What’s the best way to approach cleaning a window that’s partially obscured by a piece of glass, like the one in the photo below (window on the left) using a water-fed pole? The glass prevents me from reaching the lower portion of the window from the ground. I’d also like to clean the little panel of glass front and back. Do I need ladders for this type of situation?
Also interested in advice on how to tackle the large sliding doors set back on a blacony (on the right).
You need a ladder sometime for residential work. Some people refuse to use ladders for safety reasons and make due with a pole, though in this situation unless both windows open and you can reach around then that would be hard. The door I would require inside access. Im not a fan of climbing over a glass balcony wall.
As noted above, unless those windows allow access to reach each other, cleaning the lower sections will be a challenge with the traditional method. Let along, that glass. I never understood the reasoning with that design.
Unless, is the gap between the window and the outer glass pane more than 2” wide? You may be able to “straight pull” both the glass pane and window from right to left if the gap allows. If not, design prohibits full cleaning without removing window sections or that glass pane.
Either the client accepts a substandard job or pays extra for the luxury of ladderwork. The buck stops with the client who didn’t realize or care the architect specified a difficult to maintain feature.
I guess if you had a lot of this sort of work you might develop a prototype fish hook style gooseneck and even attach a gutter vac camera to see what you’re doing.
Thanks for the reply, @Chargingsnail. Yeah, that’s what I thought. This particular community has loads of houses that have this stupid feature (and worse!) so I will likely have to get a ladder or lose out on a lot of jobs. I’mlooking at getting a platform ladder as it’s the safest. Just more money.
I had hoped there was some sort of angular attachment that would allow you to clean inside the gap.
Thanks @Fenster-Journeyman. I had hoped there would already be a tool like that! The cam sounds like a cool idea. OK, so when you create this phenomenal attachment, please let me know! Don’t forget to make universal attachments! lol
Thanks for the reply, @pristineviewcleaners. Yes, the gap is bigger - it’s around 5 or 6 inches. But I’m guessing the “straight pull” method will still require a ladder.
Sorry, I meant up there with a ladder so you are at the window. You can pull down (or fan) from the top to the glass, then pull from one side to the other to catch that bottom section that is obstructing a normal work method.
You can take a few XERO Standard Angle Adapter | Pole Accessories | WCR – WindowCleaner.com and make a shape that drops down behind it, BUT its going to be awefull. With that set up I would either boom it, to get above it and watered, or run like Forrest Gump int he other direction. ~Jersey 862-312-2026
@Jersey is right @Straykitten, that angle would destroy both your control and the amount of pressure you could put on the glass. You would have to work a long time for subpar results. Ladder is best.
Thanks for the reply, @pristineviewcleaners. Yes, the gap is bigger - it’s around 5 or 6 inches. But I’m guessing the “straight pull” method will still require a ladder.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. This particular community has loads of houses that have this stupid feature (and worse!) so I will likely have to get a ladder or lose out on a lot of jobs. 
I’mlooking at getting a platform ladder as it’s the safest. Just more money. 
I had hoped there would already be a tool like that! The cam sounds like a cool idea. OK, so when you create this phenomenal attachment, please let me know! Don’t forget to make universal attachments! lol
