More Interesting Window Cleaning News

Man killed while watching Match of The Day: A man shot dead in south London was deliberately targeted after a petty row, police believe. The 23-year-old, who has not been named, was blasted with a shotgun as he put his head out of a window to see who was knocking at his front door. The victim had been in bed with his girlfriend watching Match Of The Day on Saturday night when the gunman called at his address in west Norwood. Detectives said today the victim, who is Portuguese, was not known to them and had no criminal record. He had been working as a window cleaner and is believed to have got into a row with some men in the previous few days.

This prototype solar island, 10 metres in diameter, is being tested in Al Hamra, Ras al Khaimah. It is a partnership of the Swiss research centre CSEM and Ras al Khaimah. ABU DHABI - If it worked on Mars, it should work here too. The technology that Nasa uses to clean solar panels on its Mars rovers could also, according to researchers at Boston University, be useful in desert environs such as the UAE. Prof Malay Mazumder, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who developed the technology, said that while the country might seem ideally suited for solar energy projects, experts have noted one hitch: dust and sand build up on the solar arrays. A thin layer of fine dust – as little as 4 grams spread across one square metre of a panel – could reduce energy output by 40 per cent, according to Prof Mazumder. His solution? Self-cleaning solar panels that would not require any washing fluid. “The trick here is to apply electrostatic forces to the panel in such a way that the sand particles become charged,” the computer and electrical engineering professor said in an interview from Boston. “They get lifted up from the surface and whipped away.”



The technology would work on Earth as it works on Mars: using a special “electrodynamic screen”, tiny dust particles are captured, charged and swept aside by an electrostatic wave switched on for several seconds. Prof Mark Horenstein, a colleague of Prof Mazumder’s who is also working on the self-cleaning technology, said dust particles “would kind of be hopping and get dragged to the sides” before dropping off. “We summarised the project this way: where do you want to build a solar panel? Where there is a lot of sun. Where is there a lot of sun? The desert. What is there not a lot of in the desert? Water, and there are copious amounts of dust,” he said. The self-cleaning panels could save time and water. “Imagine you sent out a window washer to wash every panel, and maybe it’s a gallon [of water] a panel,” Prof Horenstein noted.



Prof Mazumder said: “I have a student in this campus who’s from Dubai, and he had worked to clean solar panels [in the UAE] with water and chemicals to prevent streaks, and he said it’s a very big mess.” Shariar Faghfooli, the managing director of Gulf Solar Technologies in Jebel Ali, was intrigued by the professors’ possibility. “It would be a good idea, absolutely,” he said. But he added that “the biggest hurdle is lack of awareness. Solar energy has not been implemented enough here – not just the UAE, but in the whole region.” Mr Faghfooli also wondered about costs for retrofitting. “It could be expensive. Maybe the next generation of the panels would be more viable if the price drops.” The target, Prof Horenstein said, was to build retrofittable screens for existing solar panels that would cost as little as US$10 to manufacture. He said that is a good deal because of the money that would be saved on maintenance over the long term. See previous blog here.

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of the murder in police custody of the black consciousness leader and anti-apartheid activist Stephen Bantu Biko, who would have turned 64 on December 18. Yet in defiance of the bounds of grave and time, Biko's spirit continues to be a powerful presence. It still spawns many reincarnations, with the fiery activist Andile Mngxitama as one of many self-confessed embodiments of the black-consciousness leader's contested legacy."I think of myself as a window cleaner (and) writing is one of the key tools I use to clean those dirty windows in people's minds," Mngxitama said in 2009.

Baumgartens, a family business that manufactures people - and planet-friendly products, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the company as a partner in the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product Labeling program. The DfE label is recognized by retailers and consumers as a mark for products that are healthier for people and better for the environment. Conserve® Glass and Window cleaning tablets can now carry the DfE logo ensuring that the ingredients include safer chemistry which means no harmful ingredients like bleach, ammonia or acids are used in this product.
“Becoming a voluntary EPA partner in the DfE program means that Baumgartens is committing to continually improve products and reduce risk to users and the environment,” said David Baumgarten, vice president. “What’s really special about our innovative cleaning tablets is that aside from safer ingredients, these little tabs represent a massive reduction in CO2 emissions and use of fossil fuels.” One truckload of Conserve Cleaning Tablets (four tablets with bottle) is equal to six truckloads of traditional and green liquid cleaners. “The difference is dramatic when we calculate a truckload of our retail consumer version which eliminates the plastic bottle altogether,” said Baumgarten. “One truckload of our retail consumer tablets calculates to 14 truckloads of liquid cleaners off our roads! This is about so much more than our ingredients. Aside from the cost reduction for shipping these light-weight cleaners, environmental benefits include using 1/10th the fossil fuels, decreasing CO2 emissions, and dumping fewer plastics into landfills.”
DfE is a voluntary partnership program of the EPA that began in 1992. The program recognizes products which are effective and exhibit safer chemistry. “In an independent lab study, Conserve Glass & Window cleaning tablets were just as effective as the leading national brand,” said Baumgarten. “Our products also cost less than all other conventional and green brands out there. You get a full gallon of cleaner with one package which includes a reusable spray bottle and four tablets! Simply add tap water to make four full 32-ounce bottles of cleaner. This is a big win for consumers who want to save money and use household products that are better for their health and the environment.”
Baumgartens is a woman-owned family business supplying unique, innovative products to the school, home and office market that make a difference to thousands of retailers and wholesalers across the U.S.A. Baumgartens successful environmental program, business paradigms, flexible programs and award-winning customer service are unrivaled in the office supply industry. As part of its 2007 Green Initiative, the company planted thousands of trees and has offset hundreds of thousands of pounds of harmful greenhouse gasses. The company aims to be 100% carbon neutral by 2015.

Bringing dignity to labour - Dubai: Modern times demand modern job descriptions. A quick look through job advertisements reveals that today, everything seems to have become more dignified. It is not just the term "facility manager" for a person who used to be called a caretaker, janitor or a custodian. There are more new expressions designed to restore some dignity for people who are normally under-appreciated for the service they provide to the community. For example, what used to be an excavator today is highly sought after as a "soil movement engineer". People who work as window cleaners can be proud of the new job description: "vision clearance engineers."

Living a dream with their own cleaning business - MASON CITY - Jason and Lynn Wise began JasLyn Cleaning Services in May 2004 out of their home in Mason City. Six years later the business, now located at 2025 S. Federal Ave., has grown to 17 employees and more than 200 customers from all over North Iowa. JasLyn has grown 12 to 15 percent each year, even during the harsh economic climate of the past two years, according to Jason. “We have been very, very fortunate,” Lynn said. Jason said his father told him years ago that if you work hard and have a product you believe in and that others believe in, “it’s going to be successful” even in a bad economy. At the time they started JasLyn — a combination of their first names — Jason was a finance manager at Sedars Auto Park and Lynn was a bookkeeper at The Electricians. “I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business,” Jason said.
Lynn said their children were getting older, and they needed more income to help pay for high school and college expenses. Jason continued working at Sedars for a while until JasLyn became a full-time business. At first they just cleaned commercial properties, but now that has expanded to residential properties as well. Jason said in the current economy many people are working two or even three jobs just to get by, so “they don’t have the time to clean their houses.” JasLyn offers carpet cleaning, interior painting, floor care, window cleaning, and deck washing and restaining. JasLyn recently opened a detail shop for vehicle care, offering hand washing and drying, vacuuming, window cleaning, buffing, leather conditioning and shampooing of carpets.
Every member of the Wise family has been involved in the business in some way. Jason began taking his children with him on sales calls when they were in high school so they could get a look at what the business world is like. The Wises said a lot of the success of the business is due to the employees and the level of service offered. Lynn said if customers have an emergency at their house or need to move up their cleaning appointment because they have company coming, nine times out of 10 JasLyn can accommodate their request. “We go the extra mile,” Jason said.

Crawley window-cleaner's son tricked customers out of cash: A window-cleaner's son tricked his father’s customers into giving him cash. Sam Renaud turned to distraction burglary and fraud after his mother told him to leave home and get a job. A judge at Brighton Crown Court gave him an 18-month prison sentence yesterday (Mon) after he admitted two burglaries, four frauds and asked for 80 other offences to be taken into consideration. Renaud, 20, went to 23 homes in Crawley and asked for payment for his father’s window-cleaning service in May this year. Sometimes he was paid about £20, while other householders refused to hand over any cash. He also went to two elderly women’s homes and distracted them while he stole cash. He took about £40 from an 85-year-old woman in Southgate, Crawley, on May 18, after going to her home and asking for £6.50 for window-cleaning.

Aberdeen window cleaner claimed disability allowance: An Aberdeen man has admitted claiming disability allowance while working as a window cleaner. Window cleaner Derek Winton, 50, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he admitted committing the crime for more than six months.Winton, whose address was given in court papers as 85 Mansefield Place, Aberdeen, claimed the money between June 30, 2008, and January 6, 2009. The charge said Derek Winton failed to notify authorities of a change of circumstances which affected his entitlement to benefits. And Aberdeen man Derek Winton failed to report improvements in his condition while he was cleaning windows. Sheriff James Tierney deferred sentence until October 11.

A German woman has been put into an induced coma after she was allegedly served glass cleaner instead of water at a restaurant. The woman, from Ulm, was at the restaurant with her husband when she ordered a glass of mineral water, German news website Bild.de reports. A waiter then allegedly brought her a glass of clear liquid that turned out to be a powerful glass cleaner used in dishwashers at the restaurant. The woman, who has not been identified, reportedly only took one sip — but it was enough to cause severe burns to her mouth and oesophagus. The mistake allegedly occured because staff at the restaurant were keeping glass cleaner in the same bottles as mineral water. Following the incident police have launched an investigation into criminal negligence at the restaurant. Owners of the restaurant, which has not been named in German media reports, had originally claimed that the company that produces the mineral water was to blame for the mix-up.

Who is affected by this lead-based paint regulation change?

Anyone who performs RRP activities for profit is affected by the change in regulations. This includes property managers, people performing RRP activities to flip a home for profit, real estate agents doing repairs themselves, contractors and renovators. If you are a Do-It-Yourselfer who is not planning on turning a profit on the property then you are exempt from these regulations. However, the EPA does still advise to follow the safety precautions that they have outlines as lead-based paint dust is very harmful. Basically, if you are performing RRP activities that disturb more than 6 square feet of paint indoors and 20 square feet or paint outdoors, then you must be trained and certified by the EPA.
Maybe you have not performed any RRP activities nor are you ever planning to in the future, you may still be affect by this change in regulation. When selling, renting out, or leasing a home it is now a requirement to disclose any known information about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards. This means that if the space you are renting, leasing or selling has been tested for lead-based paint, the test results must be disclosed. If leasing out a pre-1978 property, a disclosure form about lead-based paint must be included in the lease. Sellers must also include a lead-based paint disclosure in the sales contract and buyers are allowed ten days to check for lead hazards.

What is "disturbing" paint?

The EPA considers any action that removes paint from its surface in an area that larger than 6 square feet indoors and 20 square feet outdoors to be disturbing the paint. This includes window replacement, weatherization, and component replacement in a home. Such actions such as scraping, open-flame burning or torching, sanding, grinding, using a needle gun, abrasive blasting and sandblasting are all activities that will disturb paint, and therefore require you to be certified and the EPA’s safety instructions to be followed. Surprising they didn’t include cleaning with TSP.

Tony Gonzalez's Business Facing Wage Charges: INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - A local cleaning company connected to former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez is in hot water over work performed at the Arrowhead Stadium renovation project. The Overland Park company has been charged with 22 counts of failing to pay prevailing wages to employees. Missouri's prevailing wage law applies to publicly funded projects and sets rates for both pay and fringe benefits based on county and job category. The charges, filed in Jackson County, allege XtremeClean88 did not pay the full amount of fringe benefits to the health and retirement fund for Laborers Local 264. Gonzalez's manager, Denise White, said the all-pro tight end, currently with the Atlanta Falcons, is not involved in the day-to-day operations, so he wasn't aware of the situation until KCTV5 called. XtremeClean88's lawyer, Jay Thomas, said the company paid the vast majority of the $26,000 past due amount before the charges were filed. He said the remaining $5,500 is in dispute over the number of hours worked, something the company and the union are still trying to iron out. On its website XtremeClean88 says it offers hood exhaust cleaning, window cleaning, carpet washing, power washing and gutter cleaning. See previous blog here (scroll to bottom).