Short answer
A water-fed pole is a lightweight pole with a soft brush on the end and a hose running up inside it. Pure water flows through the brush, so I can wash and rinse your windows from the ground. The brush is soft. Tell me first if you have cracked paint or timber frames finished with oil or varnish.
What does the kit look like?
A water-fed pole is a telescopic pole, often made from carbon fibre or similar light material, that extends in sections. A soft brush head sits on the end. A narrow tube runs up the pole to the brush, and a hose connects the pole to the water supply, which for me is a tank in the van where I make the pure water.
You’ll probably see a red hose snaking across the drive, a pole in the air and not much else. That’s the whole show.
How does it work, step by step?
- The water is made. A reverse osmosis and deionisation system in the van takes the minerals out of the water. Is pure water window cleaning better? explains why that matters.
- The pole is extended. I raise it section by section to the window, standing on the ground.
- The glass is brushed and rinsed. The soft brush loosens the dirt on the glass and frame while pure water flows through it, then I rinse with more of the same.
- It’s left to dry. I don’t wipe the glass. Pure water dries without leaving marks. Why windows look wet explains what that looks like.
Why use a pole at all?
Cleaning high windows safely explains the safety side in more detail.
The big reason is height. Working from a ladder carries risk, and the HSE’s guidance on window cleaning says to avoid work at height where that’s reasonably practicable. A water-fed pole is one of the ways to do it. It also means I can reach upstairs windows, frames and sills in one visit without moving a ladder around your garden, over your borders or against your gutters.
What about my frames?
The brush is soft and the water is pure. The sources I’ve read say to take care in two situations, so I ask you about them:
- Cracked or flaking paint. Poles can catch it and lift it.
- Timber frames finished with oil or varnish. Water and brushing can mark or dull some finishes.
If either applies to you, say so on the quote form. I’d rather ask than guess, and I’d rather tell you honestly if a window needs a different approach. Cleaning uPVC window frames and sills is a good read for uPVC owners.
What can a pole not do?
It can’t do insides. A pole rinses with water, and indoors there is nowhere for that water to go, so I clean inside windows by hand with a washer and squeegee.
It also can’t reach everything. If a window is behind a high fence, a locked gate, a conservatory roof or a shed, I may not be able to get the pole to it. Tell me about gates and access when you send your request.
Will it make a mess?
A bit of water runs down the glass and frames, and a little might drip onto the sill or the ground below. It’s pure water, so it dries without leaving marks on paving. You don’t need to move your plants, but if something near a window is delicate, tell me.
How long does it take?
It depends on how many windows you have, how many storeys, how easy they are to reach and how dirty they are. How long does a window clean take? has more.
Common questions
Is a pole cleaner than a ladder and squeegee?
For the outside of the glass, the result can be just as good, and pure water means there’s nothing left to dry onto the glass. The bigger difference is the frames: a brush on a pole can clean them in the same pass, which a squeegee doesn’t do. Ask me about frames and sills. For inside glass, the traditional method is still the right one.
Can you reach over a conservatory?
Sometimes. It depends on the height, the angle and whether I can stand somewhere safe. I’ll look before I start and tell you honestly. Conservatory and bay window cleaning has more.
Does the brush scratch glass?
The brush is soft and is used with plenty of water, so grit is rinsed away rather than dragged across the pane. If you ever spot a scratch after a visit, tell me straight away.
