How to Clean High Windows Without a Ladder
Safe ways to clean high windows from the ground, the tools that make it possible, and the risks never worth taking.
High windows are where most people either give up or get hurt. Balancing on a ladder with a bucket in one hand is how accidents happen, and I have seen the results. The good news is that after twenty five years I can tell you there are safe ways to clean high glass with both feet on the ground. Here is how, and what never to do.
The rule that comes before everything
Your safety is worth more than any window. No pane of glass is worth a fall from height. If a window cannot be cleaned safely from the ground or from solid, level footing, it is a job for a professional with the right access equipment. Read the rest of this with that rule in front of everything else.
Option one: an extension pole and squeegee
For glass a little out of reach, a squeegee and applicator on a telescopic extension pole let you wash and clear the glass from the ground. It takes practice to control the angle at distance, but for first floor and slightly higher windows it is a genuine, safe answer. Keep your movements slow and deliberate, and let the pole do the reaching, not your balance.
Option two: a water fed pole
For proper height, second floor and above, a water fed pole is the safest tool there is. It uses purified water and a brush on a long pole to scrub and rinse high glass from the ground, and because the water dries spot free, no squeegee is needed up there. It costs more to start, from around $400 for a basic setup, but it turns dangerous high work into a job you do standing safely on the earth.
Option three: for interior high glass
Tall interior windows and stairwell glass have the same rule. Use an extension pole with an applicator and a squeegee, work slowly, and keep your footing solid. Do not lean a ladder against a stair or reach across a drop. If you cannot reach it safely from level ground, leave it.
What never to do
Never overreach from a ladder. Never balance a ladder on an uneven or soft surface. Never hold a bucket while climbing. Never lean out of an upstairs window to reach the outside of the glass. These are the exact situations that cause serious falls, and no clean window is worth it.
When to call a professional
Some glass simply needs proper access equipment and training to reach safely, and that is not a failure on your part, it is good judgement. A professional has the poles, the training, and often the insurance to do the high work safely. Save your own effort for the glass you can reach with both feet down.
Reach further, safely, with real technique
Controlling a squeegee or applicator on the end of a long pole is its own skill, and it is much easier once your core technique is solid. The better your basic stroke, the better you clean at distance.
That foundation is exactly what The Skill teaches. Start free with the Manifesto at The Skill.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you clean high windows without a ladder?
From the ground, using a squeegee and applicator on a telescopic extension pole for slightly high glass, or a water fed pole for second floor and above. A water fed pole uses purified water that dries spot free, so no squeegee is needed up there. Both keep both feet safely on the ground.
Is it safe to clean upstairs windows from a ladder?
Only with great care, level footing, and no overreaching, and often it is not worth the risk. Never lean out of an upstairs window or balance a ladder on an uneven surface. For real height, a water fed pole from the ground is far safer, and some windows are best left to a professional with proper access equipment.
What is the safest way to clean second floor windows?
A water fed pole used from the ground. It reaches second floor and higher glass with a brush and purified water, so you clean and rinse from a safe, standing position with no ladder. It is the tool professionals use precisely because it removes the fall risk.
About the author
Justin Orloff is a professional window cleaner with over 25 years of experience, based in Vienna, Austria. He created the world's first AR-powered window cleaning training program at orloffs.com.