Window Cleaning Tools: From Beginning To Modern Day
Glass itself dates back to Roman Times to around 3500 BC. It wasn’t until 1864, in Liverpool, England, that the first building to feature a glass curtain wall was erected standing 5 stories tall. So began the birth of the skyscrapers. However, mass production of glass did not take place until Irving Colburn patented the sheet glass drawing machine on March 25, 1902. This is the glass that can be seen on all storefronts and buildings today.
WINDOW CLEANING TOOLS
The most basic of tools to clean windows are the squeegee, the mop, bucket, ladder, and rags. The first cloth used to clean glass was chamois leather from the skin of mountain goats or sheepskin. The squeegee dates back to the Middle Ages and has gone through a few design changes since its inception. It wasn’t until 1936 when an Italian immigrant named Ettore Steccone invented a lightweight brass tool with a single handle and flexible rubber blade. The design remains basically unchanged today.
Ladders provided window cleaners with the ability to reach higher than before. Although ladders solved the problem of being able to reach up to 32 feet off the ground, they also come with issues. The number one issue is safety for the window cleaner and the homeowner.
MODERN DAY
Pure Water window cleaning as a method of cleaning windows using deionized or purified water has been around for over 40 years, dating back to the 1980’s. However, it was not until the 1990’s that Ionic Systems produced the first commercially successful pure water cleaning system.
The pure water system allows the window cleaner to clean windows up to 70 feet from ground level. Thus, eliminating the need for ladders, which provides peace of mind for the homeowner and the cleaner. Pure water produces a streak free shine, and is eco-friendly, using no chemicals.
The squeegee, mop, and bucket remain the standard for interior cleaning of windows. The go-to choice for cleaning exterior windows is increasingly becoming pure water cleaning systems.
In future articles we will explain how pure water systems work and what you can expect.