Clean Windows + Low Winter Sun + Glass Refocus = Fire

Clean windows with low sun on to another glass surface can refocus sunlight to cause fires in properties.

Beware the winter sun, warn firefighters: Firefighters are warning people to beware of the fiery dangers winter sunshine brings. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service say around this time every year they attend fires caused by the sun’s rays focussing through or onto glass, and then setting fire to nearby objects.

The winter sun is low in the sky and shines directly through windows, so any mirrored or glass items close to the window may re-focus the sun’s rays onto combustible items, often curtains, heating them up to a point where they spontaneously ignite into flames.

Paul Bray, Community Safety Protection manager for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: “Many people do not realise the dangers of leaving glass objects too close to windows. Anything that can concentrate the sun’s ray should be moved away from the window to reduce the risk of fire breaking out, especially where the sun can shine directly into the room.

“I have personally attended two fires caused by make-up mirrors, positioned on dressers, in bedrooms. “One of these fires occurred in the early morning, with the sun shining through a south-easterly facing window, and the other occurred in the early evening, with the sun shining through a south westerly facing window. “Both days were bright and sunny, but not hot.

“If any of your rooms are penetrated by bright sunlight, especially at this time of year, carry out a check to make sure any glass objects cannot re-focus the sunlight to create a fire. “Now would also be a good time to discuss your fire procedures with the rest of your family, fit or check your smoke alarm is working, and put into practice a simple routine of shutting internal doors, not only as part of a bedtime routine - but also whenever you leave your home unattended, as even a light internal door will prevent or reduce smoke and heat damage to a rooms contents.”

Also see:

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Character Building - You Need To Clean Windows!

Fed up with poor grades, attendance and attitude problems, students were sent window cleaning.

High school football coach benches entire team for character issues: A Utah high school football coach suspended his entire team recently, and it had nothing to do with their performance on the field. Matt Labrum, the head coach at Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah, benched all 50 of his players last weekend because of character issues. Fed up with poor grades, attendance and attitude problems, in addition to learning that one or two players may have been involved in cyber-bullying another student, Labrum ordered all of his players to turn in their jerseys and equipment following a loss to Judge Memorial Catholic on Sept. 20.  “We felt like our respect level for our students and to the teachers and things weren’t what we wanted that to be,’’ Labrum told Joe Fryer Thursday.

The players were given a letter signed by the coaching staff with a list of requirements they needed to fulfill if they wanted to play again. They had to take part in two days of community service, from gardening to window-washing, and complete a character education class. They also had to attend all of their classes without being late to any of them, and those with poor grades had to show improvement in order to get their places back on the team.

The team also elected new captains at a meeting, with only two of the seven captains chosen in the preseason being re-elected. The players are now preparing for their homecoming game against Emery High School on Friday night. “We’ve cleaned up our act,’’ sophomore player Karter Rook said.  On Wednesday night, most of the players got their jerseys back during a team meeting, but 10 players did not because they failed to meet the requirements. The tough love was welcomed by the players’ parents.  “You’re held up to a higher standard, and your behavior better be up to snuff,’’ Jennifer Rook, Karter’s mother, said. “It really brought us back down to earth, and I think it got people to do what they needed to do,’’ Karter said.

"How To" Clean Windows Professionally

Mark Henderson shows how to clean windows professionally.

Mark Henderson of Window Cleaning Resources UK has released his window cleaning "how to" videos through Unger Europe. If you haven't seen them, they are well worth a look & can be viewed directly in HD on Youtube here. The one below is on auto-play and should lead you through the 10 minute (average) each 1 - 4 parts.They can also be viewed in German here. If you have any problems viewing them, they can be played independently here...

Part 1: Unger Window Cleaning-Tutorial 1 - Know your tools

Part 2: Unger Window Cleaning-Tutorial 2-Cleaning techniques

Part 3: Unger Window Cleaning-Tutorial 3-Cleaning at height

Part 4: Unger Window Cleaning-Tutorial 4-How to clean windows

Residents Put Life At Risk To Clean Windows

Residents put life at risk to clean windows: Gulf News reader advices people to take safety precautions. When I noticed this happening across from my office building, I could not avoid taking a picture of this person cleaning his window with a bucket of water beside him. He was not only risking his life, but there is even a chance of him causing damage to the vehicles parked below the building. I’ve seen this happening several times in the building throughout the summer.
I wanted to highlight this situation to alert our community from inviting danger to themselves and their fellow beings. I advice people to avoid such an unsafe practice, which could cause risk to themselves and others, too. These windows can be cleaned easily by just removing it from the groove and replacing it after the cleaning process. Authorities should also put a notice in each building reminding residents of safety measures. This reader is a sales manager based in Abu Dhabi.

Some safety tips from Robinson-Solutions:

1. Never put your head outside the window or beyond the window pane - your center of balance will follow your head, which tips the body.

2. Try never to use steps or ladders when cleaning windows from the inside, adding another factor of working at height from the inside will increase your chances of falling.

3. Over reaching will seriously raise your chances of falling. Watch your water on the ground, it could cause you to slip.

4. The chances of your tools falling & injuring people or property are increased, use safety bungees on your tools. Use a pole with lockable tips for your tools. Never leave tools or objects on the ledge.

5. Use a pole with lockable tips for reaching heights, again it is possible to keep your head inside.

6. Take breaks & think about the job before starting ... it may be possible to remove the window frame so you can clean it inside. Ask an assistant to help you if the window is too heavy (watch for wind).

7. Specialist tools can be bought for this type of work - I recommend Wagtail tools.

8. If you don't feel comfortable doing the job - don't do it. Call a professional. A clean window is not worth your life.

Reverends Threat To Clean Windows Raises Congregation

All Saints Church is an Anglican church in Hove, city of Brighton and Hove, UK.

Vicar will not have to clean windows after all: A vicar saw his Sunday congregation go up by half after warning on Facebook he would give it all up and become a window cleaner if he didn't boost numbers. The tongue in cheek threat made by Reverend Phil Ritchie turned out to be a holy success when 207 people turned up -seven more than his target. Rev Ritchie normally sees up to 140 people at All Saints Church in The Drive, Hove, but wanted to get the numbers up on the national annual Back to Church Sunday.

As well as telling parishioners at the church to ask one at least one other person to come and join them, he also posted a message on Facebook. He said: “I urged people to come along and then said if I don't get at least 200 I would give it up and become a window cleaner- during the summer months only of course! “At first I was quite confident and sure that enough people would come along but when it got closer to the day I started to think I was going to end up with a lot of egg on my face.

Rev Phil Ritchie and his family.

“In all seriousness, I would not have gone for a change in career although obviously I've nothing against taking up window cleaning. “It would be a great job and I love being in the outdoors. “I'm certainly used to cleaning the lead windows of the vicarage so I've had some practice. “I also told the congregation about the window cleaning comment and I thought some of them might think that was a good idea and stay away but everyone came along.”

Rev Ritchie, who has been at the church for three years, says he is keen to get the wider community involved. He said: “This was obviously a little bit of fun but there is a serious message behind it. “The church is an important part of the community and I would like to reach out to as many people as possible.”

It's Hard To Replicate The Work Of A Professional Window Washer

Let the sunlight in for an easy way to impress home buyers (By Jackson Holtz): Nothing adds greater value to selling a home than light, real estate experts say. Agents always turn on all the lamps and light fixtures before hosting an open house. While the indoor lighting is important, it's secondary to letting sunshine filter through windows, said Meribeth Hutchings, owner of Windermere Lake Stevens. "Sparkling clean windows let in more natural light," she said. That's the primary reason that window washing is an important and necessary step in preparing to put a home on the market, and in the regular upkeep of what is probably your most valuable investment. "When you have clean windows, it shows buyers that you've paid attentions to details in your home," Hutchings said. "It shows you cared for your home."

You can try to wash windows yourself, but it's hard to replicate the work of a professional window washer. They know how to eliminate streaks and leave windows sparkling. The cost varies depending on many factors, mostly the number of windows in the home. Some companies will charge by the hour, others by the number of windows. Check to make sure the estimate includes washing inside, outside, screens and skylights. Details count, too, so ask if the washers wipe down sills and dust hard-to-reach skylight areas. While working on the windows of a Camano Island home, Robert Ketchum of Krystal Kleen Window Cleaning in Arlington uses a razor blade to remove pitch and other stubborn substances from the glass.

Robert Ketchum, the owner of Krystal Kleen Window Cleaning in Arlington, said the average cost to clean a two-story, 2,000-square-foot home with 40 panes is $130. As a sole proprietor, his overhead is low, and he works by referral only, he said. Other window washers may charge more to cover additional costs. Ketchum, who has been in business for nearly two decades, charges by the pane and includes inside and outside, plus screens and wiping down the sills. "It really cleans it up," he said.

By comparison, Top Notch Window & Gutter Cleaning in Edmonds charges about $150 to $200 for a similar job. They're a small family-run business. Homeowners should clear knickknacks and other items from window areas to make it easier for the pros to do their work. Homeowners may want to hold off on washing skylights during the winter, when rain will soil the job, Ketchum said. That doesn't mean skylights don't need to be dusted, however. "You want to make sure there are no cobwebs," Ketchum said.

Gutters are another consideration. "If they're dirty on the outside, chances are they are going to be dirty on the inside," Ketchum said. "It may become an issue during inspection." He said gutter cleaning costs extra depending on the number of gutters. Prices range up to $300 or more for very large homes. Before clearing the gutters, Robert Ketchum sweeps away evergreen needles and sticks that would reclog them. Clogged gutters can become an issue during inspection.

For most homeowners, window washing is part of spring cleaning. Ketchum said he's busiest from early spring through the fall. Still, many real estate agents will hire him no matter the time of year. "Most people are looking for a view," he said. "It's more likely to be appealing to somebody if you have clean windows with a view."

Starbucks To Finally Get Window Cleaners - Maybe..

So, on a vacation in Miami last year, the wife & I decided to pursue a little shopping in the Dolphin Mall, Lincoln Road - the usual places + a few other spots. We are both caffeine addicted, so although the coffee isn't exactly what we are used to - we still needed our injections. The wife takes her coffee - "cafe solo," which is like a thick oil, but full strength coffee, a little like 10 coffee beans liquefied but hot. I like "cafe con leche," but strong, full flavoured with a good foam. The wife gave up on getting anywhere near what a "cafe solo" was meant to be like, I on the other hand had to swap to "cafe mocha," for the sole reason of them forgetting to put coffee in the cup - every single time!

Forgetting the coffee for a moment, it was slightly disconcerting that I couldn't see through the windows. They were smudged up with fingerprints, handprints, thrown coffee + all manner of marks that you usually see (I refer to each store we visited). The top part of the windows which were out of reach for most, looked like they had been cleaned with a mop. As a seasoned window cleaner, I could tell they hadn't invested in a professional cleaner, probably the cheapest guy in town or maybe even get their own staff to 'have a go.' My point is either get a regular window cleaning program or maybe people will start thinking what else in the cleaning regime they decided to skip. With this in mind, I penned an email to them with the response below a month later - (click to enlarge). When I replied to this email - I never got a reply. You can also add to the Shitbucks environmental cleaning program here. Just taking a look at their "My Starbucks Idea" webpage - it seems that clean windows would be a good idea!

Our windows are covered in shit. A couple of free beverage coupons - no thanks.

Canadian Starbucks gets interactive storefront display: Our friends living in the Great White North catch up with us, as their Starbucks stores in Toronto and Vancouver now offer more than just great coffee (something tells me there will be others who dispute this) and free Wi-Fi connectivity – we’re talking about interactive window displays that is guaranteed to grab the attention of any passers-by. This interactive display comes in the form of a vinyl screen, aided by a projector and gesture controls. This is definitely a whole lot cooler than having your regular poster or flat panel TV advertising the latest promotions – will we soon see augmented reality advertising at stores as well? One thing’s for sure – you can bet that Starbucks inventories in those stores will definitely see an increase in a window cleaner considering the future fingers that will dance all over the window.