Tips For Safely Cleaning Your Windows While On A Ladder

Falling off a ladder is not joking matter…injuries can be from minor to fatal and all degrees in between, and it can happen to young and old alike. In fact, a couple of years ago, it was estimated that there were a minimum of 500,000 falls from ladders yearly, about 97% happen in the home, and about 6,000 of the falls are fatal. I don’t think we are totally aware of the risk we are taking when we begin climbing those rungs.

There are several tasks around the home that require the use of a ladder, and cleaning your windows is just one of them…so before you start climbing that ladder, remember to:

Avoid these 4 main types of ladder accidents:

1. Using the wrong kind of ladder – No matter what job you’re doing, using the right tool not only does a better job, but it’s often safer. The same goes with the use of a ladder.
   1. Use a ladder that is the right height for the job…if the ladder is too short, you’ll find yourself reaching beyond the distance you should reach, causing the ladder to tip or you to lose your balance and fall.
   2. Sometimes if the ladder is too short, people will place it on something to make it taller, and the ladder will slip off the extra surface and cause a fall.
   3. Another problem with a too short ladder is that many people will stand on the top rung to reach whatever they are doing, lose their balance or off balance the ladder and fall.
2. Positioning the ladder incorrectly – Many people don’t pay any attention to where they are placing the ladder…
   1. Don’t place it on uneven or soft ground, rocky surfaces or slippery, wet ground.
   2. Don’t place it in front of or against a door that could be opened and knock the ladder over.
   3. Whenever possible, have someone hold the ladder in place or stake it to the ground while you are on it to keep it from slipping.
   4. When setting up a ladder, make sure it always has 3 points of solid contact for optimum stability.
3. Using a ladder incorrectly – Each ladder has been designed to function properly when used properly…
   1. Never alter the ladder to do something it isn’t intended to do… don’t jerryrig it to be longer than it is.
   2. Make sure if your ladder has locking mechanisms that each point is locked in place securely.
   3. Never walk up the ladder backwards.
   4. Make sure both the ladder and your shoes are dry to avoid slipping and falling.
   5. For a stepladder, never climb higher than the 2nd from the top rung, and for an extension ladder the safest height is the 4th from the top.
   6. The distance you space the ladder from the structure you are going up is extremely important…for good stability, place the base of the ladder a distance of between 1/4 to 1/3 the height of the wall.
4. Inspect the ladder thoroughly before using – Damaged, worn, or just plain old ladders are dangerous. It only takes a minute to fall, or a minute to check it for safety.

Do you want to ensure that you don’t fall from your ladder while cleaning your windows? Hire a professional.

I have been cleaning windows in the Seattle area for nearly 30 years, and quite frankly, I enjoy it!  I will be happy to answer all of your questions, and I know the mistakes to avoid. I clean private homes or apartment complexes.

Contact me for a FREE Quote.