If you live in a tall apartment block, if you work in a tall office block, or if you have ever driven past a tall hotel, you have probably wondered what they do in order to get a window wash for high buildings. In the absence of balconies or anything else to stand on, you can not imagine how they ever get the outside of those windows clean. Yet, miraculously, they sparkle.
There are a couple of methods which are used to clean the glass panes on tall buildings. One way is to lower a platform from the roof, like a primitive lift. The workers stand on the platform from where they are able to wash the glass. In the interest of their safety, the cleaners should wear harnesses which will protect them in case something goes wrong.
Abseiling is another method which is commonly used to clean the windows on skyscrapers and other tall structures. Although abseiling is usually done on mountain faces, it is also very useful in these circumstances. Because it can be dangerous to someone with no abseiling experience and because it is a job which would scare many people, people who do this kind of job should be specially trained.
Cherry pickers, booms and cranes have also been used to wash the windows on tall constructions. A cherry picker is a type of hydraulic lift. A person stands at the end of a beam in a special box or on a platform and is then lifted into the air. Another option is to install a boom or a crane on the roof of the building, which would then lower the cleaner from above.
This is the kind of job which will appeal to those with a sense of adventure and who love being outdoors. If you enjoy the occasional rush of adrenaline and panoramic views of big cities, then you might be suited to this profession. If however, you suffer from a fear of heights, also known as vertigo, then maybe you should consider another job.
People who are employed in this industry are paid adequately to compensate for the risky nature of the job. While great care is taken to ensure their safety, conditions can be difficult, particularly as it can be very windy so high above the ground. Because it can be quite a lucrative job choice it is something many people chose to do, provided they are daring enough.
Perhaps swinging like a monkey from the room of a skyscraper is not your career of choice. In this case you might have noticed someone hanging around outside your bedroom or office window. Alternatively, maybe you have had to draw the curtain quickly because of an unexpected cleaner with a full view into your bedroom.
Maybe you have never really paid any attention to them. If this is the case, take a moment to think about how your windows stay clean. Because there are brave cleaners whom deserve our gratitude for giving us a window wash for high buildings