Window Cleaning News & Video

Angie Hicks, of consumer group Angie’s List, says “What many people don't realize is getting streak-free window is sometimes harder than it looks. Also, window cleaning can be rather dangerous. It's similar to gutter cleaning - if you don't have the right equipment, if you don't have a high enough ladder. We hear way too often of people falling off of ladders and having to head to the ER. So, if you don't have the equipment, hiring someone to have it done may be the best option.” Angie’s List provides these window Cleaning Tips:

· Most homes should get a thorough window cleaning twice a year – ideally in the spring and fall.
· A thorough cleaning can help remove caked on dirt, dried paint, adhesives and calcified water spots, as well as muck from the frames, which can cause windows to stick if allowed to build up.
· The type of cleaning solution and equipment you need varies according to the type of windows you have. With dozens of types of glass, windows often require special cleaning agents and using the wrong one could be ineffective or cause damage. For example, double glass windows are held together with a vacuum that could be compromised if the rubber trim that seals it is damaged by the wrong type of cleaner. If the seal breaks, moisture and dusts can get in the window, making it impossible to get clean.
· Most glass can be cleaned with soap, water and a squeegee. However, some situations will call for specialized cleaning solutions.
· Large panes are best cleaned with a squeegee and a window cleaning detergent solution and finished with detailing cloth to eliminate streaks. Small panes and leaded or stained glass are best cleaned with plain water and specialized window cleaning cloths.
· Minimize the need for extra cleaning by not taping or sticking anything to your windows you don't want to leave there permanently. If you're painting, protect your windows from drips or splatters.
· Window cleaners have the right equipment to take off glue, paint, and other debris that can settle on glass. If you have tinted windows, it takes extra care to clean them. The cleaning of windows also includes the screens and wiping clean the sills.
· If you hire a pro, make sure the company is insured. Because a lot of window washing involves ladders, safety harnesses and scaffolding, precautions are essential to ensure everyone's protection. A lot of damage can be done to glass by someone is who not qualified. You need someone who not only knows how to clean glass, but knows glass and how to maintain in properly.
· Window cleaning prices vary and are often based on the number and size of windows, the time estimated to do the job and the complexity of the job. You could save a few bucks by cleaning the first floor windows yourself, and leaving the second floor, more difficult to reach windows, to a pro. If you clean the windows yourself, do it during a cool, cloudier time of day. The hot sun dries windows faster, which can lead to streaking.

Window Genie® Comes Out of the Bottle to Help Grant Wishes: Window Genie® will raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating $5.00 for every new customer from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. Existing customers will also have the opportunity to support the charity by making donations through their local Window Genie® franchise.
Richard Nonelle, President of Window Genie®, commented on the company's decision to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation, saying, "As a system, we felt strongly about giving back to our local communities and we wanted to do this with an organization that we were passionate about, as well as one that operated with the highest level of integrity." The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. Window Genie® is proud to play a role in bringing joy to children when they need it most.
David Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, is also enthusiastic about the new sponsorship. "Our relationship with Window Genie® does even more than raise resources to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions," he said. "It also shows that our mission resonates with people, and that Window Genie® trusts our ability to turn its generosity into meaningful Make-A-Wish experiences for the children we serve."
Franchise owners throughout the country are geared up to promote the new sponsorship and raise money with each new customer during the upcoming year. Master Franchise owner for the State of Florida, Magnus Sublett commented, "Window Genie® has always been about delivering the best in service, so to be aligned with one of the very best charities and to give back to children in our local community is a great opportunity and privilege."

A Scarborough window cleaner has been cleared of attacking his former lover's neighbour with an axe. At the end of his trial at York Crown Court, Shaun Chapman, 41, was also cleared of causing an affray in the street. Mr Chapman, a recovering heroin addict of Westway, Eastfield, had had a two-month affair with Mary Ireland and, following a series of texts between her and his long-time partner, drove to her home to try and "sort things out". He was then said to have caused a scene, made threatening gestures towards Miss Ireland with an axe and then attacked her neighbour, Richard Gilliam, with the weapon as he wheeled a child along Hertford Close, Eastfield, in a pushchair.
However, a jury cleared Mr Chapman of charges of affray and assault by beating - a further charge of possessing an offensive weapon (the axe) was abandoned on the direction of Judge Shaun Spencer QC before the jury retired to consider their verdicts. Miss Ireland claimed that on August 19 last year, she spotted her former lover in his van outside her house and that, as her made gestures of drawing an axe across his throat and pointing at her, she dialled 999.
David Garnett, prosecuting, then alleged that Mr Chapman had driven his van towards Mr Gwilliam, and attacked him with the axe, causing a minor cut to his leg. Mr Chapman said that the stress of his partner's heart problems and post-natal depression had led to him starting his affair with Miss Ireland, claiming that his mistress had been pestering him to marry her. He added that, after he finished the relationship, Miss Ireland had concocted the assault claims with her neighbour to get back at him.
The window cleaner told the jury that he did not own an axe, and no such weapon was found by the police. He said that, apart from getting out his van to knock at Miss Ireland's door, pulling up two sunflower plants from her garden in anger when she did not answer and shouting from his van, he had left without seeing Mr Gwilliam or anyone else in the street.
Following the verdict, Mr Chapman said that he had been put through "hell" because of the allegations, losing his window cleaning round and having his driving licence taken away because of the claims that he had driven his van towards Mr Gwilliam. He said: "I know I made some mistakes, but I ended the affair after talking matters over with my partner and returning home to her and my two kids." He added: "I just wanted to forget about the whole thing and for people not to believe what was being said about me".

Window cleaner dodges prison after knocking out wife's tooth in fight: A 41 year old man who knocked out his wife's tooth during a fight has avoided jail. Kevin Woolridge struck out at his wife Clare at their home in Queen Street, Cheadle, on the evening of December 17 last year, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday. His hand struck a bottle she was holding and it knocked out a tooth. Woolridge told police he thought his wife was going to hit him with the bottle and struck out to defend himself. The defendant, now of Glebe Road, Kingsley, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Paul Cliff, mitigating, said it was a reckless assault rather than intentional. He said there was no history of domestic abuse and added that Woolridge, a window cleaner, has now separated from his wife. Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Woolridge to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months' supervision and he must attend a domestic abuse programme. He also has to complete 180 hours' unpaid work, pay his victim £1,500 compensation and £1,000 prosecution costs. "Domestic violence is despicable," said Judge Glenn. "It was, however, a single blow and your victim does not suggest you were violent on other occasions."

Charles Edwards considers himself lucky. "Most people I know have been laid off," he said. But Edwards has, somehow, made it through mostly unscathed. The 46-year-old Venice resident's business, Fish Window Cleaning, is still getting calls, which means Edwards rises early and works until 6 p.m. seven days a week. It's a good life, he said, but Edwards knows his is a rare story in his neighborhood. The way he sees it, the area needs more businesses, more warehouses, more people working good jobs. Someone needs to speak up, Edwards said. "I believe the government needs to step in," he said.

Pensioner angry as council binmen only remove bins twice in 9 months: Disabled pensioner John Wootton says he is "disgusted" that a council emptied his bin just twice in nine months. The 67-year-old had a brown bin for garden waste delivered to his Penkhull bungalow in November. Stoke-on-Trent City Council bin men are supposed to collect it from his property and empty it for him. But Mr Wootton says, despite repeated calls to the authority, his bin has only been collected twice since. The retired self-employed window cleaner, below, of Lion Court, said: "It's ridiculous. They are supposed to fetch the bins because we are on an assisted list as we are disabled but they just don't bother. "I'm sick of ringing the council about it. They make promises every time I call them but nothing gets done. I'm disgusted with them." Mr Wootton, who has Alzheimer's and dementia as well as other health problems, has assisted collections for his other two bins. But he says these are emptied without any problems. All three bins are kept at the back of his home. Mr Wootton added: "They come up the path to fetch our other bins, empty them and bring them back. I can't see why they can't do it with the brown one.

Skyscraper forced to replace faulty glass: The developer of the Mantra Pandanas building in Darwin's CBD says every glass panel on the building's balconies will be replaced because of a manufacturing fault. It is believed three glass panels have shattered since they were installed in 2008, including one last week that sent glass showering onto a car parked below. The building's developer, Gwelo, says investigations have revealed that the glass may have been weakened due to a fault in the manufacturing process. The glass panels are manufactured interstate and overseas. Gwelo's Bernie O'Connell says awnings will be installed by Monday to protect pedestrians and cars on the Litchfield Street side of the building. He says the replacement of all glass panels should start in a month and the cost will by covered by the manufacturer. The new panels will include an extra strengthening treatment known as "heat soaking".

Part of Lambton Quay - one of Wellington's busiest streets - has been cordoned off after glass began falling from the 20th storey of a high-rise building. Emergency services were called to 280 Lambton Quay about 2pm after reports of falling glass. The glass was believed to have come from a window dislodged in the wind, central fire communications spokesman David Meikle said. Police cordoned off the area near Panama St and firefighters were working with contractors to secure the window, he said. There were no reported injuries.

ASK THE EXPERTS: Clear rules on accounts - J.M. writes: I work as a window cleaner and I was thinking about hiring an accountant to help with my tax returns. Can I reclaim the cost of the accountant's services as a business expense too?
P.H. replies: For tax purposes, you can claim all costs that you have spent wholly and exclusively earning your business profit. So fees paid for someone to prepare your business accounts qualify as a business expense but any element that relates to your tax return should not. However, for simplicity, Revenue & Customs will usually allow the whole amount you pay to an accountant, provided that excessive personal costs - for example advice on inheritance tax - are excluded.

Benjamin Jose Sanchez, age (51), beloved son, father, brother, and uncle, was called home to be with his Savior Jesus on, July 6, 2010. Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1979 and served on the USS Truxton CGN-35 in Engineering Maintenance. He received an honorable discharge in June 1983. Mr. Sanchez received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kennedy-Western University while working at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oakridge National Laboratory. Ben and Bernadette owned and operated the Sierra Vista Window Cleaning.

Act now to gain tax credit - it may be the last time: Time is running out for thousands of families who have yet to renew their annual claim for tax credits. The end of the month is the deadline for claiming child tax credit and working tax credit for this tax year. It will be the last chance for some claimants to obtain the benefits, as changes announced in last month's Budget mean many middle-earners will no longer qualify for help from next April. Currently, 6.3million families qualify for tax credits. The average payment was worth £78 per week in the last tax year.
Kirsty Webb renewed her tax credits over the phone last week. The 35-year-old nurse and her husband James, 32, who is a window cleaner, receive almost £240 a week. This includes money towards childcare costs. The couple have a son Braydon, 2, and care for three children from Kirsty's previous marriage - Chantise, Keely and Keanan Phillips, aged 16, 13 and 10. Kirsty, from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, says: 'Even with both of us working, it would be a huge struggle to cope without the tax credits. Three days of childcare a week for Braydon costs £390 a month alone, almost as much as the mortgage.'

Two window cleaners in Auckland, New Zealand...



A spate of burglaries in Sutton is being attributed to the warmer weather as residents leave windows open to cool down. At least four separate burglaries occurred over the weekend with thieves climbing in through open and unlocked windows. Overnight on Friday July 9, £5,500 cash and jewellery was stolen from a property in Constance Road after a bedroom window was left open. The householder believes the suspect may have posed as a window cleaner.

Police in Fife are warning residents to be alert to bogus callers in the area, following a string of suspicious house calls in recent weeks. PC Paul Buttercase, community safety officer for North East Fife, said elderly householders are the most vulnerable targets for the criminals who have been encouraging unnecessary gardening work. The ‘workmen’ have been turning up at doors and charging excessive amounts of cash for materials requested ahead of the work, but then it is never carried out. PC Buttercase said: “Bogus caller crime occurs all year round but can be more prevelant during the spring, summer and autumn months.
“The persons involved in this type of crime are callous criminals who often target elderly and vulnerable members of our community. “This type of incident does not just involve gardening work but can include persons claiming to be collecting window-cleaning money, distraction type thefts involving persons pretending to be working for utility companies and persons offering to do or suggesting building work.” PC Buttercase advised residents to use spy holes and chains on doors, and to check people’s identities before opening the door properly.

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Beach lifeguards and county pools survived the budget cutting axe on Monday, but firefighters and the Sheriff's Office could face more cutbacks to head off Palm Beach County's $100 million shortfall. County commissioners decided to avoid some unpopular budget cuts to the Parks and Recreation Department and instead identified more than $4 million in other potential spending cuts that ranged from window washing to new street lights.

Budget-cutters tread water: Finally on Monday, commissioners hit on a couple of cuts that had no obvious constituency. Eliminating a street lighting program would save $150,000 a year. And there also was $51,000 for window washing, even though it would result "in 'dirty' windows for a longer period of time." Just $11.8 million to go - to trim a dime off the tax rate. The only protests commissioners won't respond to are the ones from people who won't settle for budget cuts that amount to nothing more than nickel-and -diming. These taxpayers want $50 million in cuts to keep the tax rate where it is today, dirty windows or not. What happens when they show up? They make no headway. The decisions already have been made.

BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando County Commission got a balanced budget on Tuesday as required by law, but few of the critical questions — including what will be cut and where new revenue will come from — were answered. In order to balance the $311 million proposed budget, county staff included a 6 percent increase in the property tax rate, an idea two commissioners immediately indicated they didn't want to support. Two others said any increase would be a last resort. Stabins had sent a general e-mail to county employees late last month seeking their ideas and he got an overwhelming response. The suggestions ranged from having county employees mix their own window-washing solution using ammonia to firing County Administrator David Hamilton.

Remember the tiger in your tank? Tiremaker BFGoodrich wants to put a tree frog on your wheels, not to mention a cheetah and probably a few other animals. The company's first national advertising campaign since 2008 uses animal attributes as metaphors for how its tires grip the bitumen, accelerate and resist the slings and arrows of outrageous throughways. The launch spot, breaking the evening of July 14, starts with a professional window cleaner trying desperately to reach bird poop some feet away from his aerie on the outside of a glass-sided office tower. Two dweebs look up from discussing paperwork to watch in amazement as we hear the sound of an air wrench. The window cleaner has bolted on an immense tree frog's foot, which he slaps to the glass, and easily pulls himself over to squeegee the poop. Cut to the same air-wrench sound as a mechanic tightens the bolts on a wheel with new BFGoodrich tires.