Doing It For The Kids

Brush couple Titus and Joy Grant recently set out on an exciting new venture as the duo began their new Mobile Wash LLC business, offering residential and commercial cleaning services of all sorts to clients in Morgan County. “We also wanted to create something to pass on to our kids,” Titus added. “We really created this business for them.”

Focus on family moves couple to create Mobile Wash business: Making the leap into a new life and a new occupation can prove bold for many, but for Titus and Joy Grant, the move into a new town and new business has given the couple newfound strength and freedom. “Joy was just burned out on the kid scene,” said Titus Grant, whose new Mobile Wash LLC business has become an exciting new adventure for he and his wife, Joy. “She’s been doing the daycare thing since she was in high school, for over 20 years. She was tossing around the idea of buying the house across the street and opening up another daycare, but I could see how exhausted she was. Life was not easy.”

With a trio of children in tow, including Austin, Shyann and Shailynn, the couple from California were looking for a way to support their family, as well as find more free time to spend together. When Titus mentioned the possibility of expanding his new mobile wash business to include window washing and janitorial services, a spark ignited in Joy.

What had begun as a pressure washing service started by Titus just after he created his self-built washer, which he has since upgraded in a purchased pressure washer, has since boomed with the addition of window and janitorial services, which many of their Fort Morgan and Brush business clients have taken advantage of.  

When the couple made their move from their home in California, back to Titus’ family roots in Colorado, it was the area that first brought appeal. “We are loving it here in Brush,” said Titus. “It has a rural feel and a country feel that we just didn’t get in the city.”

Titus was born and bred in Colorado, making the state home to him. When his parents made the move to California, Titus went with. He met wife Joy there 23 years ago and has been married to his bride for 21 years as of May 20. Spending the majority of his own career in sales, promoting everything from Yellowbook advertising sales to large equipment sales, gave Titus a vast knowledge of promotions and marketing, but when he looked toward the future, he saw something more.

For the duo and their children, it was taking time to focus on the family, to spend with their children and even to inspire their offspring, that proved a prime priority. The Grants made the move back to Colorado just a year-and-a-half ago and it wasn’t long afterwards that they ventured forth on their exciting new journey. 

“It’s a bit scary, but it is exciting,” said Joy whose career in childcare had brought her much pride, but didn’t afford her the time she had wanted to devote to her kids. “But this decision has been more about quality of life and priorities for us.” “We also wanted to create something to pass on to our kids,” Titus added. “We really created this business for them.”

The Grants’ Mobile Wash LLC got going officially in September of 2015, but picked up steam after the addition of Joy and the window and janitorial services, with many big and small businesses around Morgan County counted as clients. “It’s mostly been word of mouth and referrals that have us doing so much business so far,” noted Titus. “But knocking on doors also has helped. It’s what I’ve done for the past 20 years in my sales experience, so getting out, canvassing and speaking to people in person is still my greatest asset.”

From residential to commercial, the Mobile Wash cleaning company has a long list of services offered, including professional window cleaning, commercial janitorial services, commercial, residential and rental vacancy cleaning, store fronts, decks, sidewalks and gum removal, graffiti removal, road signs and road clean-up, spider webs, restaurant hood vents, flat roofs and rain gutters to farm equipment, semi-tractors and trailers, commercial fleets and oil field service cleaning. 

“We are a family-run business,” finished Titus. “It was created by the family and for the family, to serve the community. And our clients have been wonderful so far.” The company tag line, “What do you need cleaned?” pushes the couple’s notion that there’s nothing they can’t tackle and they urge anyone in need to contact them about any dirt or grime invading a space. 

Gardiner Super-Lite® Brush Guide Video

Gardiner Super-Lite® Brush Guide Video: An overview of the complete Gardiner Water-Fed Pole brush range for window cleaning given by Alex Gardiner, but also some terminology that is useful for when you need a certain type of brush for a certain job.

Free Water Fed Pole Brush Accessory From Tecbuk

Free Water Fed Pole Brush Accessory - wait for it... Only when you enter the contest & win at the WFP Academy competition for the best optional alternative name for the ‘SideTrack’ (pictured above) swivel brush. Tecbuk will ship the ‘SideTrack any where in the world, and if they do use the alternative name in replace of the SideTrack, they will also send one of the new carbon fibre brush extensions to the winner. Only from Tecbuk - The finest hand made window cleaning brushes, made in the UK. Previous blog on Tecbuk here.

“Once you have used one you won’t ever go back to only using a fixed position brush”...

• Tecbuk ‘SideTrack’ attachment keeps the brush on the glass when working at more acute angles.
• Confined space or obstacles are no longer a problem when the brush is able to pivot left or right.
• Time saving are increased even further with the use of the Sidetrack.
• Even if you can work face onto the window, you don’t have to, stay in the same position and carry on cleaning the windows either side from where you are standing.

Specification:

Material: Anodised aluminium & high strength plastic

Weight: 57g

Pivots: left & right.

Thread: Standard German/tapered thread connects to angle adapter or brush extensions.

Attachment: 2 x locating holes, SideTrack will fit directly onto Aerial brush threads.

Quick release pin: to change brush heads fast.

(The SideTrack can also be attached onto most other brushes using self tapping screws).

SideTrack - Launch price £19.39 (Limited stock remaining with launch price).

Standard retail Price £29.89

*Available now*

Duel trim Aerial brush with SideTrack £49.79

comes with pencil jets, hose , 'Y' piece 

Changing the brush to an initial or first clean brush is quick with the SideTrack -

1. Release 8mm pole hose from quick release connector

2. Pull pin out from the SideTrack

3. Slide brush out from the sidetrack

4. Slide alternative brush back onto sidetrack

5. Push back in SideTrack pin and 8mm hose

Made from solid aluminium and weighing only 20g the 'SideTrack brush adapter' should last your entire window cleaning career and can be re-used time and time again on new brushes.

SideTrack brush adapters are available to buy on there own £14.50 each. SideTrack only - available September. To pre-order email to - richard@rswindowcleaning.com  Subject to availability.

Coming soon:With the carbon fibre brush extension initially there will be 4 different sizes starting with a reach from 10.5 inches through to 18.5 inches; these measurements are taken from the back of the brush stock, so not including the brushes bristles or monofilaments, the weights of the new extensions will be around 50g going up to 75g and will fit most poles.

The Window Cleaners Who Turn Their Hand

After four months of construction, Brush resident Virgil Roberts has completed an approximate 85-square foot 'miniature home.' The project also included an outhouse.

Brush resident builds 'miniature home' - After years in the janitorial business, washing windows for companies and building furniture, one Brush resident decided to take his knowledge of construction and build a ‘miniature home.’ Brush resident Virgil Roberts recently completed construction of an 8x10 home with approximately 85-square feet inside, a front porch and an outhouse. “Actually, I wanted to see if I could do it,” Roberts said of the part that he enjoyed the most about building the home. “It’s like a hunting cabin or you could use it for a mother-in-law cabin. It looks nice enough that if someone wants a little office in their backyard (it would work, too). Nobody has anything like this.”

The home includes electricity, a variety of small appliances, a bunk bed and a large window designed to allow sunlight into the home in-order to heat it through a ‘passive solar’ window. In addition, the entire building is wrapped in ‘reflective insulation.’ “It’s supposed to reflect the heat,” Roberts said of the insulation he used. “It’s about the same as regular insulation.” The outhouse was built to allow Roberts a break from constructing the building. “I got bored one day, so I made an outside john,” he said. Construction began in April and came to an end in late July.

According to Roberts, the  building  was built on railroad ties and only worked on it part-time in-between  other projects around his main house.  “I didn’t put in over two hours a day,” he said adding that his son-in-law helped with installing the rafters. A building permit was not required since the unit was smaller than 120-square feet. All of the material was bought locally. With the project complete, Roberts is now interested in selling it. “I’d like to make a few extra bucks,” he said.

Roberts is asking $7,000 for the building. Included in the price is all of the brand-new appliances with their original boxes, a bunk bed, porch, outhouse and a never been used generator. After he sells the home, Roberts plans to build a similar one. The second building will include a regular size front door; however, it will be located on the side of the house to allow for additional square-feet, detachable solar panels on the end of the unit and a larger front porch.

Aussie Window Cleaner turned inventor Ric Richardson.

The beautiful mind of the Aussie who beat Microsoft: Inventor Ric Richardson is a no-bull, unassuming Aussie, but when Microsoft pinched his big idea, he took on the software behemoth ... and won. Jane Cadzow meets an unlikely giant-slayer. The phone rang early, rousing Ric Richardson from a fitful sleep. As the sun rose over the northern NSW coast, he sat on his verandah and absorbed the news that a jury on the other side of the world had awarded him half a billion dollars. "I didn't really feel like celebrating," he remembers. "I just felt like breathing for a while."

Richardson is the Australian inventor who took on Microsoft and won. In April 2009, a United States court found the giant software corporation had used his technology without his knowledge or permission, and ordered Microsoft to pay compensation of $US388 million (then worth more than $530 million). The award was one of the highest in US patent history. As it turned out, Richardson was right to keep the cork in the champagne bottle - the verdict was overturned five months later. But early this year, an appeals court upheld the original jury's decision that Microsoft had infringed his patent. He was vindicated, though still didn't feel like throwing a party. "I was just very relieved," he says.

Richardson, 49, has a friendly, round face, dark-rimmed glasses and blue eyes. Friends and colleagues speak in awe of his prodigious intelligence but the sheer size of him is what you notice first - his nimble brain is trapped inside a lumbering body that tips the scales at close to 180 kilograms. When we meet at a smart Byron Bay resort, he is wearing a navy T-shirt so enormous it could probably accommodate Bill Gates and the entire Microsoft board. While he talks, he perches on the edge of his seat, as if afraid his full weight might be too much for it. Though gregarious and good-humoured, he has the slightly apologetic air of one who knows he takes up more space than he should.

The innovation that prompted the legal battle is an elegant method of deterring software piracy - essentially, a system of locking software titles to individual machines so they can't be illegally copied. But Richardson isn't just a computer geek: over the years, he has produced blueprints for everything from optical-fibre fingerprinting to a home-based hydro-electric scheme and a toothpaste tube that can be squeezed to the last drop. A problem-solver, he likes to call himself. "Because that's what invention is. Solving a problem before everybody else." The Microsoft saga isn't over yet. The appeals court ruled that the jury had erred in calculating the damages payment, so a new trial will decide the amount due to Richardson and Uniloc, the company he founded. But he says he isn't hanging on that result. "The fact that they have been found guilty is the most important thing from my perspective. A lot of people think this is all about some big settlement, but no, it isn't. This case was about a lot more than money."

For much of Richardson's youth, he basically wanted to be Jimi Hendrix. Years of obsessive practice turned him into a more than competent electric guitarist - but "I could never get his loosey-goosey feel", he says, still a bit crestfallen. "I was too uptight and Caucasian for that." Since he couldn't be a thin, black rock god and had no alternative career in mind, nor any interest in going to university, he spent a while drifting between casual jobs: window washing, garbage collecting, guitar teaching. Then in 1982, when he was 20, he got his hands on a Commodore 64, one of the newfangled home computers. And everything fell into place. He already had two inventions under his belt: the Shadesavers sunglasses cord, dreamed up and sold by him and his brother, and an extendable pole for washing apartment-block windows. Read more.

Window Cleaning Resource - The Newest Products

Window Cleaning Resource seem to me making all the moves on getting new products to their store. Just a selection here of some new & trending products that are appearing.  Also if you are interested - free shipping for US customers today only (Exceptions apply). It just means adding "blackfriday" to your coupon code & you receive the free shipping. All details can be found on the window cleaning resource forum, here.

The Ninja 21' Composite Water Fed Pole by Assassin WFP's. The newest addition to the stable. Unbelievably light & rapid to use. Available from the store here. Interesting stuff..

Brushes are making a come back! These two videos are an absolute must to watch if you are interested in using them. Just click Marks name below to take you to the video. Follow the discussion at window cleaning resource here & here.

Window Cleaning Brush Review from Mark Strange on Vimeo.

Jaret talks about the pros and cons of the Unger Sprayer on a Belt. A great video & a great field test from one so young. Available here from the store.

The Ettore pure water caddy by Ettore/Reach Higher Ground. Hey! When did they join together? Available from the store here.

Mark the Window Cleaner talks about the Track Cleaner found here in the store.

Window Cleaning Water Fed Pole Brushes

Window cleaning brushes & which water fed pole brush to use has often received lively debate on window cleaning forums the world over. Peter Fogwill of "Window Tools" & the forum of the same name published this paper a couple of year a go & is still well worth a read even in today's market. Reproduced here in it's entirety, courtesy of Peter Fogwill. If you are also interested, Peter has designed & built the first water fed pole "Hot Wash" mobile trolley system, click here to see. And also the very popular "auto-brush."

What window cleaning brush? There has been a lot of talk lately about window cleaning brushes, and what ones are best. Let me start by clarifying one thing, the most popularly used is not necessarily the best. Awhile ago there was a certain brush manufacturer that caught on to the fact that the reach and wash system and water fed poles in general were gaining popularity among window cleaners, and quite rightly got in on the act. They realised their was big business in window cleaning brushes and started promoting their car washing brushes at trade shows etc, and offering good deals to water fed pole suppliers. They even made some changes to the brush to make them more window cleaning friendly, trouble is they forgot about two main factors that overwhelmingly effected the cleaning power of the brush. Firstly the density of the bristles, their brush is far too dense and this restricts the flow of dirty water passing through the bristles, and working its way down and off the glass. Secondly the bristles were splayed at the ends to make them softer for car paintwork, as glass is a hard surface this was not necessary for a window cleaning brush, it had a negative effect and trapped dirt particles, again restricting the easy passage of dirty water through the brush and down to the bottom of the glass. These two factors although not the only disadvantages makes the most widely used window cleaning brush a nightmare to use.

How did the average window cleaner not notice this? They were supplied with the brush from their supplier, they didn't know any better, after all if you pay good money for a window cleaning system you would expect to be supplied with the best equipment to do the job it was designed to do. Trouble is most of the window cleaning suppliers have never cleaned a window in their life, they picked up on a brush that was being heavily promoted, got a good deal and the rest is history. The window cleaner got round the defects on the brush by brushing the window and then lifting the brush off the glass to give it a final rinse, which is both time consuming and a much higher water consumption over the course of the day.

There are another couple of disadvantages with the brush I am talking about. The weight of the brush, and the shape of the bristles. Again the clever window cleaner has compensated for the weight by using a much smaller brush, the size of the brush brings the weight down considerably, only problem with that is again more time wasted covering the glass with the smaller brush, and again more water wasted as you are on the glass longer. Next there is the shape of the bristles, they are straight. If they were slightly crinkled it would serve as a more aggressive cleaner, as there is a more abrasive contact on any dirt sticking to the glass. Slightly elongated bristles servers the same purpose allowing the bristles to splay more and would allow the non splayed tips of the bristles to come in contact with the dirt. This would also allow for faster cleaning, which in turn reduces water usage.

The funny thing about all this is I have had customers of mine changing from the brush I supply which has none of the disadvantages of the above brush, to one of the disadvantaged brushes. Why? Simply because they have been told by other window cleaners that the brush they use is not a window cleaning brush, and that they have to change over to the disadvantage brush that they use. Its not all bad though, these helpful chaps sometimes show them some new exciting ways to get a spot free finish on the glass, they show them how to take the brush off the glass and give it a final rinse, and how to waste time and water into the bargain.

Also as a bonus, one of the members of Peters forum also added this video on his guide to reduce spotting using various water fed pole techniques.

ISSA/INTERCLEAN Waterfed Pole Brushes By Hill Brush (Salmon)

HillBrush provides the Pro-Window line of ultra-lightweight water-fed brushes sets new standards in ergonomics, innovation, ultra-lightweight use and provides the latest generation of professional brushes for pure-water cleaning systems. The products have been developed by Hill Brush Co. Ltd, typically know for manufacturing the world’s most comprehensive line in quality manual cleaning tools. New standards in ergonomics & innovation - Ultra-lightweight brushes for 20m+ work heights -Exceptional dirt pick up -Easy rinsing - Glides smoothly across the glass without leaving streaks - Smart-lock technology for lightweight telescopic handles - Safety-first approach - Ultimate quality .

The PRO-WINDOW line of products sets new standards in ergonomics and innovation and provides you with the latest generation of professional glass cleaning tools. The system consists of a T-bar scrubber with a microfibre sleeve, a handle with a selection of three different size squeegee blades, and telescopic poles that fit both the T-bar and the squeegee. The handles on the squeegee and scraper T-Bar are created with a non-slip, bi-component ergonomic grip that fits perfectly into a user’s hand. When it comes to understanding the needs of the user, HBC’s new PRO-WINDOW Soft Rubber provides streak-free performance, better glide and superior results.



SHOE COVER DISPENSER: Finally one of the biggest success stories of the past two years has been the Automatic Shoe Cover Dispenser. This has created a storm and will continue to do so in 2010 with the 3rd Generation model due for release shortly.
Improves hygiene & cleanliness - Automatically fits over your shoes - Reduces germs & infections - No need to remove your footware - Easy to load - Innovative design -Professional look - Comes complete with 100 covers -Refills available.

The accolade of supplying the Royal Household was, and remains, a sign of excellence, a recognition to be proud of and one that is unequalled anywhere in the world. Our warrant gives HBC the right to display the royal coat of arms discreetly on our products, packaging, stationary and company vehicles. A company's Royal Warrant is reviewed every five years and HBC continues to set the benchmark for products in its field.

DIY Water Fed Brushes

Brought to you by the good (and Handsome) people at FREE WATER FED GUIDE. AKA Matt & Jeff Brimble! CLICK HERE FOR FORUM/MESSAGE BOARD. There used to be problems with spammers, but now it is a little safer.

ITEMS YOU NEED:
VIKAN BRUSH (I use the 10"er)
Vikan to Unger adaptor
TWO FAN Nozzles
TWO Bulkhead Connections (the fan holders)
12" of 6mm pipe
ONE 6mm "T" Connection

Tools you need:
A drill (with a slow trigger start if you have one)
2mm Drill bit
6mm Drill bit
8.5 Drill bit
13mm Drill bit

Lets get Going:
Drill a 2mm Hole Through the brush from the Bristle side.

Note the holes are about 1" from the slot of the brush - see white chalk marks.

You will now have 2 x 2mm guide holes. Now from the "Handle side" drill a 6mm hole straight through. This hole will take the fan Jet.
BE CAREFULL WITH THE NEXT BIT - I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH "TAKE YOUR TIME"
Take your 8.5mm drill bit and Drill from the Bristle side.
ONLY DRILL ABOUT 6MM DEEP as this is the bigger bit on the nozzle.



ONCE AGAIN, ONLY 6mm DEEP
SO TAKE IT EASY. Your Fan Nozzle will now sit flush with the brush.

The Fan Nozzle will stick out on the Handle side about 6mm. Not enough to take the Bulkhead connection. So take the fan nozzle out. Take your 13mm Drill bit. ONCE AGAIN TAKE YOU TIME. Now drill From the HANDLE SIDE with your 13mm drill bit. This only needs to be 8mm deep.

Now feed the Nozzle in from the bristle side. Push the Bulkhead connections on the ends of the nozzles. You will feel them lock. You will know when they lock as they will not pull off. Do up the first Nut and line the spray up so its along the brush. You will see the line on the fan nozzle.
then when you are happy with that, just do the 2nd nut up. This will lock the other nut together.

Cut the pipe with a Stanley knife about 5"s long. Make sure its a clean cut & push the pipe into the "T."

Push the other ends of the pipe into the bulkhead connections/fan holders. Screw the Vikan/Unger connection into the Handle space. JOB DONE.



Please Note, you will not be able to remove the Fan Nozzles from the brush. So if they get blocked - Undo the pipe to the bulkhead connection and flush the offending item out.

If you enjoyed this guide, please take your time to visit the DIY Water Fed Pole Forum here. If you have decided to build your own Water Fed Pole System, you should take a look at how to build your own system here. Any questions will be answered on the forum if you get into difficultys.