Make sure you’re fit enough.
We shouldn’t mince our words here. Ladders are inherently dangerous – the smallest mistake can send you toppling. This is true enough when you’re simply climbing a ladder; but washing windows on a ladder requires even more dexterity, fitness, and balance.
If you’re not entirely comfortable on a ladder, then you’re taking a serious risk with your health. It’s probably not worth it, even to get your house looking spick and span.
Use correct ladder techniques.
The ladder should be well-maintained and sturdy, without any rust or signs of structural weakness. You should always have at least three points of contact on the ladder at all times. Resist the temptation, for example, to hold a bucket in one hand and a scrubber in the other.
It’s best if you don’t fill the bucket to the top, since this can make you (and the ladder) unbalanced when you’re high up. Try having it a quarter full instead.
Wear a tool belt.
Tool belts are extremely useful when you’re on a ladder. Rather than trying to manage everything by hand, you can place everything – sponges and dry cloths – in your belt.
Prepare for the worst.
Falling from a ladder is terrible, but even worse is not having anyone around to help if you do fall. You should always have your cell phone in your pocket, and tell a neighbour that you’ll be working on your windows. If possible, try to ensure that someone else is around while you’re up on the ladder, or even get them to hold it as an extra precaution.
When should you call a professional?
It depends on a combination of all of the above. If there’s a shadow of doubt in your mind about the idea of clambering up on a ladder to wash your windows, that’s probably a sign you should call a professional who’s trained to comply with health and safety regulations. The height, the size of your windows, and the complexity of your architecture, are extra considerations to weigh up before doing it yourself.
If you’d like to stay safe and spend your time on other things, we’d be happy to help. We’ve been cleaning windows in the Auckland region for more than 10 years. Contact us today to find out more!