Over the years, I have tried many ways of cleaning louvres. Damp cloths, traditional window cleaning tools, specialist gadgets and eventually my own methods and tools. This article explains what actually works, what doesn't, and the method I now use after cleaning thousands of louvre windows.

For most gutter cleaning, your hands are actually one of your best tools. But there are places where putting your hand in is exactly what you should not do. Downpipes can be narrow and difficult to see into. There can be sharp screws protruding from the sides, pieces of metal roofing, sticks and compacted debris. If you grab a handful of debris, your hand becomes bigger, making it even harder to pull back out. I've even had gloves catch inside downpipes. After years of cleani

Some screens lift straight out. Some have springs, tabs or plungers. Others have twist locks or clips. Some need the window itself removed first. Occasionally you'll come across a screen that seems to have been made just 1 mm too large for its opening. I've been cleaning windows professionally for 25 years, and I've come across a lot of different designs.

I tested six brands of 0000 steel wool on glass. Marks, clogging, rust and comfort, scored out of 25. The dearest one finished last. Here are the results.

There are probably over a dozen different fly screen designs out there. But they all fall into three broad types, and knowing which one you're dealing with changes everything. Type 1: Sits inside a groove in the aluminium window frame These screens live in a channel that runs around the inside or outside of the frame. When the channel is on the inside, to get them out, you often need to remove the sliding window first, then the screen slides or lifts free from the

After 25 years cleaning windows, I knew exactly what tool I needed. The problem? It no longer existed. So I did what any slightly obsessed tradie would do: I made my own. What followed was a crash course in plastic injection moulding, overseas manufacturing, and the humbling realisation that the more you learn, the more there is to learn.

Every window cleaner knows the feeling. You've carefully squeegeed the glass, stepped back, and there it is: a soapy dag, a mineral deposit, a stubborn mark that a microfibre won't touch. The answer, as all good window cleaners know, is 0000 steel wool. It's been the answer for decades. The problem has never been the steel wool itself. It's been everything about how you hold it.

There are tools in your kit that do just one thing. A fly screen remover removes fly screens. A squeegee pulls water across glass. A hose reel winds a hose. Then there are the small, almost forgettable tools that quietly solve five annoying problems every single day. The Snap Wrap is in that second category. It’s cheap. It’s light. It simple. And it ends up getting used constantly. Here’s how window cleaners actually use it. 1. Fastest Way to Set Up a Water Fed Pole Wrap the

After 20 years cleaning glass professionally, here's why 0000 steel wool is the one tool I was wrong to avoid, and how to use it without scratching a thing.

Sick of your ladder slipping at the worst moment? The XPRT Grip Clip is a lightweight, easy-to-use ladder stabiliser that clamps securely to gutters in seconds. Invented by a tradie after too many close calls, it’s built for real-world use—fast, strong and actually gets used. Learn how this Aussie-made tool went from idea to essential safety gear for tradies and DIYers.

Most gutters can handle a bit of leaf litter. It’s the hard stuff like broken tile bits, nails, plastic offcuts that causes real blockages. The XPRT Gutter Tongs are built to reach into awkward spots your hand can’t, grab debris before it gets lodged in your downpipes, and save you a costly plumber visit. Designed by a pro who’s cleaned thousands of gutters, these aren’t your average BBQ tongs.

I didn’t realise aluminium kicks like a mule. One chunk of cut-off metal barely missed my wife’s car (this was literally in the garage). I also learned not to wear a good shirt while cutting - the hot metal filings melt straight into the fabric.

Invention is messy, slow, and often frustrating — but when it clicks, it’s worth every failed part and dead-end phone call. If you’re a builder too, let’s talk.

When I moved into a house with louvre windows, I thought cleaning them would be a breeze — I’ve got over 20 years of pro window cleaning under my belt. But the next morning, in different light, I saw all the smudges I’d missed. That moment kicked off a wild invention journey: testing triggers, custom hoses, and experimenting with plastic tips — until I finally built the perfect tool for the job. This is the story of how the Louvre Gun was born.