $0.20 The cost of those same 10 square feet of water when working on a platform it is $2.20 The cost of said 10 square feet using pure water and water-fed poles is reduced to $0.03. As the breakdown highlights, using pure water allows a window cleaner to deliver spot-free windows with improved productivity and increased cost savings. Another benefit of pure water cleaning is that, with the assistance of the technology, anybody can easily be a great window cleaner. On The Outside Looking In There have also been significant developments to apply these same cleaning technologies and solutions to indoor glass. Some equipment manufacturers have made available indoor pure water cleaning systems that can clean not only glass but other non-porous surfaces as well. These indoor systems combine the cleaning power of pure water and microfiber textiles, allowing for clean surfaces without having to use chemicals. With no chemical residue left behind on the glass, dirt will be discouraged from redepositing on the surface, reducing the necessary frequency of cleaning intervals. Eliminating cleaning resides can reduce overall labor by up to 50 percent, making indoor pure water cleaning systems equally invaluable to those for exterior applications. High-rise buildings are traditionally cleaned by hand with people hanging from wire ropes. It is common throughout the world to hear of window cleaner deaths resulting from falls. Automated window cleaning systems can safely do the same work in a fraction of the time, greatly diminishing the chances of a tragic accident occurring. High-rise automated window cleaning systems, which can be safely operated from existing roof rigs, davit arms, roof cars or portable rigs, eliminate over-the-edge work and are operated via a wireless remote control. Regardless of whether they are employed indoors or outdoors, systems utilizing RODI to produce pure water will leave glass crystal clear and residue-free, allowing windows to stay cleaner for a longer period of time. Every industry evolves; the innovation and evolution of pure water, water-fed poles and high-rise automated window cleaning systems has allowed the window cleaning industry to flourish. Now, with advanced technologies at their disposal, window cleaners have the opportunity to be more productive and safer while working.

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Kevin Mullins

Business Development Manager for IPC Eagle

Articles by Kevin Mullins

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