Clean windows

Window cleaner in Dresden

Cleaning a pane of glass

When washing windows , the activities, a window to clean and clean, respectively. This includes cleaning the outside and inside of the glass as well as the grille or window frame and other attached objects. In addition to hygiene and cleanliness purposes or general order in the household , it is used for decorative purposes and special lighting .

job

The activity can be carried out privately in one's own household as well as professionally by so-called window cleaners or other cleaning staff. Window cleaners find work at cleaning companies, private households, public services or in larger companies. Much of the jobs are marginal jobs that are part-time and often temporary . Since an apprenticeship is not absolutely necessary for the job , it is part of the auxiliary work . The profession of building cleaner is an exception here .

However, the profession is becoming more and more automated and window cleaning robots , self-cleaning windows and other automatic cleaning machines will also be used to save personnel.

Tools

Standard tools include cleaning sponges and cleaning rags or a squeegee with a special window cleaning agent that is supposed to ensure that dirt disappears. At temperatures below freezing , anti-freeze chemicals are added to the solution to prevent it from crystallizing on the pane before it is spun off. Furthermore, high-pressure cleaners and telescopic rods can also be used. Ice scrapers are used especially in vehicles in winter to remove the ice from the smooth surface of the glass and to clear the view again. The trend is towards automation, for which technologies such as window cleaning robots, self-cleaning windows and smart home systems are used.

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  Cleaning sponge

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  cleaning rags

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  Puller

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  Glass cleaner

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  high pressure cleaner

• Play media file

  Window cleaning robot

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  ice scraper

To reach high heights, ladders , ropes , scaffolding , special vehicles or lifting platforms are used.

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  Window cleaning with a lifting platform

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  Cleaning a window with a rappelling platform

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  Window cleaning with a crane

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  Window cleaning with a special telescopic rod

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  Cleaning with water pressure

Risks and Criticism

Particularly tall buildings such as skyscrapers can pose a high risk of falling for window cleaners. Correct protection of the platform and people is therefore important. Even severe weather conditions such as wind , rain , slipperiness and moisture can be a danger. In 1932 , every 200th window cleaner in New York City died while doing his job. According to insurers , window cleaners have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, as do roofers , civil engineers and bricklayers .

Since in many countries the job title is not protected and not enough security is guaranteed, more laws are required in this area. Excessive water consumption when cleaning windows, which is caused by automated systems, was also criticized. However, operators say that this is usually significantly lower than in industry and energy generation.

Window cleaners in art and culture

Window cleaning is also a motif that is processed in culture. There are several films and literary, artistic and musical works that are dedicated to the topic.

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  Statue of a window cleaner on Chapel Street, London

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  A Woman Window-cleaner 1919 at the Imperial War Museum

See also

• Window repairs

Web links

Commons : Window cleaning  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Window cleaner in the professional dictionary of Austria

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Professional Lexicon Austria. Retrieved September 25, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Window walking Windoro robot scrubs windows clean. Retrieved September 25, 2018 . 
3. ↑ Julian Freitag: Household help: Are robots good for cleaning windows? In: FAZ.NET . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed September 25, 2018]).
4. ↑ Marco Dettweiler, Fritz Jörn: Robots in the household: window cleaners with crystal-clear advantages . In: FAZ.NET . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed September 25, 2018]).
5. ↑ Digitization: Which professions can robots replace? In: FAZ.NET . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed September 25, 2018]).
6. ↑ Katja Fischer: Never again cleaning windows ?: This is how self-cleaning windows work . In: Kölnische Rundschau . ( rundschau-online.de [accessed September 25, 2018]).
7. ↑ Self-cleaning windows: Never clean again . In: www.t-online.de . ( t-online.de [accessed September 25, 2018]).
8. ↑ Joachim Hasler: For the right perspective: Professional tips for cleaning windows. April 18, 2018, accessed September 25, 2018 . 
9. ^ Search for "window cleaner". Retrieved September 25, 2018 (American English). 
10. ↑ Window cleaners: Very few are secure . In: ZEIT ONLINE . ( zeit.de [accessed September 25, 2018]).
11. ^ Life at the Top . In: The New Yorker . ( newyorker.com [accessed September 25, 2018]).
12. ↑ Window washers at work: wipe at a height of 50 meters . In: https://www.hna.de . February 20, 2014 ( hna.de [accessed September 25, 2018]).
13. ^ "Ladders are not banned - but they should be used sensibly". (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on January 28, 2010 ; accessed on September 25, 2018 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
14. ^ Archive news from the The Argus. Retrieved September 25, 2018 .