Ladder Safety for Inside Cleaning

1

What are you currently using to keep extension ladders on the inside of customers homes from slipping on tile or hardwood floors?

2

Xtenda Legs

I cant even believe when I see a ladder on a truck with out them. These are 100% mandatory for me (and I think should be for every ladder being used in the world). Always check the feet for pebbles before taking it inside!

The rubber feet have always been sufficient for me, but I have used a slip guard years ago (don’t currently have one) when floors were crazy slick, but with proper landing and clean feet, the Xtenda Leg has been sufficient.

3

We use black perforated tool box matting. Seems to have good grip and protects the floor.

4

my GMC truck mat has lots of small rubber spikes on the underside in a denser pattern than most floor mats that have gripped any smooth floor surface super well

they crush down with the ladder weight and aren’t going anywhere

of course a just oiled wood floor is a different story, but i haven’t run into that in ages

5

Rubber mat.

6

is anyone using anything that would be sufficient for OSHA?

7

no ladders inside. moerman ex2 pole angle adapter
@Kyle this can be tricky to master so a good back up is unger pads. the hard pads are great for touch ups once the window is mostly clean. so you do the window with the moerman fliq/squeegee then detail the bottom edge only with a cloth over the sqeegee using the 40 degree setting and quickly over the whole glass with an unger hard pad lightly dampened with purified water.
better safer faster
the angle adapter allows you get to the bottomeven past deep ledges and up under blinds, it just makes the setup a hundered times more valuable. talk to me on voxer if you like

1 Like
8

I’ve alway’s just gone a little steep if the floor’s slick.
xtenda legs, check. get them.
extention ladder, nope. stacks are much easier to get where you want to be off the side of a frame rather than above or below it.
(that alone could possibly de-rail the topic)

The ANSI regs are slowly leaning towards the impossible…
(another topic de-railer)

Unless you’re willing to bring in scaffolding… just be responsible and safe;
go a little steep and use the right equipment (pole if possible).

cheers

3 Likes
9

oh, them . . .

10

Right tool for the job makes less labor intensive and time. For years I have setup my extensions on rubber non-slip mats and a standoff. My temp and I once manhandled a 40 foot ladder inside a huge home to reach top windows of an atrium. I cleaned while he ensured the feet stayed steady on the rubber mat. It did take the two of us to set it up and take it down carefully. I just had a job a week and a half ago where I had to setup my 24 just inside the door to get a huge arching window cleaned, it hadn’t been cleaned in like 17 years! Nose to glass made the job so much easier.

11

where are you buying your rubber mats?

12

You can get them anywhere. Target, Home Depot, janitorial supply.

13

Rubber mat, works great.

14

Not to derail, but these Xtenda Legs, are they the ones with the orange rubber feet? How are those for outdoor use, I am a little uneasy about putting those on due to slippery outdoor surfaces (morning dew on the grass, ect) and that would scare the hell out of me. However, I am just assuming— I’d love to hear from those who bought them— I know a LEVELER is a game changer, but those rubber bottom feet throw me off (I’m used to the sectional bottom swivel feet)

Back to topic— If I am going 3+ pieces, I simply require someone to hold the bottoms-- or vice versa. It is not worth the risk to make a few hundred dollars when your medical bill would be a few hundred thousand. I have never used those rubber mats, but boy after seeing some of you review it-- I think I will have to go add this to the arsenal.

15

[quote=“KDCleaningServices, post:14, topic:52117, full:true”] I’d love to hear from those who bought them— I know a LEVELER is a game changer, but those rubber bottom feet throw me off (I’m used to the sectional bottom swivel feet)
[/quote]

I think you’d be surprised, in 25 years I’ve had two slide outs.

first one: trying to set up on two inches of freshly blown bark dust on an incline. My fault, I should of known better and nothing would of prevented a slide except sweeping aside the bark. (which I didn’t do)
second: entry window above front door over hardwood floor. I caught the ledge and had to have the homeowner stand on the feet to get down. The maids had put “pledge” on the floor to make them ‘extra shiny’ (wtf…)
I cleaned the feet and floor of wax and had no issues.

They work pretty damn good, two close calls (that were both my fault for not paying attention) with no injury or damage to property makes me give a glowing endorsement.

Try 'em, you’ll like 'em.

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16

Thanks jimmy, I think I will do just that. I’m just getting “old” in my ways (16 years habit)-- time to expand the horizon!