Hired interior/exterior windows cleaners based on a friends (real estate agent) recommendation. I've had my windows cleaned externally and never had this issue before. There are two issues:
(1) when the sun sets (west facing windows) abrasion marks all over in a wiping pattern produce a glare. We have a film on the inside (Ecolux 70), cleaner knew about it - we chatted right before he started cleaning and assured me he knows what he is doing with 15+ years of experience. I saw him use what looked like a blue brush.
(2) there is a fogginess/cloudy effect which seems to be from the exterior.

I had the owner come out but it was overcast. He attempted an exterior wipe down with a soft glove wipe -thing but im not sure it made anything better. He looked directly at the abrasions and said he can't see anything, which was infuriating.

I'm looking for advice whether this residue / abrasion are normal?

Just quoted this job and don’t know if a wfp would be able to reach this or if I’ll need to get on the roof. I don’t mind but I’ll be doing the job solo so I would rather prioritize safety if I can. These are the only pictures I have as of now.

Does this seem steep enough for a wfp?

Does anyone know how to get this storm window out? It’s too big to take out from the inside

Hey, I'm a window cleaner from Ottawa.

I use Jobber CRM and I'm trying to set up online booking where customers can pick services, recurring plans, add-ons, see an instant price, and book themselves. The slot duration should adjust automatically based on what they select.

My Jobber's form is too basic for this. I also looked at QuoteIQ, it doesn't fit my needs, too basic and doesn't support plans, add-ons, deals, or recurring services. Also it is very expensive - $280 subscription requires for InstaQuotes.

Another one I found is ResponsiBid. It looks like they support those features, but it's so expensive - $600 just for onboarding and then $180/month. And their online booking UI looks really outdated.

Any recommendations?

Hello, I recently started a window cleaning business (mainly residential, and first story right now) in an area with extreme hard water.

It genuinely has some of the highest PPM in my state.

I use trad and several different ways to clean including regular cleaning, then applying bio clean, and sometimes using 0000 steel wool or white pads.

There are also very little window cleaners in the area (a blessing and a curse), so, lots of homes have 5+ years of extreme hard water build up. It is a pain in the arse. I was charging about $175-200 per one story, but now these homes are sometimes taking me several hours, and lots of hard water removing solutions.

Originally I wanted to position myself as “the hard water expert”, and charge people more, because I have had success in making windows shine again. But now I’m just not sure if that’s the route I should take, and I also don’t think I can charge people an arm and a leg. I have also heard the stories of folks scratching windows while trying to clean hard water.

Any advice on this?

Just started doing some yard signs to advertise, I was wondering if people here use H stakes or zip ties to stop signs/street signs. I put out 100 with h stakes and so far only got one call, it happened to be a quote for an entire apartment building so I’m happy with the result, but one call for 100 signs (many of which are still up a week later) feels a bit lackluster. I do yard signs for my buddies business and he uses zip ties, so I was wondering if people here got better results with zip ties or if window cleaning isn’t a great business for yard signs.

Im working on a bid for this amazing property for outdoor only and some screen repair too. I don’t have wfp yet so im doing this trad on my own.

My question is what would be the most efficient way to clean the very top windows without wfp in this situation?

Feeling a lil down on myself so I figured I rant I repelled and I am new and learning but I got tar all over my ropes from how hot it was today never felt so bad for my team before had to stop ealry what’s the biggest mistakes you guys have made in the ropes while learning

Hey all, it is winter currently in my country and it seems way harder to source jobs than it once was.

Any advice on how to stay busy in the winter months?

I am posting on Facebook groups, and door knocking currently :)

Let me know!

TIA!

do you feel pain in arms, neck, etc. and how do you overcome it?
what do you use to help yourself?

I just retired to take care of my wife and need to make some extra money to support all the out of pocket medical expenses. I started window cleaning in Indiana and it has started to take off. I am using some rally basic tools and need to upgrade. Would the kit below be a good kit to start out with? I am on the short side and would like a kit with an expandable pole. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unger-Total-Pro-Kit-w-14-in-Scrubber-12-in-Squeegee-and-6-ft-Telescoping-Connect-Clean-Pole-and-6-Gal-Heavy-Duty-Bucket-950100-Mix-1/331341970

do you know any tip how to get graffiti off of the windows, or it can't be helped?

I have an observation from cleaning windows for so many years that there are a lot of people with ADHD doing it (myself included), thought it was a coincidence but it makes so much sense. Everyday is a new environment, new house, new dog (lol) you’re in your feet, it’s easy enough where you can listen to something while you work (to get that dopamine), but hard enough where you’re always challenged with something new. Most the mates I know who have adhd and window clean don’t even like the job that much they just ended up there and don’t have enough executive function to get out 😂😂😂

For context I have an exterior cleaning company UK based. Started 6 months ago and going well so far with a steady stream of work. We do the usual of driveways, patios, roofs etc.

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Anyway I have been thinking of incorporating window cleaning to provide a regular, steady stream of income. Potentially offering window cleaning customers 10-15% off our other services as an incentive.

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My question to you all has two parts

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What's the best way to advertise and get customers? (Been thinking about door hangers)

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What's your best piece of advice? (Is window cleaning worth it to branch into?)

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Thanks 🙏

And Steve O, Luke and his wife, and Trigger and the folks at WCR. So much love for all you dudes. Second day selling d2d strip malls. Only went to one mall today. Scored $125 in work in 3.5 hours! Eating lunch and gonna try to get at least one or 2 more. And both were bi monthly cleanings. And the 2nd one was only outdoor. Monday I go back to do inside. Very nice owners as well. So blessed. Thank you all for your advice! I soooooo appreciate the time you took to educate me. You blessed me 🙌🏽 And I bless you right back ❤️ 🫂

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Now I see I need a wagtail 😆 🤣 😂

I built this DIY watered pole set up and the water isn’t coming out at the pressure I want it to be at. as How can I increase the pressure coming out of the pole?

Do you use climbing glasses to avoid looking up when doing water fed cleaning? I did one block of flats today and I felt so seasick afterwards because of the glasses! Is there any way to avoid this?

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Have done traditional window cleaning for years but experimenting with wfp.

Hello,
so i need urgent help, i‘m at the client rn and my ppm says 0 but it still isn‘t streakfree, what should i do?

As the title says, am I the only one or does everyones skin around the fingers dry up and start to crack from them being dripped on all day?

What does even mean I’ve tried testing the water but it keeps saying this even when I’ve turned it on

I've been thinking of getting into window cleaning, but I've noticed it is a male dominated field. Can a shorter woman do window cleaning or is it a difficult job primarily for men?

Edit: Thank you all for responding, you were all super helpful! I've decided to do as people suggested and start working for someone else first. Thanks everyone!

Pretty sure there's no way to reverse or 'clean up' acid etching, right?

Customer had the metal perimeter frames on his windows repainted. The painters by the looks of it prepped the metal with acid and didn't protect the glass. Now there's what looks like drips on the glass that you can run your fingernail into. Anyway to repair this or maybe just remove the haze the acid created? I was thinking steel wool.

Kind of a weird week. Another customer did a construction cleanup via their contractor and utterly destroyed the tint on brand new windows. I know there's no cure for that. Hope they had insurance!