Window cleaner

Window cleaners use cleaning tools such as sponges and detergents to clean windows, mirrors and other glass surfaces of buildings, both on the interior and exterior. They use specific ladders to clean taller buildings, using safety belts for support.

The duties of a window cleaner include, but are not limited to:

• Removing dirt and grime from windows and glass surfaces using a non-abrasive glass cleaning solution, water, and rubber squeegee blades.
• Determining whether window glass is clear, reflective, or tinted, and adapting window cleaning techniques accordingly.
• Using a scrim or microfiber cloth to dry around the edges of the glass.
• Using toweling cloths to remove excess water and moisture from window sills.
• Ensuring that all window cleaning and lift equipment are in good working order.
• Operating aerial lift platforms and other lift equipment to reach the windows of high-rise buildings.
• Ensuring that the company vehicle is adequately stocked with window cleaning supplies at all times.
• Appropriately cleaning up after each job to ensure that there is no residue or dirt left behind.

Window cleaners work indoors and outdoors, sometimes in bad weather, on scaffolds and ladders. Their work requires them to stoop, kneel, climb, and reach.

Window cleaners do repetitive work. They must have good balance and not be afraid of heights. There is some risk of injury from slipping on wet surfaces and falling from ladders, scaffolding, and window ledges. However, such accidents are not common.

Window cleaners must also lift heavy equipment. They may work alone or in teams. They may work full time or part time, on a set schedule. They may work overtime, especially during the busy spring and summer months.

The following job titles also refer to window cleaner:

window washer
building maintenance and cleaning worker
janitress

There are no specific educational requirements for window cleaners. Prospective window cleaners must be at least eighteen years old. Interested individuals can learn window cleaning on the job. Some employers give new workers a short demonstration of how to clean windows. Others offer supervised training for several weeks.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Window cleaner is a Skill level 1 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to window cleaner.

toilet attendant
train cleaner
advertising installer
street sweeper
building cleaner

Some window cleaners move up to become supervisors, managing a team of cleaners. Others start their own window cleaning businesses. Some may move into related fields such as pressure washing or gutter cleaning.

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of window cleaner. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of window cleaner with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

snow-clearing worker
building exterior cleaner
amusement park cleaner
pest management worker
pesticides sprayer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of window cleaner.

• Cleaning industry health and safety measures: Preventive and interventional methods used in the cleaning industry to maintain health and safety for all workers and tertiary persons.
• Personal protective equipment: Types of protective materials and equipment foreseen for various types of tasks such as general or specialised cleaning activities.
• Risk assessment for window cleaning: Risk assessment process that takes into consideration all the risk factors, monitoring of control measures and recording assessments related to working in the window cleaning field.

These skills are necessary for the role of window cleaner.

• Maintain inventory of cleaning supplies: Follow the stock of cleaning materials, order new material when the stock is empty and follow their usage to maintain a constant supply.
• Maintain personal hygiene standards when cleaning: Make sure to keep yourself clean and tidy and wear protective equipment when performing cleaning activities, as required by the health and safety procedures of the task or the organisation.
• Follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures: Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.
• Use a water-fed pole system: Make use of poles fitted with brushes and water dispersing mechanisms to reach windows and facades at heights.
• Dispose of non-hazardous waste: Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
• Handle chemical cleaning agents: Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
• Maintain cleaning equipment: Clean and preserve the equipment and material used for cleaning purposes in a proper state.
• Report on window damage: Inform the client or responsible authorities about damage occurred during or prior to the window cleaning activities.
• Follow reporting procedures: Apply and follow the procedures for reporting any damage, breakages and/or complaints or disagreements to the appropriate supervisory authority.
• Complete report sheets of activity: Keep written records of the service provided on a regular or punctual basis, with explicit hours of work performed and signature.
• Prepare cleaning materials for window cleaning: Ensure the appropriate preparation of the cleaning products and equipment such as ladders, cradles and rope access equipment required to clean windows at heights.
• Follow organisational guidelines in the cleaning industry: Apply and follow all protocols or guidelines described by the company within your specific cleaning area. It can also involve wearing the foreseen uniform or piece of clothing at all times or using specific equipment or materials.
• Clean glass surfaces: Use cleaning products to clean any surface covered by glass.
• Protect window frames: Apply a protection sheet on the frames or borders of the windows in order to protect them against scratches or dirt.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of window cleaner. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Customer service: Processes and principles related to the customer, client, service user and to personal services; these may include procedures to evaluate customer’s or service user’s satisfaction.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of window cleaner. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Clean building facade: Perform cleaning activities of the main face of a building, using appropriate equipment, as required by the complexity and height of the building.
• Clean particular areas manually: Perform cleaning activities in specific areas by hand, when the surface is small or obstructed and the only means to clean such places is manually.
• Apply proofing membranes: Apply specialised membranes to prevent penetration of a structure by dampness or water. Securely seal any perforation to preserve the damp-proof or waterproof properties of the membrane. Make sure any membranes overlap top over bottom to prevent water from seeping in. Check the compatibility of multiple membranes used together.
• Select hazard control: Perform appropriate selection of hazard control measures and risk management
• Manage a small-to-medium business: Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
• Perform cleaning activities in an environmentally friendly way: Undertake all cleaning duties in a manner which minimises environmental damage, follow methods that lessen pollution and wastage of resources.
• Operate aerial work platforms: Tend mechanical devices that allow momentary access to high, usually inaccessible areas. Ensure your own safety and the safety of surrounding people.
• Read technical datasheet: Read and understand the technical specifications describing the characteristics and functionality mode of a product, component or machine, usually provided by the manufacturer.
• Carry out pressure washing activities: Use high pressure equipment in order to clean areas, surfaces and materials.
• Maintain professional administration: File and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.
• Perform glazing reconditioning: Recondition and replace glass materials and windows.
• Supervise the work of cleaning staff: Coordinate the work of staff in the cleaning areas by planning and monitoring the work of cleaning staff and giving feedback on their activity.
• Manage routine waste: Treat routine waste carefully when performing cleaning activities and ensure that the waste collection and surrounding areas are maintained clean at all times.
• Clean street furniture: Perform cleaning activities of objects or equipment in the public domain, on streets or other public places, used for various purposes.
• Issue sales invoices: Prepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and calculate the customer’s final bill.
• Perform cleaning activities in an outdoor environment: Adapt the cleaning working methods and procedures to the environmental conditions and adapt to weather conditions such as rain, strong wind or snow, when this affects the performance of the equipment or machinery that is being used.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

As window cleaning becomes more automated, the need for window cleaners will decrease. This means that those who are already in the industry will need to find new ways to stay competitive.

As technology advances, so does the field of window cleaning. Window cleaners now need to be more tech-savvy in order to keep up with the latest trends.

As energy costs continue to rise, businesses and homeowners are increasingly turning to window cleaning professionals to help them save money on their energy bills.

Window cleaners who are able to focus on energy efficiency will be in high demand, as they will be able to provide services that help reduce the amount of energy that is wasted through poor insulation or dirty windows.

9123 – Window cleaners

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Window Cleaner Job Description – StateUniversity.com
4. Window Cleaner Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder
5. Window Cleaner Technician Job Description – Betterteam
6. Featured image: Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash