[CleanClear]

What size pole does everyone use day in day out??

Obviously some people are going to say stop being a wimp etc etc btu after doing 200kg deadlifts and 120k squats yesterday in the gym then I hope I can be excused for not wanting to lug a heavier pole around all day.

Something doesn't add up.........

I'm a bigish lad at 6 3" and a solid 200lbs but I think I need to get smart about things as my neck, left shoulder and wrist are all showing signs of wear and things are getting busier all the time.

I'm in my mid fifties, 6 foot and 10 stone with a wet towel around me and i use a clx 27 all day every day and have done for years. And i don't think i could lift 200KG and a squat to me is something i do when i go the toilet.
From what i can see its pretty useless going the gym to get stronger and fitter when you aint actually getting stronger or fitter !!  I smoke and drink and if i can do it then something is going badly wrong for you.

My guess is, based on your choice of going for a shorter pole and given your shoulder and neck problems is that you have a poor technique. I also reckon going for a shorter pole will exacerbate your problems.
 Its often mooted here and elswhere that an 18 footer will do 90% of our work. It probably will if you have a crap tecnique and stand almost under the window pushing up (unessecarily) and at the same time trying to force the brush head against the glass (some muscular feat in itself). Far better to have a 22ft or even a 27 ft and stand well back, as far as you can comfortably go back and let the brush do the work. Your hands shouldn't be coming anywhere as near as high as your shoulders, your neck will not be crinked up looking at a window. In Gym terms your arms should only be doing Curls and not lifts. Anyway technique is what its all about.
 You're about to employ someone too ? Go for a meat head out the gym who doesn't think too much and he'll shove that pole up and down all day long, well untill he's knackered..... then you can get another one !!!   

[paul alan]

I have deducted as much myself, its not what you do but the way you do it.

I have found myself to be tensed up a lot when working but I'm not always aware of it, it just comes into my awareness once in a while. I find if do try and concentrate on staying relaxed its a lot less effort cleaning windows and makes a noticeable difference at the end of the day. The hard thing for me is staying aware of my physical state whilst concentrating on what cleaning windows.

I think my posture is also not as good as it should be and my neck issues boil down to that, I now try to keep my chin tucked in when looking up as much as I can as I found that causes the least stress on my neck.

Its just a real challenge mentally to spread my awareness across all these different aspects when trying to complete one task.

I'm trying to unlearn 39 years worth of bad habits with regards to my posture whilst doing my job! I suppose its like learning to drive all over again with all the different tasks being carried out simultaneously. I'll get there.

I think the 18 pole will do most of my work as I do a lot of bungalows on some days so it'll come into its own there. I do know what you mean about having to lift your arms above your head and if need be I can add an extension at some point.

S o I think you could be right, its not what I'm doing but the way that I'm doing it!

[dazmond]

if you rinse brush on that ll save a lot of strain.also if you stand further back(if possible)you wont be looking up as much.

i find the ultimate brushes are a good lightweight brush.not too weedy like an extreme but not a brick like a SL.

why do you want to lift such heavy weights in the gym by the way?i train quite hard 3 times a week but i know not to push it too much  as  i dont want to give myself an injury that could keep me off work(or out of the gym).its a fine line.im also 46 so it takes me a little longer sometimes to recover.its took 4 days for my legs to stop aching after last wednesdays session!

im fine though and i think weight training has helped with wfp window cleaning.i hardly ever get any aches and pains from a days work.

[Den68]

If ou are doing lots of bungalows get a clx4 I have one with a gardiner gooseneck valve (I'm a univalve man on all my other poles)  the speed you can work at is crazy and the weight is non existent I suffer with an old shoulder injury so going light for me as helped no end.

[dazmond]

If ou are doing lots of bungalows get a clx4 I have one with a gardiner gooseneck valve (I'm a univalve man on all my other poles)  the speed you can work at is crazy and the weight is non existent I suffer with an old shoulder injury so going light for me as helped no end.

ive got a clx 4 but i only use it for cleaning the van!i find a  closed slx 25 fine for bungalows(although i dont have many on my round)

[paul alan]

if you rinse brush on that ll save a lot of strain.also if you stand further back(if possible)you wont be looking up as much.

i find the ultimate brushes are a good lightweight brush.not too weedy like an extreme but not a brick like a SL.

why do you want to lift such heavy weights in the gym by the way?i train quite hard 3 times a week but i know not to push it too much  as  i dont want to give myself an injury that could keep me off work(or out of the gym).its a fine line.im also 46 so it takes me a little longer sometimes to recover.its took 4 days for my legs to stop aching after last wednesdays session!

im fine though and i think weight training has helped with wfp window cleaning.i hardly ever get any aches and pains from a days work.

I went on a cut this year and dropped 20lbs of weight and with it I lost a lot of strength so I am regaining that strength by trainng 2 days a week only focusing on compound lifts only so volume is lower to account for the intensity which is still only at 85-90%, I never go to failure ever! this helps immensely with recovery!

I have an ultimate brush in the post as I don't like the idea of an ultimate for the same reason you stated.

[paul alan]

Also the rinsing on "thing" is great, cuts down on lots of things but I have been getting mixed results with that.

I spend more time rinsing on than what other people talk about doing yet I find some windows have spots?

Other windows are fine but some will terrible, my water is always 000-005 at worst and I find I still cant get 100% clean windows rinsing on.

Wish I could crack that 1.

[nathankaye]

Also the rinsing on "thing" is great, cuts down on lots of things but I have been getting mixed results with that.

I spend more time rinsing on than what other people talk about doing yet I find some windows have spots?

Other windows are fine but some will terrible, my water is always 000-005 at worst and I find I still cant get 100% clean windows rinsing on.

Wish I could crack that 1.

Be mindful of which windows do this and change your technique on these ones on future cleans.

I have a handful like this and found there are a  number of reasons why. But with a small change the problem is fixed. Thats with rinsing on a tds as high as 009.

[paul alan]

Also the rinsing on "thing" is great, cuts down on lots of things but I have been getting mixed results with that.

I spend more time rinsing on than what other people talk about doing yet I find some windows have spots?

Other windows are fine but some will terrible, my water is always 000-005 at worst and I find I still cant get 100% clean windows rinsing on.

Wish I could crack that 1.

Be mindful of which windows do this and change your technique on these ones on future cleans.

I have a handful like this and found there are a  number of reasons why. But with a small change the problem is fixed. Thats with rinsing on a tds as high as 009.

I'm thinking maybe on problem windows I could rinse off at the top until I'm happy its clean there and continue to rinse on the rest of the way down, slightly defeating the object though?

Maybe you wouldn't mind doing a video showing how you do this Nathan?

Cheers.

[nathankaye]

 

What type of windows are you refering to. Windows that have top openers above the main windows??
Or are you talking of upstairs windows dripping on the ones below?? Tho im guessing its not this latter as i take it you know how to do this.

Or is it problematic seals which are causing the problem?  Because if it isnt happening every time it has to be more the window than your technique 👍 

[paul alan]

What type of windows are you refering to. Windows that have top openers above the main windows??
Or are you talking of upstairs windows dripping on the ones below?? Tho im guessing its not this latter as i take it you know how to do this.

Or is it problematic seals which are causing the problem?  Because if it isnt happening every time it has to be more the window than your technique 👍

I think it may be the type of window that is phobic around the edges and in the corners but phillic in the middle, you know the ones were the silicone is around the edges but not in the middle of the pane?

They seem to spot in the corners, I think to remedy this its best to rinse off here in the corners and edges.

I like to check any new techniques I use afterwards when dry but don't always have the time so if I cant go back later I wont try anything new, so until I get this technique down properly I cant use it all the time.

[Missing Link]

do like the sound of it but a bit too pricey, I'm having trouble convincing the missus about 2 slx 18s at this very moment.

anyhow dont they snap too easy?

I haven't read the posts, but the SLX doesn't snap easy and will last you for years, if you look after and maintain them properly.

We use SLX 18 and it does the vast majority of our work, and Wor Lass is a short arse at 5' 1" tall.

I've made my first two sections 'modular' (just removed some tape) and work with an external pole hose.  This means after I've finished 'the tops', I drop one section of the pole and then just remove the top two sections, meaning it's just an ultra light short pole for the ground floor.

Easy peasy.

[NWH]

Training in the gym being 16 stone ripped won’t help you with WFP it’s tecnique as Daz has said rinsing on and cleaning from the right angle is what it’s all about,and tbh some people’s bodies are not as strong as other people’s. I was speaking to a trad cleaner the other day he’s in his forty’s and his knees have gone already so think yourself lucky,a regular massage helps no end especially the last 2 minutes 😂

[paul alan]

do like the sound of it but a bit too pricey, I'm having trouble convincing the missus about 2 slx 18s at this very moment.

anyhow dont they snap too easy?

I haven't read the posts, but the SLX doesn't snap easy and will last you for years, if you look after and maintain them properly.

We use SLX 18 and it does the vast majority of our work, and Wor Lass is a short arse at 5' 1" tall.

I've made my first two sections 'modular' (just removed some tape) and work with an external pole hose.  This means after I've finished 'the tops', I drop one section of the pole and then just remove the top two sections, meaning it's just an ultra light short pole for the ground floor.

Easy peasy.

I believe you have not read the posts.

I was talking about the extreme.

I had one delivered(extreme) and an extreme brush with natural bristle, looking forward to using it tomorrow.

[windowswashed]

Easiest way to get the right position is to adjust the brush so it sits flat against the glass whilst resting the brush against the sill with the base of the pole touching the ground and roughly the same angle as you would use a ladder or slightly further away from the building if possible. Pivot on both legs using your toes in a rocking motion instead of standing in one spot pushing your arms up and down with the pole so much.
Find what feels the right position, use the correct technique, when you have found it, stop thinking about it, switch off and it just becomes natural without the aches and pains. Keep brush on the glass for rinsing as there's no need to lift the brush off the glass and it's slower rinsing brush off most of the time anyway. All glass can be cleaned brush on except ancient metal frames where the colour runs off on metal frames and gives a milky white mix with the water so it's easy to spot.
I don't bother with weight training, lifting weights, etc, get enough exercise at work. Work is all the exercise I need and it keeps me supple and not muscle bound as I prefer an all round level of fitness rather than an impractical muscle builder look which limits flexibility.

[Missing Link]

Training in the gym being 16 stone ripped won’t help you with WFP it’s tecnique as Daz has said rinsing on and cleaning from the right angle

Being fit does help.  I've been running lots and lots of slow miles (I have an ultra marathon (46 miles in the Brecon Beacons) in about eight days).  And I've been weight training for about 20 months too.

And my work rate is phenomenal.

I don't think it's just about waggling the pole about, it's all that time we spend on our feet. 

The fitter and stronger you are, then everything else - when it comes to moving - just gets easier.

[dazmond]

Training in the gym being 16 stone ripped won’t help you with WFP it’s tecnique as Daz has said rinsing on and cleaning from the right angle

Being fit does help.  I've been running lots and lots of slow miles (I have an ultra marathon (46 miles in the Brecon Beacons) in about eight days).  And I've been weight training for about 20 months too.

And my work rate is phenomenal.

I don't think it's just about waggling the pole about, it's all that time we spend on our feet. 

The fitter and stronger you are, then everything else - when it comes to moving - just gets easier.

i agree.nearly 2 years weight training(taking it seriously)now tosh and awkward windows over connys etc are easier and the general strains of wfp have eased as ive got stronger and built more muscle.

[slap bash]

Why is every avoiding the true issue.You cannot work 7 days and then do so many weights as well. Your body is telling you there is something wrong. Pay heed before you kill yourself. Take a day off and reduce the weights as you are already having a workout on the job.  Get your head right, you are not Superman.

[paul alan]

I have focused in on the main problem and its the back of the neck muscles that are being overworked, even when doing downstairs windows I cant stop myself from pulling my head back, its painful and frustrating!

The shoulder issue is from having my arm out front of my body and raised.

No matter how hard I try to stop as soon as I'm busy cleaning I notice I have slipped back into the same position, the neck thing is causing me massive headaches too.

I have an appointment with someone to see about physiotherapy or the like tomorrow, I need to sort this out as I feel sick with the pain most days.

On Monday I got half way through work and just felt like going home and lying down but couldn't as I wont have the work falling behind as that is even more stressful .

has anyone tried one of these?http://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/acatalog/Necprotech-neck-Support-Brace-NECK.html#SID=20

I reckon it could be just what I need.

[Missing Link]

I have focused in on the main problem and its the back of the neck muscles that are being overworked, even when doing downstairs windows I cant stop myself from pulling my head back, its painful and frustrating!

The shoulder issue is from having my arm out front of my body and raised.

No matter how hard I try to stop as soon as I'm busy cleaning I notice I have slipped back into the same position, the neck thing is causing me massive headaches too.

I have an appointment with someone to see about physiotherapy or the like tomorrow, I need to sort this out as I feel sick with the pain most days.

On Monday I got half way through work and just felt like going home and lying down but couldn't as I wont have the work falling behind as that is even more stressful .

has anyone tried one of these?http://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/acatalog/Necprotech-neck-Support-Brace-NECK.html#SID=20

I reckon it could be just what I need.

I've slackened off, because I'm tapering for a race, but when I'm training hard, I'll spend 20 to 30 minutes, every evening, stretching.

And I do lots of neck stretching too, whilst I'm sat 'zazen' (a kind of stretch of the ankles and knees).

So I can stretch me neck and bits of my legs at the same time.

I know you weight train, but do you stretch?  And your neck in particular?