One of the great things about living in a free market economy is variety and choice, but the dilemma is always “Which one?” Especially as every vendor says their product is better than the rest. Well I’m facing that dilemma now as I try to decide which strip washers to buy. I am regularly dealing with insect poop (Little black or brown spots that are baked on to the glass.) My porcupine strip washer is insufficient and I am resorting to the scraper which is adding time to the job.
I am leaning toward two but want to get feedback from my fellow professionals before choosing. So, which strip washer are you using and why?
Pulex microtiger:
Pulex IPC Tbar Covers Window Cleaning
Is what you want, its our best selling sleeve and my personal sleeve of choice.
my second favorite sleeve is Unger Tbar Covers Window Cleaning
the monsoon plus.
Are you sure it’s bug poop and not blast fungus coming from the mulch around the home?
I’m not really concerned what it is. I used that as an example of stuff that sticks to glass and won’t come off with a standard strip washer. I could have used dried and baked in bird poop as an example or any number of things.
The point for me isn’t what is on the glass but how best to get it off as quickly and efficiently as possible without having to reach for my scraper every few minutes.
I find that on some jobs you have to use the scraper because of artillery shotgun fungus, bird poop (if I wfp the boars hair brush takes care of this, etc. It’s part of the job.
On my quaterly accounts (when I can’t use the wfp) I use the MicroTiger <a href=“http://shopwindowcleaner.com/window-cleaning-tools/sleeves-covers/pulex-strip-washer-sleeves/pulex-microtiger-sleeve-18.html?SID=708960b1f33f7dacfd7889903ca62a67&a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=5c6f8a42” target=“_top”><img src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/accounts/default1/banners/ipc eagle microtiger microfiber scrubber-2.jpg” alt=“” title=“” /></a><img style=“border:0” src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=5c6f8a42” width=“1” height=“1” alt=“” />
For most of the time I use a good standard microfiber. Either Pulex <a href=“http://shopwindowcleaner.com/window-cleaning-tools/sleeves-covers/pulex-strip-washer-sleeves/pulex-microfiber-sleeve-14.html?SID=708960b1f33f7dacfd7889903ca62a67&a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=fbbe8fc4” target=“_top”><img src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/accounts/default1/banners/ipc eagle microfiber scrubber-1.jpg” alt=“” title=“” /></a><img style=“border:0” src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=fbbe8fc4” width=“1” height=“1” alt=“” /> or Ettore <a href=“http://shopwindowcleaner.com/window-cleaning-tools/sleeves-covers/ettore-strip-washer-sleeves/ettore-pro-microfiber-sleeve-18.html?a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=52e5c6d9” target=“_top”><img src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/accounts/default1/banners/ettore pro plus microfiber scrubber-1.jpg” alt=“” title=“” /></a><img style=“border:0” src=“http://www.shopwindowcleaner.com/affiliate/scripts/imp.php?a_aid=mistersqueegee&a_bid=52e5c6d9” width=“1” height=“1” alt=“” /> because they hold a ton of water so I can do more windows before needing to rewet.
In your area do you have those Japanese Beatles? they look like lady bugs? if that is what the black spots are then your are going to have to scrape. I use a heavy Duty Unger Monsoon washer and it doesnt do anything. I would also let the customer know what the issue is and charge for it. I have several accounts this year that have taken me about 25% longer because of those damn things.
Not sure what they are. I’ve only ever seen June bugs in my area.
+1, great washers!
I don’t like to rely on any particular strip washer for removing bug/bird stuff/tree sap, I’ve used them all. I really like the blue 3M scrub pads, they are safer than your razor blade and you can just tuck them under your belt. I sprinkle a little SORBO polish on them for hard water stains and tree sap, they work great and you can purchase about 4 dozen for $20.
Tony, what exactly is artillery shotgun fungus, do you know if it exists in southern california? also can it be removed with a scraper? every once in a while i will come across a window with black specks all over it and i try to scrape it but my scraper dosent even phase it, is that artillery fungus
Had a Pulex micotiger last summer and loved it. Tried a few others throughout the year. Just got another microtiger and BAM!
The best!
It’s a fungus that shoots spores up to 10 ft from beds of mulch for landscaping. The spores are brownish in color and I use a scraper to remove them quickly and efficiently. It can also be called artillery fungus. Not sure why you can’t remove what you run into w/ a scraper unless it welding slag embedded in the glass. It can look brownish when it starts to rust. I ran into that issue on some windows on my job today. The window is ruined if that is the case.
Welding slag must be what im running into then, i appreciate the info.
the “blue devil” sleeve washer…simply clip it over your existing strip washer and instantly turned into a “heavy” duty scrubber… hope this helps!
I have always used the monsoon - But I may be experimenting with pure water for the insides. In this case I wouldn’t need something that holds a bunch of water. What would you guys recommend for this exact scenario? The micro tiger?
Justin, either the Unger micro or the Pulex micro would be perfect for the insides.
If you want something that doesn’t hold water well at all then the unger monsoon and unger pad are perfect. Barely hold any water at all. Which is why we don’t use them. Might work for your scenario though.
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We use the pulex microfiber exclusively. [/FONT][/COLOR]
This still stays true for me almost 2 years later.
MicroTiger for me, I have a Moonsoon that I could use if it were to get super hot and sunny and I simply needed a ton of water on the window to keep it wet so I could have time to squeegee it.
“I” find the MicroTiger to be a great combo of scrubbing power with water retention, zero complaints, they do wear out and the corners sometimes rip out though, price of business…
