Sherri's New Toy + What Every Window Cleaner Needs

Sherri Medieros

Opening new doors into the window cleaning business: If you have glass in your house that is marked, marred, scratched or otherwise sullied – a table top, a picture window, mirrors maybe – you may have tried several sprays and potions to no avail. The best way we know of here to get the job done is to put down the spray bottle and pick up the phone. Call Sherri Medieros and let her and her staff at See-Thru Windows have a crack at it (pardon the pun.) Chances are she can fix the problem. Not only has Sherri accumulated knowhow from more than 13 years in the business on Marco, she also added services and staff. Her reach is not only to the tippy top of your transom glass; it’s also to new clients in Naples and the northern reaches of Collier County.

Now Sherri and her business partner and fiancé Steve Verbaro have a new weapon in their clean window crusade – a machine called Glass Renew. “It restores glass, buffs out scratches, removes water stains, such as from sprinkler water that constantly pounds on the windows,” Sherri explains. “It removes stains from shower doors, sliders and more. And we can make glass table tops with a lot of wear and tear look like new at a third the cost of a replacement.”

From Marco windows with a view to fixing inner-city gang graffiti. The convincer on whether this machine works is that it’s used in Philadelphia to remove and erase graffiti – not just spray paint but acid-laced graffiti material sprayed on by gang members. The more we chat with Sherri about window cleaning, the more we realize how little we know about it. For example: “Washing windows is more than just getting rid of streaks and smears for cosmetic reasons,” Sherri points out. “Some people don’t realize that glass is porous. Germs, mildew, salt, dust, grime, handprints, pets’ noses and paw prints and a lot of other stuff can get on windows and stay there and that’s not healthy.

Chris Curle Special to the Eagle Steve Verbaro and Sherri Medieros are using the new Glass Renew machine to remove scratches from a glass tabletop. It's the latest tool in the arsenal of Sherri's See--Thru Windows company, where she's been providing residential and commercial window cleaning services for 13 years.

 “And don’t forget smoke. I can always tell when people have been smoking in a building when I wash the inside windows. Smoke builds up and when we clean the glass, the water in our buckets turns yellow. It’s pretty bad.” We asked Sherri what common mistakes many of us make trying to do our own windows. “It’s not using the professional products and materials we use, such as squeegees and proper mops. A lot of people use Windex and paper towels. But paper towels are full of lint which will leave streaks and smudges on the glass.”

And don’t forget Sherri’s famous “S” swerve cleaning motion. “And the butterfly stroke,” she laughs. Sherri’s team can clean virtually any window anywhere. “With one of our accounts we have to put the ladder in the pool and climb up 24 steps to reach the highest windows, so the woman there always is kind enough to turn on the pool heater,” Sherri says. “So I tell my guys to bring their bikinis to work those days.” Sherri’s repertoire also includes pressure washing and screen-cage cleaning. She does everything with enthusiasm for the business. For example, she recently attended the international window cleaning convention in St. Petersburg, joining about 450 other window wizards from around the country. “That’s where we got the Glass Renew machine, which Steve now is trained to use.” He also manages Sherri’s crews.

See other posts on GlassRenu here, here & here. GlassRenu app' here. Buy here.

And this is what you need the GlassRenu system for...

G-1 Glass Pool Table: So you want to let the rest of the world know that you’ve arrived on the world stage, fat paycheck and all. How about making sure your pad stands out from the rest with the G-1 Glass Pool Table? As you can tell by its name, this pool table is going to wow and dazzle visitors to your home, and they need not rack up a set of balls on old school wood and slate – no sir, instead they will rack up on an ultra modern design that is built-to-order.

Boasting of a lightweight skeletal frame with a full visible ball return mechanism, quality is there for all and sundry to see including BCA-spec pockets and K-66 bumpers. At a pocket burning £34,999 for one of these puppies, it is nice to know that you can choose from a range of powder-coated colors to suit your fancy. Of course, one does wonder whether magic has gone into its creations since a glass surface probably can’t replicate the rolling resistance of baize. Science says no, which is why the G-1’s toughened glass will come topped with a patented Vitrik playing surface, now how about that?

Craig Nottage (pictured), the glass topped pool table designer, won bronze at the 2004 Dyson Australian Design Awards for his unique and innovative glass-topped pool table design. The UniSA industrial design graduate created the glass billiard table as his major, final year assignment. Nottage reports that the idea came to him after research revealed a lack of anything significantly different on the pool table market. "I am looking at the feasibility of making a prototype that will double as a dining table by making the legs adjust to the correct height, and adding a fold-out cover for the playing surface," Nottage says. "My goal was to completely modernise the concept of pool tables so that they would sit better in a modern decor and architecture while not compromising the game itself."

Or perhaps this one?

See Thru Window Cleaning

Keep your windows clean: Nobody appreciates the art and skill of washing windows until they try it. It can cause muscle cramps and marital discord, not to mention the grudging acceptance of a sad fact — that our windows always will have at least a streak or a smudge here and there. It’s like accepting the presence of a facial blemish. There may be a way to fix it but better not leave it to amateurs.
Enter Sherri Medeiros, owner, chief squeegee swirler and an expert with the “S Curve” of See Thru Window Cleaning Service on Marco. For about eight years she’s been keeping windows clean and healthy at a long list of Marco businesses, offices and homes. Did I say healthy? Yep. Sherri says clean windows play a major role in keeping our homes and public places sanitary and health conducive. “Washing windows is more than just getting rid of streaks and smears for cosmetic reasons,” Sherri points out. “Some people don’t realize that glass is porous. Germs, mildew, salt, dust, grime, handprints, pets’ nose and paw prints and a lot of other stuff can get on windows and stay there and that’s not healthy. “And don’t forget smoke. I can always tell when people have been smoking in a building when I wash the inside windows. Smoke builds up and when we clean the glass, the water in our buckets turns yellow. It’s pretty bad.” Sherri recommends that residential windows by cleaned professionally at least twice a year, inside and out, obviously more often for restaurants, which usually get washed weekly, and other places of business. So, why do we need a pro to do the job right? “It’s an art and a skill, knowing how to avoid streaks, how to get into corners, frames and tracks and all that,” she says. Sherri uses the “S Curve” technique, applying the soap and water and then the squeegee. Why nor wash in sections, up, down or across? “You get streaks that way. You must make sure the squeegee is dirt-free and moist. Even a grain of sand can leave a streak. And most important, keep the squeegee on the glass, moving in the S curve.”
We asked Sherri to reveal what cleaning products she uses. Secret stuff?
“Here’s the big secret — water and a small amount of organic dish washing liquid. You don’t need fancy glass cleaners. Besides some leave a buildup on the glass. Also, don’t use paper towels. They leave lint on the windows. Use lint-free towels, dry ones, to avoid streaks.” Sherri also urges homeowners to let her clean their ceiling fans (“Oh, there can be lots of fun stuff up there,” she jokes) and to not forget the mirrors and screens. Meeting Sherri, you know right away that she loves her work. “I love being on the move, meeting new people. And because I’m local, not a huge company, many clients have become my friends.” Sherri is reachable via cell phone at 641-7159 or at her work number, 642-0318.