'Window Cleaning Pole' and 'Window Cleaning Brush' are two separate terms that are often used interchangeably - fortunately, we have you covered for both terms in the form of various (hopefully helpful) articles. Here, we're going to cover the options available when looking specifically for a Window Cleaning Brush. However if you're actually interested in a window cleaning pole, check out our guide to Window Cleaning poles.
Brush heads come in various shapes and sizes, here are the most common brush head variables and features along with the situations where they can be used effectively:
Brush Width
Which size brush suits best is really down to preference and the type of work it will be used for. A car showroom, typically with large panes of glass, might warrant a large brush, to cover the sheer volume of surface area needed, whereas domestic Window Cleaning or cleaning at height will require a smaller, lighter brush head.
Choosing the wrong size of brush head can limit a Window Cleaner's efficiency, and add unnecessary fatigue. Basic physics tells us that, the weight of a brush head is more significant, the further it is away from the operator. Using a large and heavy brush might cover large surface areas, but in some scenarios might be detrimental. Conversely, there will be some scenarios where a large brush head is exactly the right option.
The most common sizes of brush head for use on both domestic & commercial cleaning are between 9" and 12" (22-27cm). These generally strike a good balance between weight & surface area. In this size range, there are a variety of shapes & colour. Some of our most popular options are linked below:
FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Dual Trim Brush
FaceLift® Phantom 12" DuPont® SILL Brush
Larger options are at 14"-16" (35cm-40cm). These brush heads are often considered specialty brush heads. These are excellent for covering large areas of glass & can often be fitted with additional jets. Some examples are linked below:
FaceLift® Phoenix 14" Lightweight Brush
FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Dual Trim Brush
Bristle Type
Brush bristles can be made from different grades of plastic, usually nylon, and sometimes combined with an animal hair such as boars hair - here we highlight some of the differences between each bristle type:
DuPont® Nylon
Our most popular brush heads right now feature DuPont® branded bristles. This particular type of nylon bristle is constantly increasing in popularity and comes with great reviews.
DuPont® bristled brush heads are robust, offer brilliant cleaning power whilst retaining their shape. Some of our brush heads featuring DuPont® bristles can be found via the links below:
FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Dual Trim Brush
FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Sill Brush
Dual Trim
Dual trim brushes feature multiple types of bristle varying in length or material
Many Window Cleaning brushes feature a longer length of bristle on the outside of the brush head, with an alternate material in the centre - or a shorter, stiffer variation of the same bristle. A large proportion of the WCW range of brush heads feature a dual trim.
Flocked and Unflocked Bristles
This refers directly to the bristles themselves, bristles are either categorised as flocked or unflocked (sometimes flagged/ unflagged). Flocked bristles are split at the ends to create smaller filaments. This gives the brush a softer feel, and a sponge like cleaning effect. This softer bristle makes it perfect for cleaning surfaces that are a little more fragile, such as leaded windows or solar panels.
Most Window Cleaning brushes are unflocked (or unflagged), generally they provide a deeper clean with less pressure, and hold less dirt. Some of our popular options for flocked (or flagged) bristles can be found via the links below:
Vikan OVAL 10" Flocked Brush Head
Stiff Bristle Brushes
Stiff bristle brushes offer exactly what you might expect. These include a short, rigid nylon bristle and are brilliant for cleaning stubborn dirt. Currently we only stock a single Stiff bristle brush, take a look at that here:
Vikan 9.5" Hi-Lo Stiff Radius Brush
Brush Shape
Brush heads used for Window Cleaning generally fall into two categories, these are rectangular and sill brush heads. Rectangular brush heads are the classic shape of brush head, this shape lends itself to Window Cleaning, and allows brush heads to remain lightweight. Take a look at our most popular rectangular brush heads:
FaceLift® Phoenix 14" Lightweight Brush
FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Dual Trim Brush
Sill brush heads, also known as Hi-Lo or Radius brush heads, are angled so that the bristles splay in two directions. In doing so it allows the operator to clean frames, sills & crevices with ease, covering the sill of the window as you clean the bottom of the frame. Some Sill brushes angle in a number of directions, making them even more versatile. Take a look at our most popular Sill brush heads:
FaceLift® Phantom 12" DuPont® SILL Brush
FaceLift® SIDE-LINE Ultra Radius Brush
Further Considerations
Delivery Jets
All brushes come as standard with Pencil or Fan Jets (chosen when ordering online), these refer to the way the water is delivered to the windows.
Pencil Jets deliver water directly to the window, whereas Fan Jets spread the water over a greater area, in a mist like effect. Both jets have benefits, depending on their application.
Rinse Bars are a slightly newer development and offer brilliant functionality. They may be used alone as a rinse system or in conjunction with pencil or fan jets. The rinse bar delivers water through multiple narrow jets, giving a wide coverage. Rinse Bars are purchased separately and can be retrofitted to a number of brush-heads (pictured below is the FaceLift® Phantom DuPont® Dual Trim Brush - 11")
Important Terminology
Glass is generally classified according to type - understanding each can help you choose the perfect delivery jets
Hydrophilic Glass
Hydrophilic surfaces hold water. How this translates to Window Cleaning is that water will hold on the window and 'sheet' over the glass allowing the rinse to quickly clear all the dirt from the glass. This type of glass is more common, particularly for domestic cleaning.
Hydrophilic glass can be quickly cleaned with any preferred delivery jet
Hydrophobic Glass
Hydrophobic surfaces repel water. How this translates to Window Cleaning is that water will bead and clear quickly from the window. This makes it difficult to rinse the whole window as the water does not create the distinct sheeting effect and so some spots can be easily missed. This type of glass is sometimes found in a commercial cleaning environment.
Hydrophobic glass can be quickly cleaned by fan jets or rinse bar
Head back to the Starting a Window Cleaning Business Hub to find more information.
