Window Cleaning News

A blizzard couldn't keep Men In Kilts' Chris Carrier, left, and Steven Ridden from their squeegees Thursday at a downtown Edmonton restaurant. Click to enlarge.

No skirting around requirements of this job - Men in kilts in this weather? Are ye daft? No. Just new in town. Not only did the strapping lads from Men In Kilts don their Wallace Hunting tartan on Thursday, they climbed ladders and washed windows in the middle of a nasty spring blizzard. It was opening day for the new Edmonton franchise Men In Kilts, a cleaning-services company that also operates in Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston and the New Jersey shore, and is opening soon in San Francisco. The company also does gutter cleaning, pressure-washing, carpet cleaning and, in colder climes, snow removal.

The concept of kilt-wearing labourers was the brainchild of Nicholas Brand. In 2002, the 24-year-old was looking to start a company on a shoestring in Richmond, B.C., where he lived. After some research, he chose window cleaning over painting and landscaping. "We were trying to come up with an idea and a name. A friend, my wife and I were on the patio having a drink - one drink, we weren't drunk, I always have to tell people that - and my buddy says 'why don't you do it in a kilt?' "I thought nobody will forget us. We'll definitely stick out. And let's face it, if I had called it Nick's or Squeaky Clean or Bubbly, you wouldn't be talking to me."

By 2010, Men In Kilts was franchising across North America. As for the answer to the age-old question of what a man wears under his kilt while washing windows? "The most popular answer is: You've got to hire us to find out," Brand said. Edmonton’s Operation Manager, Steve Ridden says, “There is something about this brand that gets me excited. I am proud of the work we do and even more proud to be wearing my kilt while doing my job. There are not many people out there that can say that about their work. We can’t wait to offer the Edmonton community a fun and professional window cleaning service!" See the boys further down doing a little snow removal.

Window cleaners rescue trapped man from flat fire in College Road, Crosby: Two mystery window cleaners have been hailed as heroes after they rescued a man from a burning first floor flat. The drama started at 2.25pm on Saturday afternoon when firefighters were called to a blaze above Fleurs Home Boutique on College Road, Crosby. Fleurs’ owner Sandra Sharpe: “It was the first day off I had had in ages and my sister was looking after the shop. “She rang me to say there was a fire but that it wasn’t too bad. “I rushed down there and couldn’t believe it when I saw a police car, an ambulance and four fire engines. “Apparently the man who lives up there had been screaming for help and two window cleaners heard him, put their ladder up against the wall and rescued him.” On arrival at the scene Sandra was given a warning by firefighters that she had just five minutes to remove her stock from the shop before they turned on their hoses. Are you the mystery window cleaner? Please contact Jamie Bowman on jamie.bowman@trinitymirror.com or call 01704 398 261.

Sore shoulders - After a long winter, a few days of warmth in March invariably prompt inactive people to go outside and strain something. “Anytime your body suddenly does something that it’s not used to doing, you’re at risk,” said Dr. Joe Ruane, medical director of the Spine, Sport & Joint Center. “If they have not been exercising, if they’re not conditioned, if they go out and lift 50 mulch bags, they’re putting themselves at risk,” said Ruane, who also serves as team physician for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Shoulder injuries are a common springtime malady. A task as simple as window washing can inflame a shoulder, Ruane said, because working with your hands above shoulder level pinches a tendon. Unconditioned golfers, too, risk shoulder and elbow injuries. Preparing muscles for activity, he said, takes a month to six weeks of conditioning.

It’s that time of year again — the pollen is back: Mike Basaldua looks forward to the annual spring blitzkrieg of pollen that collects on cars and boosts his business. The district manager of the Splash -N- Dash car wash, 301 SSW Loop 323, said Tuesday the increase has been noticeable. “Even though it was cloudy on Monday, there was still more traffic than usual,” Basaldua said. “I was there (at the car wash) Monday, and most people were complaining about the pollen,” he said. When the pollen starts coming, people wash their cars more, and they come back often, he said.

Businesses that profit from keeping cars and windows clean and allergy sufferers comfortable when the pesky pollens make their appearance each spring often see an uptick in business, several Tyler allergists and owners of window cleaning and car wash services in Tyler, said Tuesday. Others, such as dog groomers and veterinarians, pool cleaners and lawn services, say they don’t see much of a business increase just yet, but will see more pollen-related business traffic as the season goes continues.

Although pollen season might be tough on the people and animals suffering, there is another Tyler business that benefits — window washers. Kim Chapman, who co-owns Fish Window Cleaning with her husband Derrell Chapman, said their business really picks up in the spring. “Spring is the time of year for outdoor parties and events, and people want their windows clean,” Ms. Chapman said. Business picks up even more once pollen season ends, she said. Individuals with other businesses in town say their sales haven’t changed much with the onset of pollen season, but they expect things to pick up in the near future.

Businesses doing their bit to save Wellington's water: Wellington businesses have mostly joined residents' efforts to reduce water use. Car yards and rental car companies had cut the amount they washed cars to a minimum, and water-blasting firms and painters had deferred jobs that could wait until winter, said Alex van Paassen, a spokesman for Capacity Infrastructure, which manages water for the Wellington, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt city councils. Operators who had breached the outdoor water use ban had generally done so unwittingly, and were quick to comply once they had been warned or notified by patrols. Managing the needs of different businesses had to be done on case by case, without threatening jobs or commercial viability. "Throughout this, we haven't wanted to put people out of work," he said. "It's become a balancing act. "It starts to get tricky when you're affecting people's revenue and income." Scientists predict dry summers will become the norm for Wellington, and Mr van Paassen said the water shortage had been a "learning curve" as the capital prepared for more parched summers. Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the council had been impressed by water-reliant businesses, from restaurants to window cleaners, being proactive in asking what they were permitted to do under water restrictions.

When Mike Sinovcic, owner of ManMaid Cleaning, says he is looking to clean house in Alton, he is talking polish, not politics. "I really put an emphasis on upper window and door trim," Sinovcic said. "That is a place many people do not think about but it is always dirty, and dust drops on you every time you open and shut a door. "I just like to find crevices and corners that people might not see or think about." ManMaid Cleaning, established in 2011, targets professionals with hectic schedules who find time to clean a chore in itself, along with small offices and people who want a good weekend cleaning. "I had worked for a cleaning company years ago," Sinovcic said. "About two years ago, I questioned a friend who had his own cleaning business. He influenced me to go ahead and do this. He got me my first job, cleaning for a client in Des Peres and Creve Coeur, and I am still handling that client today." While the majority of his business is across the river, Sinovcic, who relocated to Alton from St. Louis 12 years ago, is looking to build a strong clientele in the city he calls home.

EDMONTON - Men in kilts in this weather? The brave-hearted Men in Kilts launch Edmonton franchise in midst of blizzard. Not only did the strapping lads from Men In Kilts don their Wallace Hunting tartan on Thursday, they climbed ladders and washed windows in the middle of a nasty spring snow storm. It was opening day for the new Edmonton franchise of Men In Kilts, a cleaning services company that also operates in Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston and the New Jersey shore, and is opening soon in San Francisco. Another eight locations are in the works. In addition to windows, they do gutter cleaning, pressure-washing, carpet cleaning and, in colder climes, snow removal.

Bauhaus frontman, Peter Murphy charged with hit-and-run offence: Goth forefather crashed car while under the influence of drugs, say Los Angeles police. Former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy has been arrested after an alleged hit-and-run in a Los Angeles suburb. The English musician was spotted driving erratically on Saturday night, before he crashed his Subaru Forester into the rear of another car. According to the Glendale News-Press, a nearby window-washer saw the accident and took a photograph; the victim of the crash also noted the Subaru's licence plate number. She was later taken to hospital. Instead of stopping, Murphy allegedly drove around the smashed car. But he was followed: a witness in a pick-up truck tailed the Subaru all the way into Los Angeles. He was "afraid [Murphy] would kill someone with his driving", police said. The truck driver finally cornered Murphy's vehicle and called the authorities.

Women's summit spotlights aid: City of Newburgh — Women still face more barriers to economic stability than men, according to speakers at a summit presented by the United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region on Friday. But participants in the women's summit, which the United Way hopes to make an annual event, aren't just complaining about the disadvantages — such as women still earning less than men for comparable work, or employers who don't accommodate workers who become pregnant. They're doing something about it. YWCA Orange County even went into business itself — by starting a window-washing business. Christine Sadowski, executive director of the agency, said a little more than a year ago they got an idea to help women get the experience they need to move into nontraditional jobs. They bought a franchise in Fish Window Cleaning, which has more than 200 franchises nationwide. And while the available jobs are open to all, the YWCA especially encourages women and minorities to apply for them. The agency says the business provides women with training in a skilled-labor occupation — all employees are licensed and bonded — and experience that will help them move into higher-paying jobs later.

Friday at noon Charlotte play the #1 seed Saint Louis Billikens. I’m glad Charlotte pulled out the UR game, so I can tell you my SLU story I’ve been saving all season.  Have any of you ever seen The Exorcist?  It’s a classic movie about demon possession from 1973 about a girl who is possessed.  Well, it’s based on a real story of a boy possessed in the 1950′s.  And the real exorcism was performed at–drumroll please–St. Louis University.  That’s what a Billiken is: a demon.  There is a legend about how the demon never left the room where the exorcism was performed, so SLU shut up that room forever to keep people out.  A window washer was washing windows, and climbed up the fire escape to the next floor.  He started washing the window of the sealed off room.  He looked inside and saw a blue-winged demon.  After that, he refused to go anywhere near that room.

Labor Panes Franchise, a Home Maintenance, Cleaning and Repair Services Business, Sells its First Location: With beginnings as a residential window cleaning company in 2005, Labor Panes is excited to announce the sale of their first franchise location in Wilmington, NC. This sale hopes to be the promise of many more to come for this up and coming home, maintenance, cleaning and repair service business. Founded by Tyler Kirk, Labor Panes beginnings started out of necessity after most employers were not willing to even consider Kirk for positions because of his hearing disability. Rather than dwell on this, Kirk decided to start his own business--Labor Panes and now has begun franchising his business nationwide. "Losing 90% of my hearing made me even more focused on being successful. I knew I would have to work harder to make the business thrive. And my hearing challenges are minor compared to what others struggle with.” (Kirk) When Kirk began to consider franchising his successful business, Kirk asked franchise veteran Tom Fenig who founded Outdoor Lighting Perspectives in 1998 and co-founded Mosquito Squad in 2005 to take a close look at his business.

Thanong warns against rising public debt: The government's plan to seek loans to finance 2 trillion baht in infrastructure projects may raise public debt to more than 70% of gross domestic product, a level that threatens the country's credit rating, warns former finance minister Thanong Bidaya. Window cleaners work on a building at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre yesterday. Growth has been strong since the floods, but economists warn of the dangers of debt gaining steam.

The Hormel Historic Home has roughly 131 windows not including the glass atrium. Some of these windows are leaded glass, which were added during the Home's renovations by Harry Wild Jones when George and Lillian purchased it. Earlier this month, ENDRES Window Cleaning spent two full and cold days washing them all, inside and out. This has been their annual donation to the HHH for the last several years and the service is valued at $1,200. We are so grateful for the efforts of ENDRES and cannot imagine doing that job ourselves.

Chants of “Blackwell out” reverberated around Gigg Lane at the final whistle on Saturday after 10 man Colchester hung on to condemn the Shakers to their sixth defeat in seven matches. The backlash prompted the Bury manager to launch a passionate defence of his own position, while he also called for more common sense from supporters. “The crowd turned on me – yes - that always happens when you are a manager and you’re team is losing,” said Blackwell on Saturday, who argued the club’s financial problems and subsequent transfer embargo had made his job almost impossible. “I’m not a magician. “Can’t everybody see that the club isn’t flush with cash and blessed with options? “I take the fans for being a bit smarter – maybe they’re not. “But if I see a window cleaner come here with a short ladder, I realise he can’t do the top windows. “It’s common sense and I just think that common sense is lacking here.”

Sausalito Woman's Club celebrates 100 years this week: Sausalito Womans Club officers Gail Taylor, Barbara Sutak and Paula Fancher talk as a window cleaner works outside. Members and cleaning crews are busy sprucing the place up on Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2013, in Sausalito, Calif., as the club prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Taking money from the poorest does not stack up: Look in the small print of George Osborne's budget today and you are likely to find a nasty little cut of £250m in the Scottish budget between now and 2015. Officially, it is to help fund a £2.5bn capital spending "boost" that is so modest as to be unlikely to add even 0.1% to UK growth. Yet in Scotland it means further cuts in public services that are already at breaking point.

Because claimants tend to be concentrated in particular areas, such as Glasgow and Dundee, the macro-economic impact of these cuts on the local economy is devastating, with knock-on effects on small retailers, hairdressers, window cleaners and the like, the very people the government is hoping will create work opportunities for the unemployed. Instead, they become part of an economic downward spiral, increasing unemployment and underemployment.

Local authorities and voluntary organisations, already trying to do more with less, are left to pick up the pieces. Penalising the poorest, who are not to blame for the deficit, is not only morally reprehensible. It does not make sense economically. As more than 90% of income from benefits is spent locally, injecting £2bn into the benefits system would be a considerably more effective way of kickstarting the UK's faltering economy than sucking £2bn out.

Numsa to try to steer ANC from National Development Plan: Earlier this month, Numsa claimed that the NDP was a "right-wing document" copied from Democratic Alliance (DA) policy proposals. Mr Jim was not sparing in his criticism of the plan yesterday, lashing it for attempting to create "hairdressing and window-cleaning" jobs, instead of focusing on manufacturing and industrialisation. He argued that the NDP left intact the "existing patterns of ownership and control" of the economy, mainly in the hands of "white monopoly capitalists together with their foreign allies".

Eurozone Lying: The Root Of The Debt Crisis Problem - UK economic lying is far behind. Eurocrats have, on occasions, given their "insights" on why and how Britain's lies are simply not in the same class as their own. Some have even said this is a fault of Anglo-Saxon culture: marooned on their muddly, overcrowded island packed with the jobless, window cleaners and credit default traders - and incredibly aged punk rockers like David Bowie (with cardiac problems!) - the Brits aren't able to lie with the same flair and skill as continentals. In brief, the Brits tell simple straight economic lies, but the Europeans tell work-of-art lies.

Factfile: APG - Alternatives prove the perfect antidote for Dutch pension giant. APG Asset Management is combating the low-yielding investment environment by allocating up to 30% of the €325 billion it oversees to assets such as private equity, real estate and hedgefunds – a stance it has stuck by since 2007. APG administrates over 30% of all collective pension schemes in the Netherlands and oversees pensions sectors including education, government, construction sectors, cleaning and window-cleaning companies, housing corporations, energy and utility companies. As of February 2013 it oversees €325 billion in total assets and is sole manager of ABP’s €281 billion assets.

Hail damage extensive at state mental facilities: PEARL, Miss. — Mississippi's primary psychiatric hospital and a nearby facility for people with developmental disabilities were hit hard by this week's hail storm with damage that could exceed $1 million, an official said. Now a race is on to patch holes in roofs and broken windows at the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield and the Hudspeth Regional Center before another round of bad weather hits. "I think we're easily looking at over a million dollars, possibly millions," in damage, Sumrall said. Blue tarps were stretched across the red, clay-tile roofs on many buildings at Whitfield. Most of its vehicles were damaged and unusable, so cars were brought in from other facilities. Sumrall said he estimates Monday's storm broke 2,000 panes of window glass.

A drink-driver who killed his son's best friend in a car crash has been jailed for almost nine years. James Watson got behind the wheel to travel to his home which was less than a mile away. The 38-year-old lost control of the vehicle before it overturned and crushed passenger Brendon Main to death. The High Court in Glasgow heard on Tuesday how Watson tried to shift the blame onto the 18-year-old victim claiming he had been "distracted" by the teenager. Watson - a window cleaner - was jailed for eight years and nine months after he admitted to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Judge Lord Burns said the sentence would have been 11 years, but if not for his guilty plea. The court earlier heard how Mr Main drove Watson, the accused's 18-year-old son Levi and another friend Michael Smith, 17, to the Ythan Hotel in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire on July 23, 2011.

A Cyclist's Lost Arm Becomes a Symbol of Reform in São Paulo: On March 9, several hundred ciclistas paulistas — bicycle riders in São Paulo, Brazil's largest city — took off their clothes and got on their bikes for the World Naked Bike Ride, the periodic, global joyride that has been called a "protest against everything." The Brazilian group had two particular concerns: the country's reliance on fossil fuels and the vulnerability of cyclists in São Paulo. The next day, Sunday, scores of cyclists returned to the Avenida Paulista for a more somber demonstration, laying their bikes and their bodies in the street to stop traffic. That morning, David Santos de Souza, a young window washer on his way to work, had been hit by a car that ripped Souza's arm from his body. Alex Siwek, the 21-year-old psychology student behind the wheel, fled the scene with the severed limb attached to his vehicle before discarding it in a nearby creek and turning himself in to police. Souza, recuperating in the hospital, is one of the lucky ones — over a thousand bicyclists, scooter-riders and motorcyclists are killed in São Paulo each year. But the outrage that followed Souza's accident has achieved something unique: a promise, from the mayor, to make bicycle safety a priority. More here.

A Wollaston grandfather is urging campaigners to rethink plans to put a youth shelter on Swanpool Park amid fears it may increase anti-social behaviour. The Friends of Swanpool Park hope to secure £5,000 to £6,000 for a new shelter for teenagers as part of plans to improve the South Road park.

But former vice-chairman of the group - Martin Hewitt, of Studley Gate, says he and a number of neighbours “totally oppose” the plan as they fear it will increase anti-social behaviour on the park rather than reduce it. Mr Hewitt, aged 51, a grandfather-of-three, says he was the victim of a vicious attack outside his house, opposite the park, as he walked home with his wife Antonita after a night out. The incident, involving eight or nine youths, left him with several broken ribs, four missing front teeth and a nasty cut to the eye.

It also left the self-employed window cleaner off work for eight weeks with no pay, a £5,200 bill for corrective dental work and “very nervous to go outdoors”. He said: “If I wasn’t the size I am - I’m sure I would have been killed. All this for standing up to anti-social behaviour.” Horrified at the thought that a new teen shelter could attract more anti-social youngsters and become a haven for underage drinkers and cannabis smokers - he says he raised his concerns at a Friends of the Park open day. But he claims his fears fell on deaf ears.

Man's house burgled while he was distracted about window cleaning: Police in Bedford are appealing for information after a home was burgled in Burr Close, Kempston. The incident happened on Thursday, March 21, at approximately 5pm when the 29-year-old victim had returned home from work. He had opened his front door and placed a brown leather bag in the hall before returning to his car to collect other belongings. As he did so he was approached by a man who asked the victim if he needed a window cleaner and after a conversation this man left the scene. On returning to his home the victim found his bag containing cash, a silver Apple MAC book, a Ferrari black leather wallet and his bank cards missing.
The officer in charge of this investigation, Detective Constable Jason Wheeler, is keen to trace anyone who saw anyone suspicious in the area. DC Wheeler said: “We believe a person has entered the victim’s property while he was speaking with the window cleaner. I would like to trace anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area and I would encourage the man offering window cleaning services to come forward and help with this investigation.” If you were the man offering window cleaning services in the area that night or if you have information relating this incident then you can contact DC Wheeler, in confidence, on 01234 275328 

Last chance for work-shy Burnley mugger; A man spared jail for mugging a 13-year-old boy for his phone kept his freedom despite flouting the sentence he received. Joe Barraclough had last November been given a suspended prison term for targeting the boy, which included 120 hours’ unpaid work. But Burnley Crown Court Was told he had six ‘unacceptable’ absences from the work sessions and still had 69 hours to do. Barraclough, now a window cleaner, admitted breaching the sentence of 52 weeks, suspended for two years. He was fined £250 with £125 costs and was warned by a judge there would be no more chances.