Must haves for residential window cleaning?

[Ken Raddon]

LOL that was supposed to be a link to a window cleaning T-Bar scrubber.

 

[Mike Krall]

Good idea Grant . Money to be made . Slickest system I've ever seen used deionized water . Whole unit fits on a dolly in the van . Water poles and brushes and hoses take up the rest of the room .
Larger panes ( office buildings ) Ettore Squeegee Off does a beautiful job inside or out . Residential and smaller panes I like SprayWay glass cleaner . Does a great job with a microfiber towel and smell is wonderful . Dang stuff smells so good I want to lick it off the glass !! Think that's a NO , NO !! LOL !! I just spray some on a separate towel and wipe the frames etc. down .
All the Best, Ed

Ed you should come work for me. I have 42 cans of Sprayaway in inventory. It will be like having your own field of spring flowers to tend to.

 

[Pinosan]

Damn Martin is there anything you don't do?

Nope.

 

[Pinosan]

This is something I thought about doing in the warmer months up my way.
No one in my area offers it and annually we have someone come out from out of the area and do windows at our house and a few others on the street.
Question
Do you usually also do the inside of the windows too?
My wife always has them come inside and do that as well.
To me it is only half a job if they are only washed on the outside.
Also if washing inside , you need to take screens off.
Extra care obviously from splashes etc when inside windows are done.
How does one look after the detailing of the inside windows ?
Grant

Grant... We don't clean windows as an advertised service nor we promote our business as window cleaners. We turn over homes fro realtors and PM's. So everything has to be done. Windows, floors etc etc. So, yes, we clean them inside outside and we wash screens.
We seldom do the cleaning for regular clients and when it happens is because they asked us to do it not because we promote it. So I think your questions can be better answered by a person more dedicated in window cleaner.

 

[emeraldclean]

Grant... We don't clean windows as an advertised service nor we promote our business as window cleaners. We turn over homes fro realtors and PM's. So everything has to be done. Windows, floors etc etc. So, yes, we clean them inside outside and we wash screens.
We seldom do the cleaning for regular clients and when it happens is because they asked us to do it not because we promote it. So I think your questions can be better answered by a person more dedicated in window cleaner.

Thanks for your reply. You mentioned that Johnny was welcome to a ride along as you do window cleaning almost daily.
You answered my question nicely Martin. Proper job is windows washed inside and out including screens.
One could give homeowner the option.

 

[Pinosan]

Thanks for your reply. You mentioned that Johnny was welcome to a ride along as you do window cleaning almost daily.
You answered my question nicely Martin. Proper job is windows washed inside and out including screens.
One could give homeowner the option.

most times when the home buyers call me back to do them again, they want them on both sides and the screens washed again. I have a friend who does this for a living and he has different programs that involve out side or inside or both. screens no screens etc. He is doing pretty well. most his accounts are monthly. has 6 people crew working full time mon through sat.

there is money to be made on WC. I'm feeling tempted to invest in a medium quality water fed pole system. I have seen some that are a bit under 2K including 2 brushes and the cylinders.

 

[chad9229]

This is something I thought about doing in the warmer months up my way.
No one in my area offers it and annually we have someone come out from out of the area and do windows at our house and a few others on the street.
Question
Do you usually also do the inside of the windows too?
My wife always has them come inside and do that as well.
To me it is only half a job if they are only washed on the outside.
Also if washing inside , you need to take screens off.
Extra care obviously from splashes etc when inside windows are done.
How does one look after the detailing of the inside windows ?
Grant

From my experience, washing inside windows can take just as long as cleaning the outside due to the moving of furniture, opening window blinds, moving items off window seals, & making sure that there is not much water dripping. Also, having to bring an extension ladder to clean high up windows can be a hassle because of the hazards of trying to avoid hitting valuable items or scratching floor or walls. If you clean windows that are in the sun, you sometimes can make the window look worse due to water spots and the soapy water drying quicker. I always took off my shoes or wore shoe covers when I went inside. Inside windows don't get as dirty as outside windows, so many of my customers had us clean in and out one time a year and only outside the other times during the year. The most important window in the whole home is the window above the kitchen sink, if there is one. This is where most wives look outside the most. That window needs to be almost spotless, in&out.

 

[ACP]

we just started our window cleaning but the guy doing it has been doing it for about 10 years off and on, he seems to be really good at it.

get high quality ladders, not what you find at home depot but more a specialty shop. They will be heavier but they dont sway side to side at all or flex one bit even when our 30ft is fully extended it feels really safe to be on. Also added the stabilizers, and the adjustable feet for when you have a bit of a slope.

They werent cheap but you are taking a bit of a risk being up that high if you start doing this regularly

 

[BendJanitorial]

It took me awhile to figure out window washing. What helped me the most was watching youtube videos then going outside and cleaning my own windows practicing those techniques that I had watched. If I remember right Unger and Ettore had good training videos. I use Unger wash with a few drops of ecover dish soap for my wash.

 

[jtsunbrite]

Some soaps are good but nothing like the squeegee soap my stepfather makes nothing. I've tried them all.

how much would you charge to clean the windows in a house
I have a house next week that wants the windows done, I am fixing to buy all the stuff off your list

 

[jtsunbrite]

I did residential Windows for high end homes for 5 years while I was in college. Easy money if you can get the high end customers. Bucket on a belt is essential, razor blade with a handle is good. Good sturdy 4ft or 6ft step ladder. You need two different type of towels, your slop towel over one shoulder and your medical scrub blue towel over the other. Slop towel is to dry squeegee before you put it to another window plus to wipe down window seals. Scrub towel is to wipe the edges. A good scrubbing mop with handle is essential. Good set of ear phones to listen to your favorite tunes or sports talk. Many other tips I can give you. I would pick washing windows over carpet any day.

is there a charge rate you go by?

 

[Hawkins]

is there a charge rate you go by?

What do you plan on doing? Glass, frames, screens? This all plays a part. If it's just the glass and I'm talking window pane, exterior only, not window frame both sides, then start between $2 to $5 a piece. Usually walking up to a window about $2 to $3 bucks. Getting on a ladder between $3 to $5. Really high on third floor $10 a piece. If you get a water fed pole it will save you a lot of time and you could decide to charge a little less to show the value in savings to your customer. Hope this helps.

 

[Hawkins]

@jtsunbrite if you come across hard water and they want you to remove it, I charge $35 to $50 an hour for that crap no if ands or buts and I will spend a maximum of a half hour trying to get it off each window unless I'm making really good progress on said window then I will spend a little more time. After a half hour if it don't look like it's coming off then it probably is not, move on.

 

[Hawkins]

I know a half hour seems daunting but if you have really good hard water removers then you'll find some only take about 5 minutes to clean. Be careful with the acids.

 

[smart n kleen]

how much would you charge to clean the windows in a house
I have a house next week that wants the windows done, I am fixing to buy all the stuff off your list

$6 a window. That's two pieces of glass and a screen. Bay kitchen windows $15. French panes .50 each. Three pieces of glass and two screens $8. Brush all screens and out side tracks. I'd pick up a black dust pan brush from home depot.

 

[smart n kleen]

is there a charge rate you go by?

Minimum $60 per hour you by yourself.

 

[smart n kleen]

What do you plan on doing? Glass, frames, screens? This all plays a part. If it's just the glass and I'm talking window pane, exterior only, not window frame both sides, then start between $2 to $5 a piece. Usually walking up to a window about $2 to $3 bucks. Getting on a ladder between $3 to $5. Really high on third floor $10 a piece. If you get a water fed pole it will save you a lot of time and you could decide to charge a little less to show the value in savings to your customer. Hope this helps.

No waterpole on residential. Looks better when done by hand.

 

[smart n kleen]

@jtsunbrite if you come across hard water and they want you to remove it, I charge $35 to $50 an hour for that crap no if ands or buts and I will spend a maximum of a half hour trying to get it off each window unless I'm making really good progress on said window then I will spend a little more time. After a half hour if it don't look like it's coming off then it probably is not, move on.

Buy crystal clear 550 by abcwindowcleaning.com.

 

[Hawkins]

Buy crystal clear 550 by abcwindowcleaning.com.

Have some. Works good but for someone starting out it might not be the best option until they get used to acids. CC550 will etch glass real quick especially on a hot day if one is not careful. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[MikeGaure]

The basics tools you need to clean your windows well are:

• bucket
• rags
• ladder
• dishwashing detergent: Often commercial bought window cleaning fluid is a needless expense and not as good
• squeegee: a good quality squeegee is essential
• window cleaners mop head
• window cleaners pole: depending on how high your windows are

Would agree on dishwashing detergents, we do some house cleanings and avoid Windows. We send them to a man I know well he does Windows and all he uses Is dish soap. He also does high end homes, hotels you name it. He does very well. Also has a water pole he uses for high buildings