Which brush should I use?

Why are there so many different brushes?

Which brush is best for my work?

The reality is that an experienced window cleaner using a water-fed pole system is able to clean most windows with most types of brushes. However, each brush performs or feels different on the glass. Some brushes are particularly suited to specific types of windows or to certain techniques. Window cleaners often choose a brush through trial and error—and sometimes by choosing the wrong one.

Our brush guide helps you narrow down your choice based on the different characteristics of the brushes, the type of work you carry out, and the “feel” of each brush.

Are you new to window cleaning with a water-fed pole system and have no previous experience with brushes?

In that case, we recommend that you start with the Ultimate Medium-Soft brush if you use cold water, or the Super-Lite Stiff brush if you use hot water. These are good starter brushes and will give you a solid baseline, so you have something to compare against when choosing brushes in the future.

GARDINER BRUSH RANGE – OVERVIEW

Super-Lite® – The original full-bodied Gardiner brush with long bristles. An excellent all-round brush with a long lifespan.

Ultimate™ – A lightweight brush with compact bristles for everyday use. The brush offers an excellent balance between weight and a long lifespan.

Karme - Universal™ – A robust all-in-one brush that can reach into corners, frames, and window surrounds. It features durable side bristles that protect the brush from impact and wear during use. It is also particularly well suited for façades, gutters, and conservatory roofs.

Supreme™ – Extra-wide bristles – feel very soft and light on the glass, while still providing some ability to clean window frames. Minimal pressure is required to achieve a light spread of the bristles. Due to the compact, rounded-edge design, there is also minimal impact against the frame.

Xtreme™ – The lightest Gardiner brush – everything has been reduced to the absolute essentials to give the brush an extra-light weight, without compromising cleaning performance. For those for whom low weight matters more than long lifespan. It is also well suited for narrow areas such as balcony railings or hard-to-reach windows.

Xtreme™ Karme – A lighter version of the window frame brush. Everything has been reduced to the absolute essentials to provide effective window and window frame cleaning without extra weight. Removable side protectors are included as optional extras. For those for whom low weight matters more than long lifespan.

GARDINER BRISTLES – OVERVIEW

Mono-Filament – Each bristle has a straight-cut end, which provides optimal water flow through the bristles. This type of bristle is a good all-round option for most cleaning tasks. It is particularly well suited for those who want to rinse directly on the glass. The stiffer versions of these bristles are also best suited for higher water temperatures.

Split-tipped bristles – Each bristle end has softer, split tips that work in a similar way to microfiber. This provides a soft feel on the glass, removing dirt even when it is stuck to the glass or on painted surfaces. Split-tipped bristles are most suitable for off-glass rinsing. If you are cleaning leaded windows, these bristles are also best suited for off-glass rinsing – especially on single-trim and Ultimate split-tipped brushes.

DuPont® – This is an abbreviation for DuPont Nylon – nylon has greater moisture-absorbing properties than standard polyester bristles. With its fine bristle tips combined with nylon, DuPont is effective at quickly removing dirt from the glass surface with minimal applied pressure. This brush is also well suited for rinsing directly on the glass.

TaperTec™ – Finely tapered synthetic bristles with dual height and double bristle tips. The very finely tapered bristles mimic the effect of natural bristles, such as pig bristles, but with more firmness. This provides a soft feel that responds to even very small amounts of dirt on the glass surface. The slightly shorter end bristles in each bundle can then act more aggressively when pressed slightly harder against the glass.

SEE THE BRUSH GUIDE BELOW FOR MORE SPECIFICATIONS OF EACH BRUSH

* Conservatory roofs, façades, gutters, glazing, PVC, opaque polycarbonate (not clear polycarbonate)
** Painted and polished cladding and surfaces. Also suitable for clear polycarbonate
***brush weight only, excluding fittings and nozzles

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