Window Cleaning Video News Revisited

Facelift van gets an appearance in the background.

55 stone man turns life around: A jobless man has started up his own window cleaning business because he said his weight made him unemployable. Gerald Ash used to weigh 55 stone, but even after losing 20 stone he says it's still hard to get work. So, he's set himself up as a window cleaner and is donating some of his earnings to charity. Ken Goodwin reports. See the original blog here.

No peeking, It even says so on their shirts.

Company features men washing windows in kilts (Boston) - A new business in the Boston area may turn a few heads, because it includes men who are skirting around town washing windows in kilts. They are the kind of window washers where wind could be a problem. "Yesterday was actually really nice really sunny warm so kept the kilt down, no breezes," said Chris Murphy, Men in Kilts. The business is called Men in Kilts. The name says it all; they wash windows, pressure wash homes, and clean gutters in traditional Scottish garb -- and they don't seem to mind. "If you don't look down, it feels like you're wearing shorts,” Murphy said. "Nope, I’m Scottish so I don't mind it at all, paying tribute to my heritage," said Shane Ross. 

The franchise started in Vancouver with only $500. Now, there's one in Holliston which serves the Boston area. People seem to like the idea already. "I got a good thumbs up from everybody. They liked it, they liked the idea of the kilt," Ross said. It's not a job for the bashful; the men have to climb ladders, giving many on the street a view. But, their motto? No peeking. It even says so on their shirts. They’ve already had to remind some people about that rule. "We did a photo shoot last week in Boston. My son was up on the second floor and the women were walking down the street and instead of going around the ladder, they'd go under the ladder. And he just politely said, ‘no peeking,’" said Judy Briggs, franchise owner. And when asked what they wear under those kilts? "You’re going to have to hire us to find out. So, I can't tell," said Murphy. See original blog here.

Sacramento firefighters recover a man's body Monday from the 16th-floor level of a high-rise at 12th and K Street. A rope had constricted his breathing.

Suspected 'extreme graffiti' vandal in Sacramento is identified: The Sacramento County coroner on Tuesday identified a man who died nine stories up an office building in what appeared to be an attempt at producing what's sometimes called "extreme graffiti."Craig Fugate of Vancouver, Wash., was found dead hanging outside the downtown Sacramento building Monday. Police said he appeared to be attempting to vandalize the facade of the building; a spray-paint bottle and a tool for etching glass were found on the roof of the building. Police have been targeting daredevil taggers, who have vandalized such landmarks as freeway signs and the walls of the L.A. River. Earlier this year, a tagger was killed trying to vandalize a freeway sign in the Sacramento area.

In 2006, "Buket," the daredevil tagger who gained Internet notoriety for his brazen, daylight tagging of a sign over the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles and vandalism of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, was sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison. Cyrus Yazdani, 26, became something of an Internet sensation when he plastered his "Buket" tag 20 feet above the freeway -- vandalism that was captured on videotape and posted with a rap soundtrack on YouTube and numerous tagger-related blogs.

In the Sacramento case,  Fugate allegedly used rope to tie himself in a seated position like a rappeller, authorities said. The rope was tied off with a window washing anchor, and fire officials believe that that anchor could have held his weight. But they don't think he was a window washer. The Sacramento Bee reported that the man had two pieces of rope looped around his body in a style used by rock climbers. Battalion Chief Marc Bentovoja told the Bee the Fire Department had no reason to believe the man's death was a suicide. "It looks like accidental more than anything else," Bentovoja said. According to Fox 40, a door was found propped open on the roof of the building at 12th and K Streets, suggesting the man was planning on going back down the stairs.

Man found dead on high-rise not known for graffiti, his uncle says: An uncle of the man who police suspect was in the act of tagging when he accidentally asphyxiated himself outside the 16th floor of a downtown office tower said Tuesday that he never knew his nephew to deface any property with graffiti. "I have never known for him to do that before," Joseph Fugate said of his nephew, Craig Michael Fugate, 30, who was discovered Monday morning as office workers arrived at the high-rise at 1201 K St., just blocks from the Capitol. "He is an artist. I know that," Fugate said. He said his nephew was adept at artwork on T-shirts, including silk-screening.

Sacramento police spokeswoman Michele Gigante said Fugate apparently died accidentally while trying to tag the building's exterior. She said markers, etching tools that could be used to deface glass, and spray paint were found at the scene. Officers also found a stencil. Craig Fugate grew up in Concord and was recently living in Vancouver, Wash. He had told his uncle that he planned to move to the Sacramento area. His uncle said he had been discharged from the Navy on a disability. "He was a really sweet kid," Joseph Fugate said. "He went out of his way to do things with others even though he didn't have the means. He seemed to gravitate toward those who were down-and-out and tried his best to help them."

The Sacramento County coroner's website lists Fugate's cause of death as undetermined. A Sacramento Fire Department official said he had accidentally asphyxiated himself. The rope that Fugate had used to lower himself down the building's facade had looped around his chest and legs, constricting him and pulling him into a fetal position when the rope cinched up. Sacramento police said Tuesday that Fugate had entered the building Sunday. Police said he entered the stairwell and tried to pry open locked doors. Eventually, Fugate reached the top of the 19-story high-rise, which is known locally as the "Ban Roll-on" building. Using rope left by window washers, the man employed an antiquated mountaineering technique to descend to a 17th-floor landing, the Fire Department official said. Then, after retying the rope, he descended to the 16th floor, where he became stuck. See original blog here.

Window Cleaning Without Ladders

Big business: Gerald Ash, 46, hit on his bright idea after struggling to find work because of his huge size.

This story was featured in a previous blog here before it went national. Note the adapted Wagtail squeegee from Wagga's videos...

Britain's most unlikely window cleaner: 35-stone Gerald is to too big for a ladder... and scared of heights: The ability to shimmy up a ladder at a moment's notice to scrub glass until it gleams is surely the most important skill to window cleaning. And without it, work can be a real pane. Not so for Gerald Ash, 46, who, at 35 stone, is not only too fat to use a ladder but he is so afraid of heights that he gets scared after reaching the second rung. Nonetheless, cuddly Gerald powers on from the safety of the pavement washing windows with a squeegee firmly stuck on the end of a pole. He launched the business in Gloucester in January after struggling to find work because of his huge size.

Step by step: Ladders buckle under 72-inch waisted Gerald's bulk - and he gets scared after reaching the second rung.

• Gerald Ash, 46, got the idea after struggling to find work due of his size.
• Spent three months 'training' and almost all his benefits on equipment.
• But ladders buckle under his bulk and gets scared after reaching 2nd rung.
• His business is growing and he now has four clients in Gloucester, Gloucs.
• 'I'm getting out there to do what I can to make a difference to my own life'.

He spent three months 'training' and almost all his benefits on window cleaning equipment - but can only wash windows from the ground using a squeegee on the end of a pole. Pasty-loving Gerald used to tip the scales at a massive 50st, but slimmed down in recent years in a bid to control his diabetes. His business is just getting off the ground and he has found himself four customers on his round in Gloucester. He said: 'I'm a big lad - 46, diabetic, and in excess of 20 stone overweight and nobody is going to give me a job. I wouldn't give myself a job.

'So that's why I'm getting out there and doing what I can to make a difference to my own life. 'I was sat at home one day, wondering what I could do to get my out there. And then I came up with an idea that stunned me - I could clean windows for a living. 'However, I can't use a ladder. They're only recommended for loads up to 150kg, and I weigh more than 250kg. 'I'd be too worried it was going to snap with me on top. Also, once I get past the second rung I start crying and screaming for my mummy. 'I'm not good with heights at all - it's hardly the best thing for a would-be window cleaner.'

Fear of heights: He spent three months 'training' - but can only clean windows from the ground using a squeegee on the end of a pole.

Single Gerald, a former bus driver, added: 'I do my landlord's windows and my ex-wife's windows - but they don't pay me. 'I've spent three months and all my money learning how to clean windows, and I want to do it right. 'I've got it off to a tee now - I'm certainly never going to be the fastest cleaner in the world, but I want to deliver the best quality.'

Beefy Gerald, who is 6ft 3in tall, hopes his new career will help him lose more weight. He said: 'At the end of the day, I'm fat, and that makes me an expert in weight-loss. 'Diets are a waste of time - it's all about how active you are and how busy you keep yourself. I'm hoping this is going to keep me busy.' He hopes that once his window-cleaning business is up and running he can expand to cleaning bins and patios.

Ambitions: Gerald hopes that once his window-cleaning business is up and running he can expand to cleaning bins and patios.

Gerald set himself up as a window cleaner by spending almost all his employment support allowance on equipment. He splashed out £136 of his £142 fortnightly benefit on squeegees, a bucket, sponges, rags and cleaning liquids. He also forked-out on a four-metre long system of telescopic poles so he can reach first floor windows as well as those on the ground level.

His 'training' before he started involved scouring YouTube for videos of people window cleaning so he could pick up some tips. Gerald said: 'Window-cleaning courses cost hundreds of pounds and I really couldn't afford that. 'I watched all the videos I could find on Youtube and practised, practised and practised. 'Window cleaning isn't rocket science, but it is a skill, and like all skills, practice makes perfect.'

3 Window Cleaners - Vampire, Animal Lover & Tenor

Hard to Forget: Thomas Skeens, according to Beverly’s Fabrics manager Marilyn Harder, is a dependable dude: “He doesn’t forget about jobs he says he is going to do.” Click to enlarge.

Enter the Vampire - Behind the mythos of the cowboy window washer with a beard: Thomas Skeens’ signature look – a tattered and weathered cowboy hat adorned with tons of feathers and doodads – is so classic around Monterey County he got picked as an extra in a Clint Eastwood movie in the 1970s. Skeens is also well known for his self-given nickname, “Vampire,” and his rather visible gig: He’s often found washing windows around Oldtown Salinas.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Skeens and his wife Shirley Ann drove to Monterey County from Oregon in 1966, because she wanted to see California before she died. (She was battling health issues.) He started working as a dishwasher at Sambo’s Cafe in North Salinas, doing any janitorial work the restaurant needed, which included washing the windows. He continued with the windows on his own after he left his other duties at the cafe. “It looks really good when I’m done, really clear,” Skeens says. “All the dirt and dust is off and man, they shine! If you have dirty windows, I’ll be at your place, knocking on your door, asking if you need them cleaned.”

Skeens talks with a clear but wavering vibrato. His slight drawl pronounces “washing windows” as “warshing win-duhs.” He laughs often. “If you see my buckets and my hat, go ahead and take my picture,” he says. “I don’t mind.” His outward appearance looks a little like Yosemite Sam. He used to wear cut-off jean shorts. Though he abandoned that in favor of rolled up jeans, he still rides Monterey-Salinas Transit buses with his squeegees and rags.

He says the nickname came when he started doing windows on his own. “Everybody calls me ‘Vamp’,” he says. “I wanted ‘Vampire in the Night’ for my janitorial business, because I wanted people to remember me.” Today his business card reads “Vampire in the Night Janitorial Services,” with his real name, and word he also cleans home rain gutters. It lists a P.O. box, but no phone number.

Many Oldtown business owners know Skeens, but as the Cherry Bean Coffee House owner Todd Williams says, they don’t know much about him. “He’s been around a long time. I remember him from when I went to North Salinas High School,” says Williams. “What do you think of someone who lives in a red, mid-’70s Chevy Nova with Vampire in the Night printed on the side? He had stuff crammed to the hilt in that car!”

When Skeens came to Salinas, he and his wife used to live out of a camper trailer they moved around town. His wife died nearly 30 years ago, but he keeps a good attitude about life. “I’d rather have him come through my line than some of the other folks,” says Cathy Venuti, manager of Old Town Deli and Cafe across from Cherry Bean on South Main Street. “I talk to him when I can. I think he is a bit confused about life now that his wife is gone. His mouth wanders and so does his mind.” Venuti thinks he copes by living in a fantasy world. This has gotten him in trouble with people, including Williams. “We’ve had problems with him before,” he says. “He used to come in and try to negotiate a cup of coffee. He would slap a dollar and say that it’s how much he should pay.”

Venuti takes a bigger-picture approach. “Whether he is a pest or not, he is a human being,” she says. “You have to take him with a grain of salt. That’s just Thomas and I know he’s dependable.” Venuti says she will give him lunch as payment for washing windows. Aside from her deli, Skeens washes the windows of Beverly’s Fabrics. “He’s a hard worker and very punctual,” says Marilyn Harder, Beverly’s manager. “Sometimes he’ll purchase things at Beverley’s that are stolen from his cart by teenagers.” David Federico, co-owner of Federico’s Drive-In Shoe Service in Monterey, agrees. “He just came in one day a few years ago and asked if he could wash the windows. He does a good job for a fair price.”

For the last eight years, Skeens has lived in a shoddy room in the transient hotel near Soledad Street in Salinas. He pays for it with his social security. He says one of his greatest joys is sitting under the warm Salinas sun when he is not beautifying windows, usually on a city bench with a cup of his favorite drink: coffee. “I’ll go and go and go and go, but sometimes I’m off,” he says. “Usually on Sundays, I’ll sit and drink all the coffee I can and then piss like a dang dog!” With that, Skeens cackles loudly and turns his attention back to the sun.

BUSY: Gerald Ash, with Bumble the dog & a Wagtail, has started a window-cleaning business.

Gerald Ash, who used to weigh 50 stone, has started a window cleaning business: Gerald Ash used to weigh 50st and was unemployed for over a decade. Now the 46-year-old, from Linden, has turned things around. He weighs 35st and he has started a window cleaning business. He said: "To be honest, when I weighed 50st I wouldn't have employed myself. "I didn't have a job for 14 years, although I was a full-time carer. So when I lost the weight, I decided to do something."

Being an animal lover, Mr Ash, whose waist has slimmed from 108 inches to 72 inches, has decided to donate a percentage of his earnings to Teckels animal sanctuary in Whitminster. "For all new customers Teckels refer me to, I will give 25% of my fee to Teckels for the first clean," he added. "And after that, I will donate 10 per cent from any future jobs with that customer. For any customers that are referred through existing customers, I will give 10 per cent to Teckels. I'm looking to work with other charities too."He launched his business on Monday at the Whitminster animal sanctuary. Teckels manager Joan Barrett said: "He saved up his benefits money and spent £135 on equipment. "I think it is great what he is doing and hopefully he will inspire other people to get up and find themselves a job."

5 Questions With ... Window cleaner Grady Kerr: Since opening Grady's Window Cleaning in 2008, lifelong Fountain Valley resident Grady Kerr, 32, has cleaned thousands of windows, inside and out. The Fountain Valley View sat down with Kerr to talk about it.

Q. Why did you decide to get into this type of business?

A. I wanted a job that would let me be there for my family on the weekends. I wanted to create my own schedule, too. Plus, I wanted a job that I could really enjoy. So I found them both. I love working in Fountain Valley, my hometown.

Q. What kinds of structures do you work on?

A. We do both commercial and residential, up to three stories. Big, medium and small. The company also does hard- water stain removal, vinyl lettering, screen repair, awning restoration and gutter washing. I work with two helpers, and we clean windows Monday through Friday.

Q. Any challenges?

A. We did a home with a glass patio roof and white carpet. There was no way to walk on the glass, so we ended up doing the ceiling upside down with lots of drop cloths on the carpet. It worked! Another client had a window that we could only get to by walking on a tile roof covered with moss. It was really impossible to walk up there without slipping and falling.

Q. You've peered into a lot of windows ... have you seen anything unusual?

A. We were on the roof, cleaning some outside windows, and the son was in his bedroom. He was still in bed at 11 a.m. after a tough night of playing "Call of Duty." The sound of us cleaning woke him up, and he freaked out and ran out of the room yelling for his mom and saying "Mom, there is a strange man cleaning our window!"

Q. What keeps you busy when you're not cleaning windows?

A. My family. My wife Kristie and I have three children, and one on the way. There's Garren, age 7, Greyson, who is 4, and Gavin, 2. The baby will be named Ginger. Lots of G names in our family! I volunteer in my son's class at Cox (Elementary School), am in the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club and am high school KIWIN'S adviser. We love movie dates, and watching television shows like "The Walking Dead." I sang under Ted Reid at Fountain Valley High School, and am currently a first tenor in the Orange County Mormon Choral Organization. My two older boys sing in the youth choirs there, too.