5 Steps to Mastering the Water Fed Pole Method

The water fed pole method is definitely taking over the window cleaning industry, with many window cleaners recognising the benefits and hopping on board. Not only is it much safer as it eliminates the need to climb up ladders, it is also proven to be much quicker than traditional cleaning, as, so long as pure water is used, the windows do not need to be dried. This means that more houses can be cleaned in a day, which results is more money earned.

Although it might look easy and simple, there is a technique to cleaning with Water Fed Pole and in order to get the best results you must make sure you can confidently clean windows, facias and sills to a brilliant standard. Read on below for our top tips on mastering the water fed pole method.

1. Invest in decent equipment

It is a well known saying that a good workman never blames his tools, however when it comes to window cleaning with a water fed pole, the tools do have a lot to do with the results. Make sure you know exactly what you need and do your research into all the options. There are many brands out there to choose from so check reviews on forums and see what will work best for you. Attending cleaning shows can also be a great way to physically see and try different options. You will also find that there can be a lot of offers running at shows to help save some money.

2.  Practise makes perfect

Like any new skill, the more you practise the more natural it will become. Practise at first on your own windows at home, and then move onto families and friends, so long as they don’t mind, and make sure you practise with different window styles, shapes, heights and angles, as this can all affect the way you clean them. Then when you feel confident you can start with real paying customers. Some people will choose to start charging lower prices until they feel like they are at a professional standard, however there is the worry of when you do put your prices up you might lose customers, so bare that in mind.

3.  Take your time with first cleans & explain the process to the customer

First cleans can be windows that haven’t been cleaned for a while, usually anything from 6 months onwards. This will mean the windows are particularly dirty, and the dirt will be more stuck onto the window, meaning you will need to spend more time and potentially use additional cleaning products
in order to get satisfactory results. You should also expect the possibility of some spotting to occur after a first clean. This is due to extra dirt sitting in the soffits and joins of the window, even after rinsing some dirt may still run down the window. Make sure you explain this to the customer to set expectations, especially if it is their first time using your services. It is normal to charge more for a first clean as you know it will take up more time, but explain to the customer that the price will drop to £x after the first clean is completed. This will avoid any confusion and increase the chances of them becoming a regular customer.

4.  Always wet the surface first

It is important to get the full surface area wet with your pure water first. Because of the way pure water works, even just the water sitting on the window will start dissolving and loosening the dirt, making it easier to then clean.

5.  Rinse rinse rinse!

The key to a perfect finish is rinsing the window off thoroughly. This will reduce the chance of any hidden dirt dripping down after you’ve finished cleaning and therefore leaving spotting on the window.