Any beginner to window cleaning needs to have a window cleaning belt and bucket combination. This allows you to carry around your washing wand and squeegee with ease. It also keeps the inside of homes and businesses from getting wet. While at the same time helping give you a little extra water which can also be very handy when up on a second story on the outside. You don’t want to go up and down the ladders more then you have to.
As you probably have seen when checking out window cleaning gear, there are a few belt types to choose from. The most basic is the heavy duty nylon belt which can work fine but it does not hold your holster bucket and other accessories well on the belt and the weight of every thing pulls on the belt so that it does not lay flat very well and it begins to cut into your side. Over the period of a long day it becomes uncomfortable.
The other type of belt which I recommend is made by Unger, called the Ergo Tech Padded Belt which like it says is padded and allot thicker. It feels nice on your hips and does not cut into you, it also holds up better with all the utilities hanging off your belt.
The nice thing about the belts and buckets is that you can interchange things. I for example like the Ergo Tech belt by Unger, but I like the Pulex holster that comes in fixed or detachable loop. The detachable loop allows you to quickly remove your bucket without having to take your belt off. It also hangs a little lower keeping your shirt drier. The only down side of the detachable holster is that when it hangs lower it can have an effect on your leg, some times creating drag resulting in a sore leg. Also sometimes it gets in the way when you are moving ladders as it tends to swing more. So you might choose the fixed loop instead as it is closer up and hugs your hip a little more. The only down side to that is you get wetter from having the brush up against you.
One thing to consider is the splash guard which can help keeps you drier as well. Window Cleaning can be a soaking wet experience at times. The drier the better as you do not want to be wet inside your clients homes or businesses if you can help it.
There are other buckets besides the Pulex and they work just the same, however some buckets do not hold all squeegees as well as others and they have different slot options. For example the Pulex will hold my Sorbo Squeegee or Channel but my Ettore bucket will not. The Unger bucket has a spot for a hand razor that I do not use. I use a six inch scrapper so that spot is useless to me. The Pulex has three different slots to hold more than one squeegee which is another great option I love about that bucket.
For me I do not prefer one brand only, but instead I mix and match my equipment with the products that work best for me. Trial and error will get you where you want to be. You might try a few different buckets and belts, as everyone has their own preferences.
If you are looking for more great articles on window washing just check us out at San Diego Window Cleaning or Carlsbad Window Cleaning.