[Pete_Riley]

Hey Guys,I just tried out my new pole and need some help.Its an Ettore pole 6feet up to 15 feet.Im ok with scrubber on end but make a real mess with squeegie.Is there any techniques I don't know about.I left sqawk marks all down a window that I can only get to with a pole.Thanks.

[Reflective Property Services]

Make sure your rubber is slightly moist, if it is completely dry it can 'catch' on the bits you have already done, try to have a minimum overlap. I generally wipe my squeegee across my applicator first, this removes excess water while keeping it slightly damp.

Also keep your blade at a very slight angle, only a couple of degrees from the horizontal (ie. like this: squeeged side / soapy side) this will make the water you squeegee off run back towards the side thats still soapy, rather than leave a trail down the middle of the window. Otherwise, practice as much as you need to on your own house until you've got the technique off pat.

Oh, and dont soap right up to the top edge, or you'll get the runs when you squeegee off  

[simonb]

U also need to move the squeegee sideways before you make the down stroke.

[Ian_Giles]

Hi Pete,

I use a similar sized pole an awful lot, I would never attempt upstairs windows with this method though.

But on technique:
Again, the pole is really only of any use on fairly large window panes.
If you are going to use a pole, get the Unger squeegee handle that you can rotate and have the channel at almost any angle you want, for pole work, an absolute must!
Wash window with applicator, do not wash right to the top of the window, else you will leave an edge that will have to be wiped with your dry scrim lest you get runs.
Same applies to the edges of the window pane, try not to wash right up to the edges.
Fit squeegee on pole, rotate channel to an appropriate angle for the height of window-the higher the window, the more acute the angle you will need-
1. wipe squeegee rubber with damp scrim.
2. Hold squeegee on glass with top edge of channel       against the edge of the window pane and also at least as low on the pane as the squeegee is long.
3. Slide squeegee to top corner and draw across as vertical as you can to the other side of the pane, finishing completely vertical against the other edge.

Unless you have picked up bits of paintwork you should not need to wipe the squeegee rubber again.
4. Continue as from stage '2' making sure you overlap. once you have got it to the point that you can squeegee off the window without the pole simply continue as normal.

An extention pole used on domestic accounts will rarely be of any real use, you will never be able to do a decent job of upstairs windows using a pole on domestics, it will take you far longer to do a window and it will never be as good as it would be if you were up a ladder.
On downstairs windows you will gain nothing time wise over using your pointer.
I am an extremely accomlished window cleaner and have used a pole for a great many years.
If you are using it on shops or certain types of commercial premises then it is a must, but will only be of occasional use on domestic accounts.
But as they only cost a few quid (relative) it is always a good thing to have one for when it will be of use.

Best of luck!

Ian

[Ian_Giles]

Oh,
To tidy up edges or marks that you cannot avoid making, particularly if you cannot get to the window with a ladder, Unger also do a scrim clamp.
I am not too sure of the exact title of this piece of equipment, but you can use it to clamp a dry scrim into it and it is designed to fit onto a pole, therefore you can also tidy up bits you have not done too well with the squeegee!!

Ian

[Pete_Riley]

Thanks all .Will try some of the ideas.