If you want to get your next window cleaning booking done in the fastest, easiest, and safest way possible, then you’re definitely going to want to have the right window cleaning gear for the job. But how do you know what those tools are? Well, that’s why you came to XERO, isn’t it? I'm here to help with this beginner’s guide.

There are a few factors to take into consideration when trying to pick the best gear: 

• Are you working on a residential or commercial property?

• How high are you trying to reach?

• What is the TDS like in the area: is it hard or soft?

• How dirty are the windows? Have they never seen a scrubbing in the last ten years, or were they recently done in the past 6 months?

• How big is the job overall? Do you plan to have multiple crew members working at once?

Now that you have those thoughts brewing in your head, let's get into it. We’re going to have to find the perfect purification system, pole, and brush for your style. The accessories and upgrades can come later once you have the basics set up. 

This is a quick guide to help get you started. Be sure to check out our other articles on each of these topics for a deeper dive.

Picking the Perfect System

TDS

Step one is checking out your local TDS. What is TDS? It’s the Total Dissolved Solids of the water. The higher the number, the more minerals in the water. The minerals are what leave spots behind. If you aren’t sure what your local TDS is, we have a handy estimator you can use. It’s useful to check the zip codes of the jobs you’ll be doing since it can vary from town to town.

The general rule of thumb is if you’re working with Soft Water, (under 100 TDS), you can get away with a DI only system. Anything over 100 TDS is considered Hard Water and you’re going to want an RO/DI system. Are there exceptions to this rule? Of course. But generally speaking, this will save you the most money in the long run and help you avoid overly frequent filter changes. 

XERO offers a range of phenomenal systems in each of these categories, so choosing the right one will come down to the frequency you’ll be using it, how many crew will use it at the same time, and your budget. 

Property Type

Are you going to be using your system daily? Try to look for one that has a 20” DI Housing like the Pure Plus or MAX Plus. That will allow you to go longer in between resin changes and provide more flow.

Do you know you’ll be having a two-man crew working at a job and want them working off the same system? It’s possible, you just need a splitter and a good flow rate. The Triple Pure could be the perfect fit.

What do you plan to work on? If we’re talking Residential and a solo user, you don’t have to worry about having a ton of flow. That means usually you can get away with a DI Tank in soft water or a single or double RO system with hard water. These units will produce enough water for a single user easily. 

If you’re talking about a Commercial job like an apartment complex, you will want the flow from MAX Power with a built-in booster pump. These units are a little more expensive but necessary to get the appropriate flow for the big jobs.

Read More on Picking the Perfect System

Picking the Perfect Pole

There are a lot of poles on the market so how can you decide which one is right for you? There are a lot of factors from budget, to height, to how often you’ll use it, and if you might want to extend it in the future. Most water fed poles today are made of carbon fiber because it is light, durable, and rigid. Poles usually start at 21 or 30 feet which is good for small jobs. Others go up to 90 feet for large commercial buildings. If you work on Residential properties, you’re good with sticking to a pole under 50 feet. 

The more you’re going to be using a pole, the lighter you’re going to want it. A standard pole can be a little heavier, which is fine for just a job or two a few times a week. But for a daily driver, ultra light poles will help save your shoulders and back from fatigue. 

The higher you go, the more you want to consider how rigid a pole is. When a pole is bendy, it’s hard to control and takes more effort to get the job done. The stiffest pole on the market is the XERO Destroyer made from thicker, ultra-high modulus carbon fiber.

Some poles accept Add-Ons and Extensions so you can make them longer in the future. If you think you’ll take on bigger jobs, look for a pole that will grow with you. Most XERO Poles accept the Universal Extension that can help add 10 feet at a time to your pole. Be sure to check the limitations of each style of pole to know how high you can push it.

Picking the Perfect Brush

Brush choice can be a lot of personal preference, but the general guide is:

• Nylon - The lightest option. It’s good for regular cleans where the grime isn’t caked on. Dirt slides right off the bristles for easy rinsing, and it has a nice glide on the glass. 

• Hybrid - The most versatile option, and the one that comes on every XERO pole. These brushes mix Nylon and Hybrid bristles so you can get the best mix of glide and scrubbing power.

• Boar’s Hair - The most aggressive option that is good for first-time cleans or when the windows are extra dirty. The stiff bristles work to agitate up the dirt, but it can get heavy when wet, and you have to rinse without it touching the glass. 

You’ll likely need various brushes throughout your window cleaning journey for the different jobs you encounter, so be open to trying out different styles. 12-inch brushes are good for residential jobs, but if you work on a lot of commercial or solar jobs, an 18-inch will help you get the job done faster. 

Pro Tip: Keep an open mind with brushes and try different styles as you go.

There are also different styles of brushes. Some are made from thick plastic blocks which have been the standard for many, many years. Lately, some ultra-light metal brushes have been popping up and taking the market by storm. Or you might consider using a scrubber with a pad instead of a normal brush. It’s all up to what fits your style of working.

Expanding

After you get the main pieces of your setup together, you can start adding on accessories to make it faster and easier. There are a variety of shut-off valves that can be installed on the pole hose so you can turn off the flow without having to go back to your system. There are also hose reels for staying organized and booster pumps for flow issues with the source. But we’ll discuss those another time.

Wrapping Up

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices, we have put together the Ultimate Residential and Ultimate Commercial kits that include all the goodies you need to get started. It’s the perfect way to make the jump into water fed window cleaning without having to do a ton of research into the right products for you. Or you can reach out to us. We've guided plenty of beginners through their first purchase.

Meet the Author: Jersey has been an active and knowledgeable figure in the window cleaning community for almost two decades. He loves to share all his tips to help the next generation of window cleaners take their businesses to the next level.