Three Window Cleaners For Monday

“Just like with almost anything, you get what you pay for,” Frei said. “Once I do a job, the results speak for themselves. It’s a professional result and the client can see the difference.”

Frei describes being an entrepreneur at heart - It’s often been said that entrepreneurs are born, not raised. While there may be disagreements on that particular theory, it’s clear that the enterprising bug is certainly more prevalent in some than others. Meet Jessie Frei. Originally a native of Port Orchard, Washington, Frei was serving on a church mission in Georgia from 2005 to 2007, when he ultimately met his future wife, Janna. For Frei, that’s all it took for him to relocate. 

Now as a husband and father of two, he currently works 40 hours a week as an aviation mechanic for one of the biggest airlines based out of Atlanta. For many, this seems like an ideal scenario – a steady job with a large company, equipped with a skill set that allows him to work almost anywhere in the aviation field. But for Frei, he felt like there was a missing piece of the puzzle. While he thoroughly enjoyed his work and family life, Frei still longed for the independent spirit that running a small business provides. 

After careful consideration regarding overhead, costs, and inventory, the answer to his question came when he decided to form Clear Window Cleaning LLC. One might ask what would inspire an airplane mechanic to venture into such a specific line of work. His answer is just as pragmatic as the business itself. “I’m an entrepreneur at heart,” Frei said. “I just enjoy working – the feeling of building something from nothing. It’s something I’ve always held a fondness for.” Even while Frei maintained a healthy schedule between his full-time job and his family, that didn’t mean his own part-time job would reflect a drop in expectations or quality. 

Starting from the ground up in a new place is not always the easiest thing to do. When you have a standard of professionalism and attention to detail that Frei embodies, it can be even harder. While many in his industry can provide a cheaper price, he doesn’t feel the need to compete. Frei affectionately defines an amateur window cleaner as a “Bucket Bob” – someone who will undercut the cost of a job so dramatically, he doesn’t even feel that they are in the same league as what his Clear Window Cleaning has to offer. “Just like with almost anything, you get what you pay for,” Frei said. “Once I do a job, the results speak for themselves. It’s a professional result and the client can see the difference.” 

The reaction he gets from customers is just another reason why Frei enjoys running his own business. As the owner, Frei believes that it is imperative that his work reflects the standard that he has set for himself and the company. For him, it’s not just a side job to make a little extra money. It’s a part-time job that runs on a professional level. “A lot of those ‘Bucket Bob’ guys aren’t licensed, they aren’t insured – and with workers comp, that’s a huge gamble for customers,” Frei said. “If anything goes wrong, the homeowner is on the hook. So when people wonder why these individuals can bid out jobs for so little, that’s the reason why.” 

Frei jokes that the first warning sign of an amateur window cleaner is the presence of Windex. “I don’t know of a single professional company that has ever implemented Windex,” Frei said. “We use a standard, professional grade cleaner and surgical towels. They’re lint free.” As a small business owner, Frei understands the power of brand name and reputation. Upon acquiring his business licence and insurance, he began canvassing neighborhoods and businesses to inquire about their window cleaning needs. The customers who were using the Bucket Bob variety quickly saw the discernible difference in Frei’s work, and through his tireless work ethic and concrete results, word quickly spread about Clear Window Cleaning. 

While his company services the entire metro-Atlanta area and beyond, Frei still experiences a great flexibility in terms of setting his own schedule. And even though the business is growing at a pace that Frei feels comfortable with, staying debt-free remains one his greatest priorities. “The most common question I get from clients is about pressure washing,” he said. “There is always a huge demand for it. Having a pressure washer would definitely be a blessing, but one of my core rules is to never spend money that I don’t have. While I could probably buy one on credit and have it paid for after a few jobs, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it that way.” 

As long as he continues to enjoy what he’s doing, Frei sees no reason to stop. While he may cite the ups and downs of the aviation industry, one can’t help but feel he enjoys having his own business regardless of the economic climate. “When your work has a reward that you can see with your own eyes at the end of a job, it just further solidifies my feeling that I love what I do.”

 Neil Burton and Marcus Norton of M N Window Cleaning, Long Sutton.

Ex-cop and soldier takes on new beat cleaning windows: When Neil Burton (39) is cleaning windows in Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and Holbeach, there is no clue of the time he spent in the Army and police force. The father-of-two from Long Sutton spent seven years in the Grenardier Guards before serving as a police officer with Norfolk Constabulary for 15 years. But when long-time friend Marcus Norton (44), also of Long Sutton, offered Neil a chance to work for himself as a franchisee with Marcus’s business M N Window Cleaning, the offer was one that appealed.

Neil said: “I’d known Marcus for 13 years and also known that he’d built up an enviable reputation for reliability and trustworthiness with his firm. “When the opportunity came along earlier this year to become a franchisee with his business, I was interested because I’d be in charge of my own destiny. “It was an interesting prospect to run my own business and over the years I spent in the police and Army, I gained a lot of attributes that have transferred well to what I’m doing now.”

Neil left behind a life that included a role in four Trooping the Colour ceremonies, annually celebrating the Queen’s Official Birthday in June, and a two-year tour of duty in Northern Ireland prior to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which set up devolved government in the country. Marcus said: “I’m really grateful that Neil came on board with me because I know he’s the right person for the job. “He’s a good worker, a professional person, trustworthy, has common sense, a good eye for detail and is good with people.”

Neil said: “It was monumental for me to change from doing something that people regard as one of the most secure occupation you can have to something that’s insecure. “But I’ve never looked back, I feel good for being outdoors all the time and I’m giving people a service.”

BED VALUE: The window cleaner has sex with her – and charges

Just Jane: My window cleaner lover makes me pay for sex -  I love his touch, but hate the fact that he still charges me for his visits. The problem is that his harridan of a wife runs his bookings and his money.

She knows how many calls he does each day, how long they all take, and how much he should be bringing home each week. He says he’s very sorry, but if he returns home short, then she’ll smell a rat and suspect that something is up. Well, something is up, and it’s happening in my bedroom on the third Wednesday of every month.

He’s booked, officially, to tackle my conservatory. But I fancy him so much that I can’t resist dragging him up to bed every time he calls. There we make passionate love in a frenzy of lust and abandonment. He’s just so hot that I can’t get his clothes off quickly enough. He’s cheeky with a great body and real baby face. All of the women around here fancy him and would love to shimmy with his chamois like I do… He laughs at how hungry and horny I am, but if he had my pathetic life, then he’d be anxious for excitement too. My husband is away all the time and doesn’t even know I exist.

We haven’t slept in the same room together for three years and he never even bothers to ring when he’s away. In contrast, my window cleaner’s wife is on to him like a flea. She rules the roost and he’s so terrified of her that he still charges me – even if he hasn’t got his rag wet. I realise he’s ripping me off and taking the pee, but what can I do when I desire him so much – and he knows it?

Jane says: How can you allow yourself to be used like this? Your cheeky non-window cleaning lover may have the face of angel, but he’s as wily as they come. So his wife is tricky, is she? Well, I bet she’s not half as tricky as he is. I can almost guarantee that you aren’t the only sex-starved woman he’s bedding or ripping off.

He’s clearly got his script off pat: “I’m very sorry, love, you have to pay me or I’ll get into trouble with the wife.” He’s a three-way winner. Not only does he get to bed you – and gets paid for it – but he doesn’t have to bother scrubbing your grubby conservatory either. Result.

Do yourself a favour and switch to a different company. Vow to sort your life out and start again. If things with your errant husband aren’t right then speak to him the next time he’s home and tell him that you can’t – and won’t – go on like this. Can your relationship be saved? Is he willing to talk about your problems and consider relationship counselling? If not, then is there really any point in you and he staying married if all you’re doing is keeping house and going through the motions?

Websites Matching Window Cleaners Abilities & Pay

Matching the competition - are these websites hindering or helping your business?

Many housecleaners don’t do windows. On our Ratings Tables, we show ratings for companies that specialize in this task. Our surveys ask customers to rate window cleaning services “inferior,” “adequate,” or “superior” on several questions: “doing work properly,” “starting and completing work promptly,” “letting you know cost early,” “neatness of work,” and “overall performance.” For each company that received at least 10 ratings, our Ratings Tables report the percent of surveyed customers who rated it “superior” (as opposed to “adequate” or “inferior”) on each question. (Our customer survey and other research methods are further described here.) 

On average, customers rate window washing services higher than housecleaning companies, but this probably has less to do with the quality of the companies than with the relative difficulty of the jobs: Doing a great job washing windows is easier than cleaning an entire home. For firms that were evaluated in our last full, published article, our Ratings Tables also show tallies of complaints we gathered from local Better Business Bureaus (BBB) for a recent three-year period. Where we were able to, we have also reported on our Ratings Tables complaint rates, calculated by dividing the number of complaints by our measure of the number of full-time-equivalent window washers working for the companies. The complaint rates take into account volume of work and the fact that companies that do more work are exposed to a greater risk of incurring complaints. 

You can check current Better Business Bureaus complaint information on any company by visiting the website or calling the BBB that serves the area where the company is located. You can check current customer survey ratings by clicking on the company’s name in our Ratings Tables and, in the details under our listing for the company, click a link to go directly to the BBB’s most up-to-date report on the company. The price index scores shown on our Ratings Tables are based on price quotes our shoppers obtained for three jobs. As with housecleaning companies, prices vary substantially so we recommend you use these scores only as starting points for your own shopping. Some of Checkbook's top-rated window washers for quality and which had below average prices & were not online - click here.

It’s usually easier to get price quotes for window cleaning work than for housecleaning jobs. If you provide detailed specifications, most companies will quote fixed prices over the phone. To obtain accurate price quotes by phone, you’ll need to provide a list of the number, types, and sizes of windows to be washed. Determine the dimensions of each window by measuring the length and width of the frame and then counting the number of individual panes, or divisions. The more panes, the longer it takes to do the work, which increases costs. Decide whether you want them to clean the inside, outside, or both surfaces of the windows. An important factor is whether outside surfaces can be cleaned from inside the house by tilting in window sashes. Break down the list of windows by first and second floor (or additional floors), and note if any windows have to be cleaned from a ladder. 

Oxidation, which can occur where water lands on glass after passing through metal screens, can also affect costs. It causes pits and rough spots that must be removed by carefully scraping or washing the glass with a mild acid solution. A window with oxidation usually costs $1 to $5 extra to clean, but, depending on the amount of oxidation, may cost up to $10 extra. If your windows have an oxidation problem, companies may need to inspect the work in person before offering accurate price quotes. As with housecleaning services, make sure the company you hire for window cleaning carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Be around when the work is done, inspect the work, and voice any complaints before the workers leave. 

Other websites point, like this one & this one point to what window cleaners are earning..

There is even a website called "window washer salary" - devoted to window washers salary that gives out information for each State (US only). I'm guessing that this is employees salary & not self employed window cleaners? It states.. The average yearly salary for Window Washer is $24,650. If you are just beginning to work as a Window Washer, you could expect a starting pay of $20,300. As is true for most careers, you can expect your payrate to increase the longer you are employed. You could make an income of around $29,000 after some time. The average Window Washer age in the US is 38 years old. 64% of Window Washer are male in the United States, whereas 36% of Window Washer are female. Even "ehow" has got in on the act. With "cost helper" with rather dated price range here & here.

Or could just depend on good old customers referrals on facebook, like this one above.

I Was A Highrise Window Cleaner In Chicago

I was a Highrise window cleaner in Chicago (by "Up_High"): Questions asked by the general public to a high rise window cleaner in Chicago. Grammatically modified & sorted for easier reading.

What is the craziest stuff you have seen going on in offices?

I've seen a man receiving oral pleasures from a female co-worker. I've seen a man jerking off in a vacant suite, nightmares for a week. And for some reason on this one building they decided to not black out the bathroom windows, so I've seen some screwed up shit there as well, lol.

Nightmares for a week? You must not be from the internet!

Well, seeing a guy jerk of online is different. in a sense You are prepared to see him fappin' away, but in real life outside of reddit, its unexpected and forced upon you, lol.

Awesome! What about your coworkers? Did they have any good stories?

So many... lol. When my boss was in his 20's about 30 years ago, he worked for a highrise company too. His boss would constantly follow them and spy to make sure they were working. So him and his co-workers came up with the idea to steal a manikin and clothe it then hang it off the buildings. According to his story, this worked for months, lol.

Oh, I traveled to Indiana for some work for a week. The first day on the very first drop I climb over and I hit in my head very hard. I figured a piece of concrete fell of the building due to it being an old building. When I looked up everything looked very normal, so I was just really confused. About 10 seconds later a falcon comes flying at me, claws first. I don't think I have ever been so terrified in my life. This falcon was about the size of a full grown water melon and was pissed. He kept flying inches from me for at least 5 minutes and the whole time I am screaming bloody murder. The guy at the hot-dog stand is staring at me like I'm retarded. Eventually the people inside opened the window and I had to crawl inside, lol. That week trip ended very abruptly & I went home, lol.

I've always wondered, how do you tell the difference between a falcon and a hawk?

Falcons are endangered and this building actually made a wooden home for it, but a couple years prior to this a different window cleaner was attacked and actually was cut and had about 20 stitches. So with what ever logic they decided to move the home across the street to a different building rooftop. However they forgot falcons can fly.

Any other "holy shit" moments while on the job?

Sure :) Some buildings are very hard to set up straight rope drops. So you have to improvise and create different sling lines and things to straighten your ropes out. I made a mistake one day and didn't pull out the slack out of my line. So when I went to climb over, I had about an extra 10 feet of slack left. That slack rope fell across my middle finger on top of the parapet wall. All of my weight was on the rope, pulling down on my finger. This building had no ledges or any thing to place my feet on to lift my weight up, so I was stuck there for about 5 minutes helplessly while my finger lost all blood flow. Finally, my co-worker came and helped pull me back up the wall onto the roof. My finger was flat as paper. I for sure thought I was going to lose it. But it regained blood flow and was fine after a few hours. I wished I took a picture of it.

Did anyone in the buildings ever jump out from behind a curtain and scare you?

Ehh, maybe once or twice, but usually it was the opposite. I have literally scared people so bad that they have fallen out of their chairs.

Have you dropped anything? Is it possible to get fired for sweating (or vomiting) so badly that you are literally raining onto people on the ground below you? If so, there is really no point in my applying for a job like this.

I have dropped 2 things in my 5 years of doing this. The first day I dropped my squeegee, thankfully I was on a small building facing an alley, so no harm done. The second thing I dropped was my cylinder. I was preparing to climb over and I accidentally kicked it off the roof about 15 stories down and it came within 2 feet of hitting my co-worker. Most highrise workers use what we call "idiot strings", that are just bungee cords that we attach to all of our tools so in case we do drop them they wont fall and hurt anyone. I can't say that I have ever seen anyone vomit or sweat so badly that it rains onto people. Most people who do this have very strong stomachs.

How many buildings does a single window cleaning team service? Are there buildings that are so big that they are constantly being cleaned?

Nice question, It all depends on size and the number of the crew/company. My crew consist of 4 people. We could knock out almost any building within 1-3 days. So we probably service between 50-80 buildings a year. However a lot of these are repeated twice or even 3 times a year. Yes, many buildings are so large that they are constantly being cleaned. a good example of this is the Trump Tower in Chicago. They almost have a crew their every other week.

I heard that the Golden Gate bridge is painted year round because it takes so long. Would you ever take on that job, I bet being over the ocean would be nuts!

I would, it's a easy and fun job. Last summer me and one other had to pressure wash a 15 story bank top to bottom, every inch. It took us about 1 month, and then we had to seal the building and wash the windows, lol. I personally don't mind long term job sites but they do become boring quickly.

What made you want to work the job? You must have some serious cojones.

Well, I was fresh out of high school and I had to get a job. I was good friends with the owners son, so I figured I would give it a shot. After about 3 months of working low rise (stores and houses) I was moved up to highrise and after another month or so I was promoted to supervisor. And yes my balls are quite large. ;)

Have you ever been flashed?

Yep! best day of work ever, haha.

Can I get some pro tips on cleaning glass. I work for a glazing contractor and we stick to industrial glass cleaner and paper towels. Razor blades and occasionally denatured alcohol. I have a squeegee and fluff bar, but want some tips for using them without making a mess.

Sure, Believe it or not, Dawn dish soap is the best for cleaning glass. This applies for residential, Industrial and store fronts. Fill a 5 gallon bucket about 3/4ths and then squirt a fairly small amount of dawn or whatever dish soap you prefer. Stir it up with your mop (fluffbar). Wet both sides of your mop then proceed to wet and scrub the window. Depending on the glass, scrape it with your razors and apply any necessary acids. Then squeegee it off. Obviously it's kind of hard to explain how to squeegee, but the main goal is to put your squeegee on the glass once, On once and off once, and take the least amount of swipes as possible. I'm right handed and I start around the far left mid of the window and go up to the top left corner to the top right corner, down to the bottom right corner back up and left-right my way down 'til I'm finish. You will probably have better luck 'youtubing' a tutorial. But realistically, You have a mop soaked with water, your bound to spill water. Just bring towels/rags with you and try your best to be neat. I hope I answered your questions :)

Was there anyone on your crew with a fear of heights?

Good question. Quite a few people who had no experience would apply for the job thinking that it was easy or didn't take any balls. So we would give them the benefit of the doubt and give them a shot. We would set their gear up and have them ready to jump over the building. Many of these people would just walk away... and we would never hear from them again. Some would break down in tears, and even one guy pissed him self.

Just how dangerous is this job? I don't recall ever hearing about a window cleaning accident. And if it is dangerous, I am guessing you're getting payed well. How much do you make... let say... per month?

If you know what your doing, it's a pretty safe job. However the simplest mistake will really hurt you. If you 'youtube' window washers or something a lot of accidents will probably show up. On the contrary, pay is rather low for the risk. In a month before taxes and insurance I would make roughly $2500 - $3000.

Ever do anything exciting on the lift-thingy?

I did most of my work off of a bosom chair. Basically, I hang from 2 ropes and sit on a chair the size of my ass. I have done some crazy stuff on that though, lol. Some Tony Hawk 900's and crazy swat jumps, so much fun.

I was thinking more inappropriate stuff but that was an interesting response. I think I would shit myself if I was sitting in a chair with two ropes hanging off it cleaning a window on huge skyscrapers.

Well, as much as I would love to fool around with a girl on a skyscraper, I don't think too many girls would be down for that, lol. 99% of buildings we service are office buildings, so I think they might be angry, haha!

Ever see any good parties? Any banter?

Ive seen a boat party, they came back later at night when it was dark and the boat was packed. This was in Wisconsin.

Whats the hardest stuff to get off windows?

Probably oxidation. The acid we use burns thru skin and is the worst! I accidentally spilled some on my hand once, my skin is still scarred.

Ever wash the windows for the Willis Tower (all though you probably still call it the Sears Tower)? Any pics of that? The Skydeck is too damn expensive.

The will tower has automated window washing... if your lucky or patient you will see a rather large black box going up and down the building. I think renaming it was stupid and pointless. Most people still call it the sears tower and will probably always call it that. The SEARS tower has automatic window cleaning machines that scale the buildings.

I work on 209 W Jackson (Jackson and Wells). Done anything around there?

55E. Jackson, I do the Chicago theater across from Fox News. I actually might do 209, Is that a Marc reality building? If so I probably do it. I have quite a lot of Marc Reality's.

I'd love to come up with you once, just to see what it feels like.

I no longer do highrise or live in chicago ;( I moved to New Hampshire.

Which building(s) gave you your favorite view?

There's a 20 story building in Itasca that sits over a lake and you can see the Chicago skyline in the distance. I'll post pics when I get home. Here's an album of some of my favorite pictures.

How do you handle extreme weather (like strong winds, show storm, etc.)

Wind is a hell. Anything over 15 (wind speed) is NOPE. We will work in light rain as long as it doesn't effect our work. Once heavy rains come our gear becomes soaked and potentially ruined. Snow doesn't really effect us, although cold does. Once it becomes freezing temps. we have to use chemicals to prevent the water from freezing. Extreme heat also hurts us, Imagine turning your stove to high and dropping some water on it, it dissipates instantly. This is what happens when we apply water to windows in the summer sun ;( even if its not that hot out.

About 6 years ago, my crew was in Lafayette, IN, working on a 20+ story building. The weather was rather nice out, but a storm came in very fast while they were near the top of the building. By the time they got half way down it was pouring rain and the winds were 20mph+. Their ropes became tangled and they were stuck. The wind was so strong that it was pushing them around the corners of the building. Long story short the local fire department came along with ambulance and had to rescue them. They were to high for the ladders to reach them so they instead broke the windows out and pulled them inside. Pretty scary stuff.

First I must say you are so handsome... Do you always see some awful things in office?

Thanks, lol... I don't see too many awful things. We service mostly office buildings, so mostly just chubby guys typing away.

Wow, what are you doing at the moment?

I moved to New Hampshire last fall and I am studying to be an architect.

Why would you ever quit that job!?!?

Because its a dead end job.

How long does it take to clean an entire building's windows? (If you're comfortable answering this) how much did you get paid?

Each building is different in size, glass counts, shape, etc. There are so many different variables to account for, but with a crew of 4 experienced guys I can finish most average buildings within 2 days. I worked for a non union company and was making 15/hour.

Have you ever caught anyone naked or in the act of doing something illegal?

I caught a guy jerking off in a vacant suite once... that was pretty disturbing.

I work retail and have really bad dreams about work. Unable to close a sale, unhappy customers yelling at me for something I don't know even though I did... you know, weird dream shit. Do you have dreams about falling? Every time I think about heights, my asshole clinches up. Just a fun fact.

I never had full dreams about that kind of stuff. However I did day-dream and imagine shit quite a bit. But mostly right before the first time I ever climbed over. After that I became rather cocky while I was hanging. I did a lot of things that would have OSHA up my ass if they knew.

How do I get a job doing this? I can't seem to find a way to get into this industry?

Almost none will hire you for highrise if you have no experience. I suggest finding a company and start on low rise. Do that for about a year or until you have become very good and fast at washing windows. From there you should request to be put on highrise, if you're good enough I'm sure they will be more than happy to train you. But yeah, it's not something you can just do, there's a few prerequisites.

How's the pay? Seems like a pretty chill job if you can handle it, dangling from ropes while you listen to tunes. Ever thought you were going to fall? Ever heard of anyone falling?

I was paid $15/hour out of a non union company. Union makes $17+ starting. So I was being shorted quite a bit for my experience. Yeah, there's been a few times where I almost pissed my self. I would climb over the ledge and I would keep falling for 3-10 feet. Sometimes, if you do pull out enough slack you just sink, and its a really weird feeling, lol. There's nothing you can do but look down and pick a spot to land, lol...

My friend also worked as a high rise window cleaner. Back in the 80's. I asked him what was his biggest memory. He told me that while he was cleaning the window of a large high rise apartment building and through the window he could hear the phone ringing (before cell phones)....he saw this woman running out of the bathroom with her pants down to her ankles just to answer the phone....he saw this and she saw him where she jumped down b/w the bed and managed to pull her pants up. Needless to say he felt embarrassed for her but thought it was a funny sight.

Ya, I haven't seen to much of this type of stuff because we do 99% of office buildings, but every so often you will catch someone in the act doing something they shouldn't be.

From China To Chicago - Window Cleaning Bumper News

China: We want the most and biggest around ...skyscrapers, we mean! Good news for Shanghai's window cleaners: They won't be out of a job any time soon. According to a report released on Monday by Skyscrapers Magazine, there is a new skyscraper built every five days in China. This means that by 2016 there will be 800, four times the number in the US. Now you might be wondering if this number doesn't sound pretty low. Well, a skyscraper is only a skyscraper when it is more than 500 feet (152.4 meters) in height. That's also when it gets much more expensive to build. The extraordinarily high costs don't seem to hold people off. Wrap your mind around this fact: Jin Mao, Shanghais second tallest building, cost 20,000 yuan ($3,088) per square meter to build. "The appetite in China for high-rises, in the last five years and the next five, is bigger than ever before in the history of building," says Silas Chiow, China director for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the U.S. architectural firm, founded in Chicago, responsible for the Burj Khalifa.

The highest paid city workers in Chicago: As the City of Chicago wrestles with a $650 million budget deficit, one of its biggest expenses is the city payroll. In this Intelligence Report: What city workers are paid. Their names, positions and salaries have just been posted on Chicago's website. This is a fascinating look at how city tax dollars are used, from traffic cops to window washers, even the guys who boot illegally parked cars. You may be surprised to learn how much they are paid. Late Wednesday afternoon, the city put up its complete database of all 34,219 municipal workers. Their pay totals $2.5 billion dollars.

The top spot is occupied by this Garry McCarthy, who was approved Wednesday as Chicago's police superintendent, with a salary of $260,000. The man who appointed McCarthy, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is paid less, $216,210 a year. The third highest paid city official is Robert Hoff, fire department commissioner, at almost $203,000. It is the fire department that has the most highly paid employees; 952 fire employees are paid more than $100,000 a year. Even though the police department is almost three times as large as fire, far fewer police employees are paid six-figure salaries.

In all, there are nearly 2,400 city workers paid $100,000-plus per year. Consider: At Chicago's airports, the city pays eight window washers $43,000 a year. There are 582 people directing traffic. Full-time traffic cops each make $50,000 or more per year. Hourly traffic cops are estimated to make $18,800.

HONOLULU — Hawaii is paying $35,000 to rid the state Capitol building of bird droppings. KITV reports Wednesday the state plans to hire a contractor to install new bird netting and clean the building's windows. It's a month-long task that is expected to begin next month. Existing netting to keep birds from roosting on a ledge outside the building has deteriorated over the years. State Comptroller Bruce Coppa says the bid came in about 50 percent lower than expected because of the sluggish economy. He says the 42-year-old building needs other improvements such as fixing a leaky roof.

Are you spending too much as a landlord? Inflation is high, VAT is up and costs in general are rising significantly. It’s a good time to take stock of what you’re spending as a landlord and make sure that you’re running as lean and agile an operation as possible. What costs should you be looking at? Everything. If you use a lettings agent they’ll take a significant chunk of the rent and likely your profit. Ask yourself if you really need them. Upad can do all your advertising and you can do the rest yourself. If you’re self-managing, keep a list of everything you spend as a landlord from the petrol you through to expenditure on property maintenance, whether one-offs or regular. When it comes to something like window cleaning, for instance, could you be saving money by doing it every other month rather than every four weeks?

Water is becoming an increasingly valuable resource, particularly in Montgomery County where we need to conserve water and reduce our dependence on aquifer water supplies. Drip irrigation is another method for supporting that conservation effort besides saving us time and money. Home maintenance is an ongoing process. Why not make it easier by using drip irrigation for the flower beds next to the house and save yourself some chores in the spring? Since water is not spraying the house and fence, patching and painting are reduced. Windows aren’t sprayed, so less window cleaning is needed.

NEWARK -- City Council tabled a resolution Monday that would have appropriated $404,000 for capital improvement expenditures. Council members John Uible and Doug Marmie said spending money for landscaping and window washing does not meet the definition of a capital improvement and should be removed from the list.

Fish Window Cleaning named 2011 military friendly franchise: ST. LOUIS — Fish Window Cleaning has again been named a military friendly franchise by G.I. Jobs, a magazine published for veterans, according to a press release. The list "honors the top seven percent of franchises doing the most to recruit America's veterans as franchisees," the release stated. According to the release, the list is designed to help veterans learn which franchises give them the best financial incentives and training and which franchises have the highest number of veteran franchisees. "Military veterans can execute a plan, lead employees and are trained to overcome adversity. Combine this background and work ethic with an established franchise system, and you have greatly increased the odds of the business succeeding," said Sean Collins, general manager for G.I. Jobs.

Nice Name - Clever business names, and Gary likes the window cleaning mob on the Mornington Peninsula called Pane In The Glass. And nearby there's a builder who seemingly specialises in outdoor decks because he calls his business Deckhead.

Nice Advert - Job Title: Detail Cleaning/Window Washing. Local company is looking for mature, reliable, self motivated people who have the ability to take 'ownership' of the building they service. Background searched. Wages negotiable. Marshfield, Neillsville, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Cadott, Rice Lake. Must be 18 or over.

Water pressure may go down in the U.S. - 9-Year-Old's Science Fair Project Saves City Thousands of Gallons of Water. According to a report from The Reno Gazette-Journal, Mason's ingeniously innovative idea was borne from an experience he had two years ago. One day, he was at the a local baseball field enjoying a hot dog with his mother, and afterwards he visited the park's restroom to wash up -- but the water from the faucet was so strong that is was almost too painful for his little hands to bear. That's when he stumbled upon a simple discovery: if the tap was turned down halfway, it was actually just as effective. The youngster began to suspect something which most adults had never thought of -- that reducing water pressure could save a lot of water. With this theory in mind, and his school's science fair approaching, Mason set out to prove it. He tested his theory by using a half-gallon bucket and a stop watch, measuring how much water came out within a certain amount of time when the valves were wide open and when they were turned half off. The tests were conducted three times each at his house, his grandmother's house and a friend's house, with a resulting savings in water use ranging from almost 4 percent to 23 percent. Since 2009, the park has reduced the water pressure in its facilities, saving an untold amount of water and saved 20 percent off their utility bill each month. And sure enough, the idea started catching the attention of the local water authority, TMWA. There are meetings planned to determine where Mason's idea can be implemented, like in other parks, public schools, casinos, and private homes. Ultimately, turning down the pressure on some water lines won't just be a boon for the environment, but for the other areas as well. "You know how teachers have kind of been losing their jobs?" Mason told the Gazette-Journal. "If we turned down every valve at every school we have in the Washoe County School District, with all that money we can save, we can save at least one teacher's job." Oh, and by the way, his project took the top prize at the science fair.

Martyn Pearce, of Lincoln Avenue, Saxmundham, was sentenced to a year in prison when he appeared before Ipswich Crown Court yesterday. The 22-year-old had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to four counts of handling stolen property. Pearce and two of the others, including his brother Christopher, 18, were arrested during one of several raids on a house in Crown Street, Leiston, being rented by Erin Savery. Sentencing Martyn Pearce, Judge Peter De Mille said: “It’s absolutely clear to me that the address where you were all living at the time was used as a repository for stolen goods. “The evidence clearly shows that you, Martyn Pearce, were the principal offender. It’s the prosecution’s case that you were a professional handler of stolen goods and in my judgment there is no doubt on the evidence.” Christopher Pearce, also of Lincoln Avenue, Saxmundham, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and told to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also given a four-month curfew between 9pm and 7.30am. He had admitted two counts of handling stolen goods. Roger Thomson, mitigating, said both brothers had been involved to a greater and lesser degree in working for a window cleaning business while they were awaiting sentencing. However, Judge De Mille said residents and shopkeepers would be concerned if they knew the brothers were washing their windows.

A 50 year old window cleaner is punching above his weight after beating more than 400 young bodybuilders in an endurance challenge. Steve Ellwood, from Wantage, lifted two 16kg dumbbells more than 850 times in 50 minutes to win the Dragan Challenge at Birmingham NEC. Yet the grandfather-of-two was the only contestant over the age of 30. The part-time personal trainer said he wanted to win the competition to mark turning 50 after finishing second last year. He said: “I was determined to win this year – it was a great feeling. “I got a lot of pats on the back when I finished. I was walking around afterwards and everybody was congratulating me.”

The new national endurance lifting champion, from Park View, in Garston Lane, said his achievement showed age should not be a barrier to fitness. Heart rate monitors showed his heart was beating as fast as a cyclist competing in the Tour de France. He said: “It is a very hard working competition – sweat was pouring off me. Everything hurts – from your toes to your head. “But what I do is I forget about it, and forget about how many I have done and the time flies.” Mr Ellwood has been lifting weights since he was 11 after his dad bought him a chest expander.

He said: “It makes me feel great. It makes me look better and it makes me feel better.” He trained four times a week for four months ahead of the challenge. In a gym in a spare room in his home he practiced with 20kg dumbbells Wife Sandy said his family were proud of his success. She said: “It is marvellous. He worked really hard. But he is really fit – he is always running about.

Sudbury youth entrepreneurs get a boost: Four Sudbury youth-driven businesses are receiving funds from the NOHFC. The province announced funding of $96,051 for young entrepreneurs who are offering new products and services, and creating jobs in Sudbury. “Sudbury's future is being shaped by the entrepreneurial spirit of our youth, whom are actively supported through the NOHFC,” Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said in a news release. “These young entrepreneurs are an essential part of our business community and contribute to local growth, job creation and prosperity.” A grant of $25,000 each will go to Born to Shop Boutique, a downtown women's clothing store; Squeegee Gang, a window-cleaning business; and Northern Screams Party Store. The funding has been allotted under the Young Entrepreneur Program, which assists Northern residents aged 18 to 29 start their own private enterprises in Northern Ontario.

Window cleaning: In every street there is a Ms Judgement and a Ms Honesty. One day Ms Honesty decided to visit Ms Judgement. As soon as Ms Honesty arrived, Ms Judgement began to complain about her new neighbours. "She is a terrible housekeeper", said Ms Judgement, "you should see how dirty they are... and as for her house! It is a disgrace to live in the same neighbourhood. Just take a look at the clothes she has hung on the line; see the black streaks on the sheets and towels". Ms Honesty walked up to the window to look. "Actually the clothes are quite clean, my dear. The streaks are on your window!" she exclaims. Like Ms Judgement, how often am I deceived by my own dirty windows into projecting my own 'misjudgements' externally, fully convinced that I am seeing the truth? The original seed of misjudgement colours everything I see. So each interaction with my neighbours reinforces my attitude. Until a Ms Honesty arrives. Only then do I look closely at my eye-windows. As I begin the process of cleaning the dirt from the outside of my windows, I notice something interesting. There is also dirt on the inside. The dirt outside is the product of external influences, atmospheres, opinions and attitudes. The inside dirt is of past experiences, perceptions and assumptions unconsciously colouring my vision.

The Window Fashion Pros Introduces SunClean Self-Cleaning Glass for the Synergy Pro Series. SunClean Self-Cleaning glass is coated to achieve hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties that make it much easier to clean. The durable and transparent coating is added to the glass while it is being formed so it isn't just a layer that will peel off; it is an essential component of the window's outer surface. The photocatalytic properties make it possible for UV rays to energize the surface and slowly break down organic dirt, and the hydrophilic properties turn water into evenly distributed sheets across the surface, rather than beads that leave spots after drying. And when used in conjunction with advanced Solar Control Low-E Glass products, the maintenance is even easier.

Extract of an exclusive interview conducted with Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera. He talks about social welfare, migrant workers and new ventures of the Foreign Employment Bureau: - Another new employment opportunity with higher salaries is available in Qatar and similar countries for Sri Lankans with least educational qualifications. It is ‘Window Cleaning’. This job does not require higher educational qualifications. But it needs a proper training. Qatar and similar countries have a large number of high-rise buildings with huge glass windows. Well-trained workers are required to be employed as window cleaners to clean these windows. The companies pay higher salaries for them. Sri Lankans will be trained with the assistance of relevant foreign countries and companies in order to employ them as window cleaners.

Burnley man convicted of hunting badgers: Jeffrey Johnson, 34, a part-time window cleaner and father of three, told the court he was walking his dogs, the terrier and a lurcher, in the area and they had been chasing rabbits. Jeffrey Johnson told Hyndburn magistrates that he had been digging close to a badger sett in Altham because his terrier had got trapped after chasing a rabbit down a hole. He denied having any interest in badgers but was convicted after a trial. Johnson, of Forfar Street, Burnley, was fined £270 and told to pay £265 costs. John Wood, prosecuting, said Johnson was seen stood in a three foot deep hole with a spade in his hand by badger enthusiast Stephen Broadbent, who was carrying out one of his regular checks on the sett.

As Sean Welby stood in line at a check cashing agency in Pacific Beach to pay his overdue water bill, he wasn’t expecting to meet an angel. But that’s how the 44-year-old Clairemont man described his experience the other day. After Sean paid his bill, a gray-haired lady who had been standing near him approached. She said, “I have something for you. I’m your angel for today,” and she pressed a piece of paper into his hand. Sean opened his fist to find a $100 bill.

Astonished, he thanked and hugged her. “You have no idea how much this means to me,” said Sean a struggling self-employed window washer who cares for his elderly father. She smiled and replied, “The one thing I ask is that you pay it forward,” then she handed him a second $100 bill, saying her mother had died and left her some money she was sharing with others. Sean immediately set out to pay it forward. He got change and handed out about $65, in $5, $10 and $20 bills, to strangers who looked like they could use a little extra cash. He never learned his benefactor’s name but says her unexpected gift has transformed his life … not the cash so much as the caring behind it.

Sean says he suddenly went from not wanting to get up in the morning to bouncing out of bed with a smile on his face. “Everyone has heard of Cloud 9,” he says, “ well I’m on Cloud 10 or 11.” Just sharing his “kindness of strangers” story with others, he says, brings him joy. “There are good people out there.”

You're a Yekke? How cool. Yekkes - (Jews with origins in the German-speaking countries). The Yekkes were also willing to do any kind of work, adds Merhav. "There were academics among them who became window cleaners, lawyers who became bus drivers, doctors who became poultry farmers and historians who sold handbags." "Yekkeness is no longer a matter of ethnicity, but rather a kind of Israeliness," she adds. "Even my cleaning woman, an Arab from Jaffa, tells me she is a Yekke and refuses to leave until she has cleaned all the windows in the building."

A SCUBA diver who is taking the plunge in the publishing world visited a seafront aquarium at the weekend to sign copies of his new book. Patrick Shier is a well-known diving instructor and runs Kent-based Exclusively Scuba Diving School. And his new book, UK Dive Guide, is expected to go down a treat with fellow enthusiasts. She added: “He’s widely recognised as one of the best diving instructors in the country.” Patrick and his team of divers are regular visitors to the aquarium and have helped with a number of sub-aquatic tasks over the years, including underwater window cleaning and appearing as a scuba Santa Claus.

The downturn in home building is getting a lot of blame for the nation`s high jobless rate. Unemployment in the construction industry tops 16 percent, and experts say construction and other related businesses account for nearly one-fifth of the economy. Diane Eastabrook looks at how the housing slump is rippling through the Chicago area. Steve Sobkowiak built the 3,600-square-foot home on spec, and he says it took roughly 175 people to do it. That goes from your architect, your engineer, demo, all the way through framers, electricians, plumbers, all the way through final cleaning, window washers, everybody. The jobs created by the construction of this one home clearly illustrate why the stagnant housing industry is weighing so heavily on the rest of the U.S. economy. Experts estimate one construction job can generate at least two more in other areas like landscaping and painting. And when construction tanks, it can take those other jobs with it.

From its roof to its four-level underground parking garage, the almost 20-year-old Berks County Services Center is slowly crumbling, the county commissioners confirmed Thursday. However, the commissioners said the areas cordoned off are where contractors are taking test bores, essentially drilling into the concrete walls and ceilings to test the structural integrity of the building. Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach said corners were cut when the services center roof was installed in 1992. Anchors on the roof intended to tie off window washer platforms were not properly maintained, which is precluding contractors from using the anchors to repair the facade, Leinbach said.

An ELLESMERE Port man has become an internet sensation with almost 2,500 people signing up to his Facebook page. Fleabay is being managed an Ellesmere Port resident who refers to himself only as Mr Fleabay. Selling anything from baby clothes and children’s toys to cars and house clearances, the site’s popularity has soared over the last two months. Mr Fleabay, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “It’s been brilliant.As well as offering items for sale, some people give things away for free or offer swaps for other items. Others offer or seek services such as window cleaners, van hire or even a caravan to rent for weekend getaways. “I have had loads of feedback and people seem really happy with it,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, if I can help people that’s all that matters really.” To find the site, go to www.facebook.com and search for Fleabay Ellesmere Port.

Ukulele revival: A small Hawaiian four-stringed instrument, conceived in the early19th century, is enjoying a spell of unparalleled popularity at the moment. Sales of the humble ukulele are outstripping those of any other instruments, pushing electronic keyboards and guitars into second and third place. Demand is said to be so high that music shops are selling stock as soon as it arrives. The factories (mainly in China) simply can’t keep up with the UK ukulele renaissance. The ukulele, or uke as it is affectionately known, is commonly associated with George Formby with his window cleaning, lamp-posts and little stick of Blackpool rock.

Vandalism causes store to give up on expansion: When J. Sylvester and John Carlotti opened their antiques store at 60 E. Broadway in October, they said they were excited about the move and committed to downtown Eugene. The antique dealers plunged into fixing up the new space, refinishing the floors, pulling down the venetian blinds from the 26 12-foot windows, and hiring a window washer to make the windows sparkle. “We made the mistake of making (the space) apparent,” Sylvester said. Within a 48-hour period, he said, a window in Cone Ball was scratched, a side window in the shop was defaced with paint, the freshly cleaned windows of the annex were covered with spittle and finger- and faceprints. Then, one of the windows in the annex was shattered, Sylvester said. He and Carlotti reluctantly decided to cancel their expansion plans.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT—A tipster wandered past New York by Gehry/8 Spruce Street/Beekman Tower yesterday and saw the window-washing equipment in action. A few shots above. Says our tipster, "Not sure how this equipment will work over the waves. Good thing Frankie didn't use titanium."

'Montco Madoff' Sentenced 3 To 7 Years for Thefts from Entrepreneurs: On Thursday afternoon at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Bala Cynwyd businessman Robert Krikorian, a.k.a. the "Montco Madoff", was sentenced to three to seven years in state prison on theft charges, with an additional 35 years of probation following the successful completion of his prison sentence. Krikorian spoke on his own behalf, apologizing to the victims but also defending his character and the good things he did before the thefts. "I'm not a criminal," Krikorian said. "I made a mistake. I'm no thief." During both victims' testimony, Krikorian, dressed in blue prison attire, sat silently with his head down. "I live like a single mom now. I'm taking care of my kids and working full time. This has devastated us, and now we're back at zero," said a victim, who requested her name not be used due to the sensitivity of her husband's work. "I've heard the statements made by Mr. Krikorian's attorney, as well as his friends and family members who have said he's been a reputable business man for many years.

When the economy went sour is when they said he began to do these things." "That's a disgrace! You don't ever have to steal money from someone," added the victim, as she stared angrily at the man who had taken $22,500 from her and her husband. Krikorian then went on a rant, citing various good deeds he had done since he came to America in the 1970's, including helping a homeless man find work as a window washer, and loaning a friend $30,000 to close a business deal. His victims began to groan, and some of them actually had to avert their eyes, as to not look at the man who had stolen so much from them. "I have helped so many of my clients. My clients today are millionaires," continued Krikorian. "My guidance and my coaching have helped hundreds and hundreds of clients." After Krikorian's bizarre allocution wrapped up, Judge Smyth rendered his decision, sentencing the defendant to three to seven years in state prison, dating retroactively to Nov. 10, 2010. In addition to the prison sentence, Krikorian was ordered to make restitution to the victims in the amount of $692,000.51,

Fun runs and walkathons have been a fund-raising hit for non-profits. But critics say too little of the money makes it to the finish line. On a crisp autumn day in Richmond, Va., the view from 25 stories up was absolutely horrifying. Jeff Sigmon, a 51-year-old commercial-property manager, was about to rappel down the side of the city's second-tallest skyscraper, and he was having second thoughts. After all, the would-be Spider-Man had just a few minutes of training, and he could barely breathe in his tight-fitting harness. It didn't help that the man ahead of him had just popped over the edge in a pirate costume, complete with a long, shiny sword. Sigmon paused at the precipice and posed a rather pertinent question to himself: "What are you doing? This is insane."

Sigmon got interested when he read about the "Over the Edge" fund-raiser for Special Olympics Virginia. His 3-year-old niece Katie has Down syndrome, and he liked the idea of making a grand gesture. Sigmon signed up, used the nonprofit's online fund-raising tools to launch a Web page featuring an adorable photo of himself and Katie in her flowery pink dress, and set about asking for money. He felt awkward soliciting from friends and fellow churchgoers to make the event's $1,000 fund-raising minimum, so he stuck with e-mail and focused on business contacts. His company made a big donation, and he had good luck with vendors, including local electricians and window washers. He even kicked in $300 from his own pocket.

When D-day rolled around, Sigmon felt fantastic, and the practice jump off a three-story parking garage was easy. But the 25-story slide down the mirrored SunTrust Center? Sheer terror. As crowds cheered from the plaza 400 feet below, he slowly fed his harness's heavy ropes through pulleys blazing hot with friction and focused on the sky's reflection in the glass. Looking back, he's glad he had the guts -- he blew through the event's fund-raising minimum, raising $2,520. Only a portion of his contribution will fund programs for kids like his niece Katie, however. Like many athletic fund-raisers, the Richmond event cost a lot to produce. It raised $61,000, but Special Olympics Virginia says it paid a for-profit production company $24,000 to stage the event and shelled out another $2,100 for catering, brochures, posters and fund-raising tools.

UBS’s Potential Abandonment Is Killing The People Of Stamford, Connecticut: Earlier this week, we discussed the possibility of UBS moving out of its Stamford, CT building (which houses the largest trading floor in the world) and into New York City. Peter Charpentier says, “The State of Connecticut should be begging them to stay. I’m a man who believes in trickle-down economics. You take away UBS and it affects everything and everybody. What happens to all the restaurants? How about the window washers? The elevator operators? The janitors, the gardeners? It would be disastrous.” UBS is currently negotiating for space at 3 World Trade Center, an 80-story office tower planned for Lower Manhattan, and Mr. Charpentier wondered why anyone would want to move there. “You couldn’t pay me to work at a World Trade Center tower,” he said. “Have they forgotten about 9/11?”

TORONTO: A 43-year-old man was struck several times over the head with a squeegee after he refused to have his window cleaned at a Toronto intersection. According to police, a man approached the victim's car and started cleaning the window while it was stropped at a red light southbound on Spadina Avenue at Queen Street at about 3:50 p.m. on Monday. The driver rolled down his window and asked the cleaner to stop. When the cleaning continued, the driver got out of his vehicle and approached the man. The driver was then punched and repeatedly hit him over the head with a squeegee tool, police allege. "The assailant took the squeegee and struck the victim over the head a number of times," Const. Tony Vella alleged.The driver suffered a cut to his head and was treated in hospital before being released. Jason Ortiz, 23, faces charges of assault with a weapon.

SALISBURY – For 18 years David Harrison had listened to tenants who lived in a rental house he owned talk about having strange experiences and seeing things they couldn’t explain in the old house on Highland Avenue. There were stories of a mysterious black cloud that would appear in a hallway at night, voices speaking in a whisper about a fire, and the sound of children running up and down the stairs. According to Harrison, the group set up their recording and detecting equipment several times and actually captured voices on tape whispering what they say sounds like the words “fire,” “by the window,” and “get out.” He also says they captured a short image of a cloud forming in the hallway that appeared to take on the shape of a woman or child. On his own, Harrison had discovered at least one clue to the home’s past. While working on the house he found that there was a drop ceiling below the home’s original ceiling.  Looking more closely he discovered that the rafters of the original ceiling were burned, some severely. The house was built in 1910.  Harrison says he can trace the history to about 1950, but doesn’t know anything about the house prior to that date.  He says there were no fires after 1950. He says the only other experience that he has had personally involved a bottle of Windex window cleaner that disappeared from inside a room where he was working alone one day. Harrison is opening the house as an art gallery, “and more,” as his sign says.

While some college and university students might be goofing off like actors in a beer commercial this summer (as my songwriting friend Dr. Dave Shamchuk likes to refer to the beach volleyball crowd), most will be out in the temporary workforce until late August struggling to top off their tuition accounts. To that end, if you can hire a student, do it. Painting, window washing, and landscaping have long been mainstays for undergrads motivated more by finances than fun.

Coronation Street - Soap blog: What a shame that window cleaner Daft Graeme doesn't change the water in his bucket as often as he changes his mind. Then all the windows on his round would be sparkling clean. Technically, sleeping with his missus Xin isn't being unfaithful, apart from it being a sham marriage and Tina is really the love of his life. But having decided to "divorce" Xin last week, he now has second thoughts. "I think I'm in love with my wife," he tells mate David.