Store Front Window Cleaning Perks

Store front is fast pace, always on the move. You also have a very flexible schedule for completing your end of the deal. It is not uncommon to be a day late; although not recommended, just as long as you come once a week or once a month, whatever your agreement is with your client.

After having started my San Diego Window Cleaning business I have learned the hard way that unlike residential, your customer will pay you once a month and you will need to send in an invoice. However if you are lucky to land some restaurants they will usually give you free food. Store front is also nice in that you almost never need a ladder, but work mostly with a pole. This will make your job easier, and to make it even better, most of your cleanings will be outside only, with an occasional inside.

When you clean store fronts there are a few challenges however, for instance you will almost always need to bring your own water, which can add up if you have a full schedule everyday. At this point you will probably want to get a 50 gallon tank. Also you have to be careful of pedestrians and customers, not to get in their way or cause them to get hurt. When you go to clean the inside you will need to be very careful around signs and merchandise. You don’t want to lose customers by messing up their stuff.

If you don’t have a lot of money to start out with, store front window cleaning mixed with single story homes and commercial buildings will be the best way to go. Once you have made some money try and reinvest as much as possible into equipment that you need for cleaning two and three story homes and commercial buildings. Then you will have the ability to accept all sorts of jobs and direct your business in the area that most appeals to you. 

If you are looking for more great articles on window washing just check us out at San Diego Window Cleaning or Carlsbad Window Cleaning.

Window Washing Professionalism – Don’t Drip

Perhaps one of the most over looked problems with first time window cleaners is dripping water inside the clients home or business. At first the drips go unnoticed by a beginner simply because they are placing all their concern on cleaning the window right. However to your client the drip does not go unnoticed, especially if it lands on a wooden floor or a fabric that stains.

There are some very important things to think about when window cleaning inside to prevent dripping. There are some basic techniques to use and some equipment that can help. I remember when I first started window cleaning and even worse then dripping I spilt my holster bucket inside the home on the rug with brown dirty water. What’s worse is that it happened right in front of the client. Talk about a moment of panic!
The holster is the number one cause of dripping and spills in the home. Make sure to keep an eye on your holster when you are kneeling on the ground. Typically you shouldn’t have to kneel but every house is different and the situations you find yourself in to clean a window. In my case I was kneeling on the ground and to the point where I had forgotten about my holster bucket and the entire thing emptied out on the floor.

So be aware of your bucket at all times. Another thing is to always empty your bucket before you come into the home and wipe it down dry. After you have been cleaning for awhile always empty your bucket on occasion to prevent it from filling up, in case for some reason you do tip your bucket. Also by empting your bucket regularly you won’t have drips coming off your washing wand as you pull it from the holster, or your squeegee for that matter as both sections can do this.

The next best tool if not the best tool to prevent drips from your bucket is to have a drip guard that you can place on the bottom of the bucket which catches water running down the bucket. You only want to place the drip guard on when you go inside to clean. Don’t put it on outside while window cleaning or it will get soaked and wont work when the time is right. When I first got mine I put it on in anticipation because I was excited to use it and it got soaked. So wait until you are ready to begin work inside. Also don’t forget to take it off after wards to dry out.

Besides the drip guard it is always a good idea to pull your squeegee out over top a washcloth and direct your squeegee to the window with the wash cloth underneath to catch any drips to and from the window. This is really important when working over top beds and couches or anything valuable. It also saves you from wiping up any drips on the floor.
Another important window cleaning drip catching method is when you squeegee the window. You can hold your washing wand down below as you squeegee and follow along with your squeegee to catch the dripping from the squeegee. Catching drips with the washing wand works great with sliding glass doors or if the windows are so dirty that the water coming off the window is black which can sometimes stain the windowsill on contact. Staining of the windowsills happens when they have a flat paint with no gloss.

One other method to catch drips is to lay down towels but this is a very time intensive. It is much fast to use the window cleaning wand to catch the drips. No matter what you do, be sure to check for drips on the floor and anywhere near by. It is very unprofessional to leave drips, which can stain and damage the customers property.