When it comes to cleaning the windows of your commercial building, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking, how hard can it be? – especially with YouTube just a click away. While specialist equipment is available to buy, and online videos make window cleaning look simple, watching a 30-minute tutorial doesn’t automatically make someone an expert.

Professional window cleaners have years of experience and training under their belts, meaning they are properly equipped to clean windows safely, effectively and in compliance with industry standards. As such, individuals should never have to put themselves in unnecessary danger just to achieve a sparkling finish on their windows. Saying that, there are plenty of images on the internet of people dangling dangerously from window ledges, or stuck in mid-air due to an equipment accident, that prove that dodgy practices still exist!

With this in mind, here are three things you should never do when cleaning windows for commercial properties.

1. Stand on window ledges

Being on a window ledge with no safety equipment is a big no-no, even for professional window cleaners. The potential of slipping is incredibly high, and, although there is a thin line between stupidity and bravery, this technique lends itself more to the former. Unless you want to end up in Accident and Emergency, or even on You’ve Been Framed, we advise leaving those hard-to-reach places to the experts.

The same goes for leaning out of your office window to reach a tough spot. Not only will you be putting your life in danger (yes, even if you are on the second floor) and making pedestrians’ stomachs turn, but you will never be able to clean the entire window properly.

2. Put a ladder on uneven ground

For optimum safety, a ladder’s legs need to all simultaneously be touching the ground. Many window cleaners will contest that ladders have an irritating tendency to fall on the most expensive object in their proximity (i.e. their car). Another rookie error is to stand right on the top of the ladder – a precaution ignored by many, despite recommendations that you should never exceed the third-highest step.

3. Not check that your equipment is in good condition

Horror stories circulating the internet tell heart-lurching tales of window cleaners stranded thousands of feet up in the air as a result of faulty equipment. Professional window cleaners check their equipment thoroughly before use, including the condition of any attachments that they need to use, to ensure no accidents can happen, even in the event of unexpected weather conditions.

Get in touch with Aquamark Window Cleaning today to see how beautifully clean we can make your windows – the safe way, that is.