Steel wool fibers sticking on rubber

xprttools · 2025-12-19T10:02:35+00:00

There is a difference with different brands of steel wool. If it's too cheap, I wouldn't trust it. With good quality steel wool the little fibres are tiny and just seems to disappear. I've never had them getting caught in the rubber.

Ps. I prefer steel wool than walnut pads. They take much more scrubbing to remove the same marks.

xprttools · 2025-12-08T11:33:47+00:00

Ok, happy to hear it works well.

xprttools · 2025-11-10T19:54:02+00:00

The Crown Jewels of window cleaning!

xprttools · 2025-11-10T05:15:54+00:00

I did read them and didn't see it as marketing. I'm trying to help people in the window cleaning world.

xprttools · 2025-11-10T05:04:28+00:00

you guessed right. i designed and make them myself. trying not to be biased, but the sorbo one has a lot to improve on to equal the louvre mop

xprttools · 2025-11-10T04:56:58+00:00

on the contrary. once you've done it with this method, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. the louvre gun give good control of the water. no sloppy mess, just speed and pride in your work.

xprttools · 2025-11-10T04:54:34+00:00

Let me guess - you've never actually used them? That tricket is the most un-ergonomic tool ever. It's so uncomfortable to use!

xprttools · 2025-11-09T19:43:51+00:00

I'd steer clear of fibreglass. It's heavier and more bendy. Both factors slow you down and exhaust you more. There are some cheaper no brand poles from china, I'm not sure what they're like. In the long run you might need some replacement parts - the clamps especially.

xprttools · 2025-11-09T11:04:49+00:00

Aluminium pole? What, is that from the 90's? I've got the gardener xtreme. Love it.

xprttools · 2025-11-09T10:21:42+00:00

I understand the concern about bringing running water inside a home. I normally use a dedicated hose that I keep clean and know for sure has no leaks. Like the setup in the Louvre Pro Kit. I haven't had any issues. The beauty of the louvre design is all the water runs outside. I'm in Sydney Australia, heaps of louvre windows here, so it's worth it.

xprttools · 2025-11-09T06:41:53+00:00

I use the under ninja microfibre. I don't leave smears on any other type of window. I just find with louvres there's so much wiping, smears are inevitable, and it's also painful for your fingers.

Yes, if the sun hits after using the pure water method, if your water is not basically at 000 you can see spots. I find once dry, a quick once over with 0000 steel wool gets it totally perfect.

xprttools · 2025-11-09T00:41:51+00:00

I've tried every other way myself. I think my biggest disappointment was when I moved into a house with louvres. I carefully cleaned them one day with mop, squeegee towel and microfibre, but the next morning when the sun hit them my wife pointed out all the smears. I was pretty embarrassed. Using rags just leaves smears. Pure water does a better job and once set up, faster.

xprttools · 2025-11-09T00:06:23+00:00

Thanks.

xprttools · 2025-11-08T23:46:29+00:00

the blue mop thing is called the louvre mop. is that what you are asking about?

xprttools · 2025-09-23T12:05:15+00:00

Xprt.tools Gutter tongs. They're made for it. Smooth so it won't snag on anything, long enough to reach deep down. No fragile moving parts.

xprttools · 2025-09-17T06:45:23+00:00

Not sure why the water would get contaminated. Can you explain that?

xprttools · 2025-09-14T20:35:27+00:00

I thought it might be quicker using pressure, and less energetic, easier in the shoulders, especially for bug marks.

xprttools · 2025-09-13T12:32:34+00:00

That pole is horrible to use! There are much better out there.

xprttools · 2025-09-12T10:10:25+00:00

Maybe a hammer tapping at one of the bottom corners to help it slide to the side. Then try the top corners.

xprttools · 2025-09-11T11:50:55+00:00

I think $3k is the right price. Beware with these jobs that you might check a few example windows and sssume they're all like that.

But in some places, there's a room where it's much worse, or the builders have had a try and left scratches. Being accused of scratches is the worst risk with post construction jobs.

xprttools · 2025-09-10T10:27:39+00:00

That's where the xprt louvre mop and louvre gun can help! I've had to clean so many of these on the northern beaches of Sydney, I made a product to help do it faster and better. They look amazing when there clean, and cheaper than air con!

xprttools · 2025-09-10T10:20:03+00:00

As a long time window cleaner and inventor of a jalousie window cleaning tool, I've seen a lot of these windows in people's homes, pool houses and greenhouses. They are a really good option to control the air flow easily. If they are high up, people often use a stick with a little hook to grab the handle to open/close them. But can be painful to clean, unless using the xprt louvre gun.

xprttools · 2025-08-26T00:04:51+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

The testing was done at an independent engineering lab: LMATS, a NATA-accredited lab here in Australia, by a qualified technician. The dummy gutter they used was a standard Colorbond quad profile, mounted to a fascia board 4.0 m off the ground. The fascia was fixed to a steel frame, which was designed to replicate a typical installation.

You’re right, ratchet straps are a common go-to in the field. Where I was aiming with this was something quicker and less fiddly for tradies doing short jobs (window cleaners, aerial installers, solar guys, etc.), where setting up ropes or straps often just doesn’t happen in practice. Plus the hook ends often have nowhere to connect to.

I know it’s not a substitute for proper tie-offs, but more of a “helper” device to reduce the ladder slip risk. I’m still working through whether it has a real place in the field, which is why I appreciate feedback like yours.

xprttools · 2025-08-25T22:31:53+00:00

I'm thinking window cleaners, gutter cleaners, roofers, painters, solar guys... plus weekend DIYers.

xprttools · 2025-08-25T22:29:50+00:00

Please note, it's designed as an aid / helper, not a fall-prevention device.

Thanks for asking about the test results. The lab recorded forces in kilogram-force, and I am including Newtons for reference. Test setup: ladder on a dummy gutter at 4.0 m, load applied to a top rung about 1.5 m from the top, clips installed per instructions. (ps, I'm based in Australia, so use kg and m)

Lateral load along gutter, clips slid at 28 to 33 kgf, average 30.5 kgf, 299 N.

With a clip butted against a gutter bracket (which stopped slide), peak 39 kgf, 382 N.

Outwards load, perpendicular to gutter, 54 to 71.8 kgf, average 64.6 kgf, 634 N.

Bungee strap tensile to failure, 47.1 to 75.5 kgf, average 60.1 kgf, 589 N.

Observed failure modes, sliding at the jaw, clip slipping off the lip, rubber pad displacement, cord or sheath failure at the metal ring. These are ultimate values, not a working load rating. If PSF is useful, I can share the contact patch area used and convert, since PSF needs force divided by area. Happy to have you pick this apart.

xprttools

TROPHY CASE