Category: Cleaning

THINKING OF STARTING A WINDOW CLEANING BUSINESS?

Starting a window cleaning business is an attractive venture in almost every sense: you get to be your own boss, there’s no lengthy or expensive training, overhead costs are low, and there’s tons of opportunity to grow.

Still, there is some legwork required to get started, from getting window washing insurance to learning how to price jobs. To take the guesswork out of it all, we asked two window cleaning experts to share what they’ve learned from their years in the business.

Is window cleaning a good career?

In short, yes, window cleaning can be a great career. It’s highly profitable, since you collect payment on the spot, revenue is recurring, and overhead costs are so low. A typical day as a window cleaner includes canvassing, bidding jobs, scheduling visits, handling customer service, and day-to-day operations.

In order to excel at owning a window cleaning company, you need to excel at sales and customer service. You must also be physically fit and ready to handle some rejection, especially during your early days of cold calling and canvassing.

How much do window cleaners make?

The average window cleaning salary is $15-25 per hour, or $30,000-$50,000 per year, going up to $60,000 depending on your region. The average high rise window cleaning salary is higher, starting at $18 per hour. You can also think of your window cleaning salary in terms of jobs: the average residential job is $180. If you complete 3 jobs a day, that’s $2,700 a week in revenue.

Window Cleaner

THE JOB AND WHAT’S INVOLVED

Window cleaners wash windows and other glass surfaces. They are responsible for removing built-up dirt and grime from the glass, and making sure the finished result is clean and free of smears.

Window cleaners work on all types of buildings that have windows and other glass surfaces. These might include private houses, as well as commercial businesses such as shops, factories, hospitals and offices.

The windows are cleaned using water and normally a detergent. These are applied to the glass using a non-scratch applicator and removed using a rubber ‘squeegee blade’. Scrim or microfibre cloth is used for ‘detailing’ (drying off around the edge of the glass) and towelling cloths are used to remove excess moisture from window sills.

Ladders are commonly used to reach ground floor and first floor windows. Health and safety directives govern work at any height above ground level with the aim of reducing the number of falls from ladders. The guidelines advise avoiding the use of ladders wherever possible, so many window cleaners now use a water-fed pole. This pressurised water pump system enables windows to be cleaned at heights of up to 20 metres, without the use of ladders or other heavy access equipment.

Self-employed window cleaners are responsible for agreeing with their customers a price up front, collecting payments and writing receipts, as well as all the other aspects of running a business, such as keeping accounts, completing tax returns and marketing the business. In the case of larger companies or contracts, invoices are often sent direct to the customer, although the window cleaner may have to complete paperwork such as job sheets or time sheets.

How to start a window cleaning business

WELL, WINDOW CLEANING IS NOT ALL ABOUT STEP LADDERS, SUDS, AND BUCKETS. BUT IF YOU ARE REASONABLY FIT OR CAN HIRE REASONABLY FIT PEOPLE, HAVE GOOD ATTENTION TO DETAIL, ARE SELF MOTIVATED AND HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS, WINDOW CLEANING CAN BE QUITE A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS. THE STARTUP COSTS FOR WINDOW CLEANERS ARE LOW AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF COMMITMENT, YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK.

Given its previous bad reputation as a dangerous occupation, you may be forgiven for taking your time before taking the plunge. However, it has been shown that the modern window cleaning professional comes from all walks of life. You can find almost anyone from former hedge fund managers, wife and husband teams, and persons bred in the country and those from the city among many others. Like most easy to start and inexpensive small businesses, the success of your window cleaning business will only be limited by how much passion and commitment you have for the job.

Understand the Startup Costs

The good thing about starting a window cleaning business is that the startup costs are low. While there are some essentials you will need, such as training and insurance for staff, you could get by with bare minimums until you land some good contracts or find funding from somewhere.

You will still have to pay for equipment and essentials such as vehicles to transport your crew to work sites. Other critical things you will need for your startup may include marketing, branding, logo design, website design, and public liability insurance. Before you go any further you need to think about creating a business plan. Having a business plan can really help ensure your business goes where you want it to in the future. Many a small business skip business planning but do so at your own peril.

Investing for your startup may cost a pretty penny, especially for an under-funded startup company. However, you need to buy modern equipment and invest in marketing and training if you want to be taken seriously by potential clients. It is always better to find some financial backing so you can invest in branding, search engine optimisation, buying of vehicles, and modern equipment, all of which are necessary to set the business on a firm footing

WINDOW & GUTTER CLEANING

Window Cleaning Services COVID-19 Update: In line with the latest government advice we can now offer our expert window cleaning services to customers again. To ensure we keep our customers and staff safe we can only accept advance booking and prepayment only for the foreseeable future

A streaky, unclean window may not seem like much of an issue, but it can detract from the overall appearance of your property – the aesthetic of fresh paint and beautifully decorated interiors can be hindered by streaky, dirty windows, so it is important they are as clean as possible at all times.

we can simply use our equipment to reach high windows from ground level. If windows are situated above 65ft, we can use a cradle or cherry picker to clean the windows. This helps keep our window cleaners safe without compromising the quality of the work that we provide. Our window cleaners are Ionic-trained, so they are officially classed as a safe contractor.

purify our own water and use the highest quality equipment. We’re more than happy to set up regular visits to domestic and commercial clients, ensuring we meet every requirement. Our team wear hi-vis uniform and work in a socially-distanced manner, adhering to all Government guidelines.

Gutter Cleaning If you find that your gutters are blocked, it’s critical to have them cleaned as soon as possible as this problem can cause water damage and do structural damage to your property. That is why we now also offer professional gutter cleaning for commercial and domestic properties

Unusual Window Cleaning Facts

Window cleaning might sound like a straightforward job with limited risks and not a lot of excitement – except for the occasional tipped-over bucket of water – but actually window cleaning is a heritage job, with a long history and lots of interesting facts. Sometimes window cleaners have to get a bit adventurous in order to access precarious windows and provide the best results!

Most people clean their windows to keep them looking presentable, but actually a dirty window can be much worse than you think. Not only will natural light and heat reduce, meaning higher energy bills, but the dirt from the environment can actually degrade the glass over time, meaning they won’t last as long.

The most effective tool in a window cleaner’s kit is the squeegee, with a rubber blade for removing all water and dirt. This isn’t a modern tool though, it’s been around since the early 20th century and was first developed

Until scaffolding was introduced to access hard-to-reach windows, window cleaners would often simply balance on window ledges. Leather safety harness were introduced in the the 20th century, around the same time as the squeegee.

Window cleaning is still one of the most dangerous jobs around, with the main risk coming from the height at which most workers carry out their trade. In 1962, four window cleaners lost their lives when the scaffold they were using collapsed.

HOW DO YOU CLEAN COMMERCIAL WINDOWS?

If you have a building with a glass storefront or a lot of windows, it is imperative that you keep them clean. The fact is, dirty, smudged and grimy windows just don’t make a great impression on those coming to do business with you.

While the thought of having to clean all those windows – inside and out – can be a bit overwhelming, with a bit of information, it doesn’t have to be. Use the information here to learn how to clean your commercial property’s windows and keep them looking great

The first step is to gather up everything you will need to handle the job. This will typically include:

A professional grade window cleaning product/solution

Squeegee

Sponge

Window cleaning scraper

Utility bucket

Microfiber cloth

Cleaning Your Windows

The good news is, the process of actually cleaning your windows only requires five steps:

Step 1: Dilute the window cleaning solution, two to one, with water in your utility bucket.

Step 2: Spray the window solution onto the window to be cleaned.

Step 3: If you see any debris, such as paint, stickiness or something else, use the scraper to remove it.

Step 4: Dry off the glass using your squeegee.

Step 5: The microfiber cloth will clean the water away from the edges of the window.

That is really all you have to do. The downside is that you have to repeat this process for the interior and exterior of each glass door and window on your commercial property.

Ammonia: This is a great substance for cutting through grease and removing any signs of fingerprints. But use caution with this, as it can damage tint on glass.

How to Prepare for a Window Cleaning

Windows are an asset in any home, producing natural light and allowing for views of the outside. But when windows are dirty, their aesthetic and health benefits are significantly less

INTERIOR WINDOWS

For the interior portion of the window cleaning it’s very helpful if you please remove all items off the windowsills such as, picture frames, plants/planters, other decorative items that are fragile.

Please keep in mind that side tables should be moved away from windows, as well as fragile, delicate lamps that might tip over. If you have Bay or Garden windows with shelving (usually in the kitchen or bathroom) please clear all objects off shelving and around the window area, so we can have clear access to all the glass.

EXTERIOR WINDOWS

When it comes to exterior window cleaning having clear access to all windows is important as is having enough space cleared away for us to position and set-up our ladders. Here are a few things you can do help make the exterior window cleaning safe and easy.

Patio furniture – please move all furniture away from windows and sliding doors. Please leave at least a 3-foot access area so we can easily set up our ladders and other equipment.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SPRING CLEANING

It’s That Time Of Year Again. Flowers Are Blooming And Birds Are Chirping, Which Can Only Mean One Thing: Time For Spring Cleaning!

Cleaning your house doesn’t seem like an ideal way to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring, but we all know it has to be done.

Have a Plan. If you have a plan before you start cleaning, you will know where to start and where to finish. This will allow you to have better focus, preventing you from getting distracted and leading to a quicker job

Kitchen and Bathrooms. Typically these 2 rooms are the dirtiest in a home and tend to take the most time. If you start with these 2 rooms, then it will be smooth sailing for the rest of the house.

Dilute Cleaning products. Replace one-quarter of the bottle with water to thin out the product. This makes it less sticky and less likely to streak

Don’t apply products directly to furniture or floors. Instead, spray or dampen your cloth before dusting or washing. The saying “a little goes a long way” holds true for cleaning products, too.

Pet Hair. Put on a wet rubber dish washing glove and rub your hand over the “hairy” surface, the hair will stick to the glove. Then you can run it under the tap for easy clean up.

Hard Water stains around sinks and faucets. Soak some paper towels in vinegar and placed them on the areas with hard water. Fill a spray bottle filled with vinegar and spray the towels every time you walk past. After about 20 minutes, take the towels off and scrub the hard water with an old toothbrush. For areas with thick hard water, put the towels back on, spray with more vinegar and wait another hour, keeping the towels soaked in the vinegar. You shouldn’t have to scrub really hard, the hard water will come off easily after the vinegar soaking.

Cleaning your Windows. Forget the old tales of using vinegar or newspaper, you just need dish soap and clean water! But there is a catch….to have clean streak free windows is all in the squeegee technique. It will take some practise but you will get the hang of it. Some tips: Don`t lift your squeegee and have a chamois handy to wipe the glass around the frame. If this doesn`t sound very fun to you, I would suggest giving us a call to book our trained crew to come out and clean the windows for you!

Window Cleaning Tips: How to Remove Kid’s Artwork

Window Cleaning Tips: How to Remove Kid’s Artwork

Many parents and babysitters have answered a phone call or simply looked away for a moment, to come back and find the most glorious artwork on the windows. Don’t throw your hands up in despair.

Helpful Window Cleaning Tips

If you don’t want to stifle your little one’s creativity, but need to be able to see out your windows, here are a few options you may want to check out. They can save you time, and of course peace of mind.

Crayola Window Crayons: The crayons come in a box full of different bold and bright colors, so your little one doesn’t have to give up their favorite color. They go on smooth and are easily washable, so that’s great news for cleaning glass windows. The crayons dry quickly, and can be used in the house, car or any glass surface.

Washable Window Markers: here is a package of more bright colors, only in marker form. They work on windows, picture frames and mirrors.

Window Writers: these marker-like pens are very similar to the washable markers. They still come in bright colors and are easily washed off.

Removing Crayon, Marker and Permanent Marker

There are many ways to remove artwork from your windows, some require careful skill and others just need a cloth. Here are a few simple steps for removing crayon and marker while cleaning glass windows.

If you have used washable markers or crayons:

Spray the decorated area with a glass cleaner.

Using a clean, dry cloth, or paper towel, wipe off the cleaner.

Wipe again with a dry cloth, paper towel or cloth towel

TOP TIPS FOR STREAK-FREE WINDOW CLEANING

Window cleaning is one of those tasks that the majority of people try to avoid at all costs. With all of the spraying, wiping and reaching involved only to end up with streaks that seems impossible to get rid of, it’s no surprise that many people end up hiring a window cleaner to take care of the job for them.

However, getting crystal clear and streak-free windows doesn’t have to be a challenge, it can be a guarantee and all by following a few simple steps. Regardless of whether you are cleaning large bay windows or small bathroom windows, it’s not so much about the elbow grease but the tools that you have on hand.

What Causes Streaks on Windows?

When it comes to the dirt and grime on your windows, there are many different factors that come into play. On the external side of the window, one of the most difficult things to remove is limescale deposits. While many people believe that these white marks on the window are a direct result of rain, the truth is that the majority of them are caused by sprinkler systems and groundwater.

With that said, it is important to note that while rainwater tends to be pure, as it makes its way to the ground, it picks up contaminants and pollutants, such as dust, sand, grit, exhaust fumes and pollen. These contaminated raindrops then hit the window and evaporate, leaving micro deposits behind that create a less than desirable finish to the surface.

Kicking off Your Window Cleaning

If you want to do your windows justice, then you should always begin by giving them a thorough cleanse using warm water and mild detergent. Proper window cleaning detergent is a fantastic way to remove oil from the surface of your windows, which would normally end up streaking when you go to dry them. Water quality should also be taken into account when cleaning your windows.