Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: CleanClear on June 09, 2025, 09:14:26 pm
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Question as above really. Its a loaded question i suppose as i wouldn't do it, so i'm looking to find out how many are like me and wouldn't entertain it vs how many would think no bother i'll do that. Unfooted to i should just add.
First vote will be me saying no.
*extendable = one of them ones you pull out rung by rung and click in.
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Not a chance.
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It’s a no from me
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Question as above really. Its a loaded question i suppose as i wouldn't do it, so i'm looking to find out how many are like me and wouldn't entertain it vs how many would think no bother i'll do that. Unfooted to i should just add.
First vote will be me saying no.
*extendable = one of them ones you pull out rung by rung and click in.
I don't use ladders for any balcony windows. I miss them out and tell the customer I no longer risk cleaning these windows from a ladder.
I used to though and I just used my normal 3.5m 2 section trade ladders. No way would I use the telescopic ladders!
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never in all my years would I ever dream of doing that
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Depends how easy it is. I have a few that I use a small extendable ladder to clean a velux and roof window.
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One fall and your either dead or disabled or off work for a long time but as we all know as a one man band no work no pay , best thing to do with that ladder is to take it to the tip and don’t take work on that requires a ladder it’s not worth getting up a ladder for any amount of money in my opinion
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Having had a potentially fatal fall from height, although not a ladder, I wouldn’t class ALL ladder use as needing to avoid.
Using one of those ladders CleanClear is asking about is definitely something to be avoided.
I still clean gutters, despite my fall meaning my right shoulder will never be the same again. I had an x-ray last week on it due to continued poor range of motion. The result is it has arthritis as well as frozen shoulder which I didn’t have before the accident.
Anyway, I don’t clean gutters off a ladder. I use a gutter-vac. Gutter cleaning over here is big business. Many properties have it done twice per year. It brings in something like £400 a day (4 - 5 hours). Gutters are easy to clean as they’re all very wide. At least a 4” gap on all gutters between the roof edge and outside edge of gutter. Lots of peeps have a gutter guard, which isn’t those hedgehog things they have in the UK, but something that covers the gutter and just needs hoovering off.
The only time I’m likely to use a ladder nowadays is to clear a ground floor gutter by hand if I don’t have my vac with me. And that’s an ‘A’-frame ladder not extension.
Ladders really aren’t necessary, why use a flimsy, foldable piece of crap when working at height, isn’t that just nuts?
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i dont need to use a ladder for any of my current jobs and will not take on new jobs if a ladder would be required. If you do need ladders or any other safety equipment to do a job make sure its the best equipment you can get and you know how to use it.
if you use a crappy waterproof coat in the rain the worse that could happen is you will get wet. Please dont use unsuitable safety equipment its not worth it.
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Depends how easy it is. I have a few that I use a small extendable ladder to clean a velux and roof window.
Why take the risk? Tell them your not doing them windows anymore and drop the price or dump the job.
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I use mine for flat roof access only. Have done for years with no issues. But it's only a safe maximum of about 9 feet. I'm too old to fall off anything and I don't bounce.
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Usually when you are keen to do these things its when you a starting out. Ive climbed on flat roofs, strained myself reaching over extensions on ladders etc but no i havent had a ladder in my van for years. I used to carry step ladders for the odd conny roof but i dont even do them anymore i cba.
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I would, I stilk do some of my run with a ladder as it's quicker,
Around 95% of falls from ladder is human error, it actually just slipping away is 5% of ladder falls. So if you use them properly. Chances are you'll be fine.
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I would, I stilk do some of my run with a ladder as it's quicker,
Around 95% of falls from ladder is human error, it actually just slipping away is 5% of ladder falls. So if you use them properly. Chances are you'll be fine.
Humans make errors.
And by your reckoning 1 in 20 AREN'T human error. Go back to the beginning of this forum we'd get one ladder fall or height fall report every month.
We even had a collection one time because a family man died from a ladder fall.
Now we hear of it what? Once a year?
That's because window cleaners don't use ladders nearly so much.
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I would, I stilk do some of my run with a ladder as it's quicker,
Around 95% of falls from ladder is human error, it actually just slipping away is 5% of ladder falls. So if you use them properly. Chances are you'll be fine.
Maybe you'll change your mind when your older.....I'm approaching my mid 50s now and have done all sorts of dangerous ladder stuff in my 20s and 30s,had a few ladders falls too which could have been a lot worse than they were....
The truth is there is absolutely no need to use them at all. My earnings have not been affected by dumping certain jobs that required a ladder or lowering prices due to missing out windows because there is ALWAYS another job just around the corner that don't require them!
It's been a few years now since I stopped using them and it makes my working days easier and more enjoyable 🙂👍
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Depends how easy it is. I have a few that I use a small extendable ladder to clean a velux and roof window.
Why take the risk? Tell them your not doing them windows anymore and drop the price or dump the job.
You are right, not worth it. I have two that I use the ladder. One is to do the veluxs and ladder jammed into gutter with ladder mitts on it. The other is 8 feet high in what I would call alleyway 4 feet wide. It I fell from this one then I would end up on wheelie bin, so make sure lid is closed. We should try and reduce risk so better to avoid altogether.
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I would do it if I had to because I don't like leaving windows. Also I'm hard as nails and have zero fear of dying. Valour morghulis.
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I would do it if I had to because I don't like leaving windows. Also I'm hard as nails and have zero fear of dying. Valour morghulis.
Hopefully this is a joke......
I used to be like you......now I'm not bothered about missing windows if it means risking my neck up a ladder....
It's never affected my earnings in the slightest dumping jobs or reducing prices because of the ongoing replacement of jobs that just happens naturally
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I would, I stilk do some of my run with a ladder as it's quicker,
Around 95% of falls from ladder is human error, it actually just slipping away is 5% of ladder falls. So if you use them properly. Chances are you'll be fine.
Maybe you'll change your mind when your older.....I'm approaching my mid 50s now and have done all sorts of dangerous ladder stuff in my 20s and 30s,had a few ladders falls too which could have been a lot worse than they were....
The truth is there is absolutely no need to use them at all. My earnings have not been affected by dumping certain jobs that required a ladder or lowering prices due to missing out windows because there is ALWAYS another job just around the corner that don't require them!
It's been a few years now since I stopped using them and it makes my working days easier and more enjoyable 🙂👍
I wouldnt say mines is dangerous tbh, 11 rung ladder, it only gets extended up max around 4 rungs.
I know someone who still does 3 stories with a double section 21 rung ladder. Atleast one of them he does the ladders extended to the second last rung. Doesn't get them footed. Absolute mental.