{"id":412,"date":"2021-09-10T19:00:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T19:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/blog\/high-rise-window-cleaning-what-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T22:19:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T22:19:22","slug":"high-rise-window-cleaning-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shine-windowcleaning.com\/westlake-tx\/blog\/high-rise-window-cleaning-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"High-Rise Window Cleaning: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everybody knows how pleasant it is to look through\u00a0adequately cleaned windows<\/strong>. Regular window cleaning is an essential component of both home and business\u00a0building maintenance.\u00a0<\/a>Having windows that are not clean can ruin the first impression of an entire property.\u00a0Cleaning high-rise windows falls to professional window cleaners<\/strong>, as cleaning the windows of a high-rise building is a risky job that requires\u00a0professional training and equipment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The dry climate in Texas leaves high-rise building owners with a need to regularly clean their large windows. Most owners of modern high-rise buildings and glass-fronted offices in the Dallas, Texas area choose to go with the services of window cleaning companies since outsourcing the job saves their staff a significant amount of time and effort<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0Being a\u00a0window washer<\/a>\u00a0requires a lot of responsibility and sticking to safety guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Related:\u00a0Continue To Shine Together<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being A Professional Window Cleaner<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it may not appear to be an extremely high-risk job, in reality,\u00a0high-rise window cleaning is a job that does pose a certain amount of hazard to the worker.<\/strong>\u00a0After all, high-rise window cleaning involves scaling a building that sometimes\u00a0reaches more than 15 meters<\/a>. To perform a job like a window cleaning the right way,\u00a0you need a specific set of training and skills<\/strong>\u00a0to perform it correctly. You can think of cleaning high-rise windows as an activity akin to rock climbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning high-rise windows requires a high amount of mobility and following a stringent set of work safety measures. Individual buildings tower in the clouds at impressive heights, making the use of\u00a0secure professional harnesses and climbing equipment<\/strong>\u00a0vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Office workers in high or mid-rise buildings enjoy great views while they go about their day, and\u00a0their view is the result of gleaming, clear windows<\/strong>. Window washers are responsible for cleaning the dirty glass windows of offices, homes, stores, and high-rise buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning the windows on high-rise buildings\u00a0consistently makes the list of the most dangerous jobs in the world<\/strong>. With this in mind, a window washer profession connotes a certain level of danger and risk. Due to the job’s perils, window cleaners need to follow the stipulated safety measures when they work strictly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clear OSHA guidelines and appropriate training limit the risks of high-rise window cleaning. Despite the inherent dangers, there are very few fatalities in this profession. That doesn\u2019t mean that accidents don\u2019t happen or that these workers have inhuman abilities to rationalize their fear. City firefighters have had to rescue high-rise window washers from time to time when their equipment fails or when high winds hit without warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with the\u00a0Washington Post<\/a>, some very skilled window washers admitted that they feel the fear of being suspended several stories in the air. And they use that fear to keep them focused on safe work practices. But for those who choose to do the job, it is a fair trade off with magnificent views from their \u2018office\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janitorial professions<\/a>\u00a0often get discounted as being easy, low-wage positions. However, high-rise window washing requires some skill. It is not as much about technique as it is about performing the job while suspended by ropes and cables or standing on a platform hundreds of feet in the air. And the work is steady. For example, a building like the Empire State Building in New York City takes four months to clean all of the windows. By the time the crew finishes the building, it is time to start again. Smaller high-rises take less time, between 30 and 40 days on average. But there is no shortage of window-filled office buildings in the city and therefore no shortage of window work for these skilled laborers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

This kind of job may not suit everybody, since it requires a certain amount of\u00a0industry training\u00a0<\/a>and experience and no fear of heights. Being a high-rise window cleaner also requires courage since the job poses many challenges and calls for the worker to\u00a0be physically capable<\/strong>\u00a0and have some preparation in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional window cleaners need to be equipped with all of the necessary cleaning tools to safely and correctly finish the cleaning task.<\/strong>\u00a0High-rise window cleaning is a dangerous job, and it needs to be done with the correct kinds of equipment. Just like with any other job, being a professional window cleaner comes with its risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:\u00a0Three Reasons to Hire a Professional Window Cleaner<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risks Of Cleaning High-Rise Windows<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How dangerous the job is depends on a variety of factors, such as the level of experience the worker has, if they’re wearing appropriate protective equipment, the condition of their safety gear, and how safely the individual window cleaner works. Below we discuss the cons of being a window cleaner and\u00a0why it’s always best for owners of high-rise and mid-rise buildings to hire professionals for this dangerous job.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking for professional high-rise window cleaners? Call\u00a0Shine Window Cleaning\u00a0<\/a>today!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk Of Falling Or Other Injury<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we’ve touched on above, there are many risks associated with the\u00a0job of window cleaning<\/a>.\u00a0Professional window cleaners handle this well,<\/strong>\u00a0however, and know that risk inevitably comes with the job. People not in the industry may be surprised to learn that deaths are actually rare in the high-rise window cleaning business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional window-cleaners can do the job without injuries because workers are extremely serious about their safety<\/strong>\u00a0– it’s always on the top of their list of priorities. When they start any job, window cleaners first ensure that all climbing equipment is sound and check through all of their safety gear for wear, tear, and damage.\u00a0Window cleaners are trained to inspect all of the cables, harnesses, and scaffolding to ensure they’re in good working condition<\/strong>. Adequately installed safety equipment helps guarantee successful completion of the cleaning tasks and fewer injury cases, which all leads to higher client satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, accidents are expected to happen once in a while.\u00a0But accidents shouldn’t end fatally if proper safety measures are in place<\/strong>. Research shows that only\u00a0one window cleaner of high-rise buildings<\/a>\u00a0was killed per year between 2010 and 2014. Compared to 1932, this statistic has made leaps and bounds and illustrates the\u00a0effectiveness of safety measures<\/strong>\u00a0implemented in the last few decades. Picture this: 90 years ago, an average of one out of every 200 window cleaners in New York was killed doing the job!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weather<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many pros and cons to having an outdoor job, and\u00a0volatile weather<\/a>\u00a0can be a real challenge.\u00a0Window washers are at the mercy of the weather<\/strong>, and the weather is something that nobody can control, but it can have a significant impact on the completion and duration of a window cleaning project. It may be a real challenge to clean the high-rise building windows when winds are blowing at high speeds.\u00a0Strong winds<\/strong>\u00a0can not only slow down a cleaning project, but it’s also bad for the stability of the suspended platforms and the scaffolding, raising the risk of incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-rise window washers<\/a>\u00a0enjoy working outdoors. But constant exposure to the elements can take its toll. The heat in Texas can pose some safety risks and these workers are often exposed to direct sunlight for long hours without shade. Staying hydrated and protecting themselves from the sun are as important as following safety rules for harness equipment and working on platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requires No Distractions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, window cleaning may seem like an easy job, but this kind of work calls for intense focus.\u00a0Different types of distractions need to be eliminated from the job site for\u00a0safety reasons<\/a><\/strong>. Window-cleaners are not supposed to use smartphones or listen to music while working on the scaffolding. Depending on the job\u2019s size and degree of difficulty, rules about having distractions on the job can vary. Holding a smartphone or wearing headphones while trying to clean a window 50 feet above the ground isn’t a good idea. Of course, window cleaners who work on smaller buildings can use phones more often and listen to radio, podcasts, or music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:\u00a0Interior Glass: DIY or Hire an Inside Window Cleaning Service?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tools of the Trade<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

High-rise window cleaners use similar techniques to cleaning your windows at home, including buckets of soapy water, squeegees, and rags. The key difference is that they are working from greater heights. Window cleaners tend to work with a variety of different size tools. And they wear a tool belt like a handyman so they can keep things where they need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n