RHG WaterFed Pole Fan Spray Adapter

Shawn Gavin shows off the over the top of the brush spray adapter from Reach Higher Ground. It's a fan spray nozzle that fits to a bracket that easily adapts to any of the plastic goose-necks that are on the market today. All is needed is a designated hose line for your spray tip. Shawn says a lot of people have been asking for a spray tip that can apply soap solution or a speciality chemical for solar panel cleaning, because they need a seperate designated line that won't contaminate their pure water hose. Of course this could work the other way round with the soap/chemical feed coming through the brush & overhead pure water using the new designated spray tip. The possibilities are endless..

New Low Pressure Window Cleaning System From RHG

The new low pressure system from Reach Higher Ground (RHG): For a number of years now, RHG has been developing water purifiers for window cleaners in the USA.  Most of their systems are trolley based with motors, pumps, and/or batteries for large scale production while in the field.  Their latest system has gone powerless.

The system features RHG's own filters.  Being the only US firm to have developed their own filters, RHG is able to develop systems that have capacities and low prices like none other. The system includes a 21" Carbon Pre-filter, designed to remove the chlorine from the inlet water.  Two 21" RO membranes create over 1 gallon per minute at 60 PSI of line pressure.  They remove 95% of the inlet TDS at that pressure as well.  The final stage in this 4 stage system is a 21" DI to remove the remaining TDS and polish off the water. The system weighs only 40 LBS and is slightly larger then your rectangular window cleaning bucket. Here is a video of Shawn Gavin showing off the new device.

Window Cleaning News & Videos

New Zealand - Fake cleaners fooled restaurant owners: Beware of dodgy window washers. This is the warning issued by Palmerston North restaurant owner Barbara Taniyama, who was duped out of $120 by a pair of phoney window cleaners. Mrs Taniyama, who owns Japanese restaurant Yatai with husband Atsushi, was called by a man offering to clean the Featherston St restaurant's windows on Monday. After coming to see the building, he quoted her $120 for the interior and exterior ground floor windows. "I thought that was quite a reasonable fee because it's quite a big job," Mrs Taniyama said. "They said `we are on the dole and we are trying to do some work to get off the dole'." Mrs Taniyama hired them and was told they would return to do the job yesterday afternoon. But the men, who claimed to be from a business called "Smith's Window Cleaning" turned up at 10am yesterday, just as Mrs Taniyama was leaving. "One had a small brush and a scraper and a small triangular trough of what looked like dirty water." When she returned about 40 minutes later they were gone and the windows were not clean. The men collected the money from Mr Taniyama, after about 30 minutes of substandard work.
"One hundred and twenty dollars is not a huge amount but you feel pissed off," she said. "My husband is furious with me for hiring them and I'm furious with him for paying them." There is no Smith's Window Cleaning business in the Yellow Pages and a phone number left by the men did not work. Detective Sergeant Tim Moffatt said a similar scam involving dodgy tree trimmers cropped up in Palmerston North last year. "The warning is don't do business with people who don't appear bona fide, simple as that," he said.

Twyford man sentenced for blackmail: Terence ‘Terry’ Burton was jailed at Reading Crown Court on Monday after admitting attempting to extract £20,000 from Berkshire-based ‘Dr X’, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Sentencing Burton, Recorder John Darling said blackmail was “the attempted murder of the soul”. He slammed 51-year-old Burton for threatening to pass on sexually explicit footage of the doctor and “his missus” to the General Medical Council. Ex-window cleaner Burton also attempted to sell the footage – filmed secretly during a doctor’s appointment by his wife Marion who hid a camera in her clutch handbag – to a Sunday tabloid newspaper. Burton, of Wargrave Road, admitted a count of blackmail in January this year. However, legal restrictions meant the plea could not be reported until his wife’s trial earlier this month at which she admitted being a dominatrix.

It was the day the sky disappeared. One might have assumed the end was nigh as the most severe dust storm in 70 years blew across southeast Queensland, bringing chaos to airports, cutting power, fanning bushfires and causing thousands of asthmatics to retreat indoors. Amateur photographers emerged from office blocks to point their cameras skyward. The tallest city towers vanished in the haze; giant cranes were blanketed in an ominous orange hue and window cleaners across the state were salivating. The weather bureau said the suffocating storm pushed out of western NSW, propelled by a change from northerly to southerly winds.

Kids have fun thinking inside the box: It was reassuring to see that kids' imaginations are surviving despite the best efforts of toy designers and busy parents to make creativity obsolete. Who needs an imagination when video games create the adventure for you, when organized sports leave no time for just goofing around? Even Legos, once the stem cells of building blocks that left everything to the imagination, now come in specialized kits. The last time I visited the Children's Discovery Museum was four years ago, for the opening of its special area for toddlers and preschoolers, called the Wonder Cabinet. That creation took months to build and cost $1 million. Ah, those were the days. So, rather than see 1,200 square feet of prime exhibit space sit empty for a month, Bogle grabbed the big boxes that the museum's new recycling bins had been shipped in and put them out to see what the young visitors would do. In no time, kids were climbing around and having a ball. Before long, new creations began to take shape. Creatures, skyscrapers with lots of windows, a fort with a "no girls allowed" sign. "The kids really love our high-tech exhibits," she said. "But then the window washer comes along, and they are just as excited by that."

The Valley of the Sun’s tourism industry came out in force Tuesday morning to celebrate the findings of two studies on travel and emphasize the importance of tourism dollars to the state’s economy. Elected officials and others spoke of the negative media attention over high-profile corporate meetings during the past year, called the “AIG effect” in reference to the fallout from a meeting of insurance executives from that firm here in the Valley. Phoenix leaders said that negative portrayal has translated into lost business and lost opportunities.A restaurant owner and a hotel worker also spoke of the importance of tourism to their livelihoods. Vincent Guerithault, owner of Vincent’s on Camelback, talked about the recession’s impact on his business. From the elimination of valet service and window washing, to the reduction in phone lines at his business and an overall reduction in staff, he has tried to cut costs in response to the recession.

Reach Higher Ground waterfed poles have a brand new blog - go here to see it. Shawn Gavin shows us the merits of the backpack below. Next demo' date in Arizona in November.The second video shows Shawn fitting an Xtel pole tip.

The next 3 videos from Simpole. A little shaky the second one, but its the only video where the new clamps can be seen pulled out & worked closed.

Window Cleaning Related Videos

Don Marsh - Networking with Other Services: Once in awhile I get a job for someone else who does some other service. It happens because a customer asks me if I know a painter or electrician or a plumber. I give them a name and number and that person mysteriously gets a phone call from someone who is ready to spend money. In a nutshell, that is how networking referrals work. At this very moment, someone is looking for a window cleaner in your town. She is hesitant to just call someone in the Yellow Pages because she wants someone who is known and trusted by her friends or another service person whose judgment she trusts. Today, some baby sitter or dog groomer or nail tech is thinking of who she knows who cleans windows; or who she has heard another customer talk about. Everyone is drawing a blank…because not one of those people knows who you are. More....

Don talks about self employment...

Two domestic workers (aka house maid) cleaning a second floor apartment window in Jordan, risking her life in the process. This is a very common sight in Jordan. Window cleaning is considered a required chore in many households, and if the worker refused she could be coerced, chastised, or fired. In some cases where the maid falls and dies or is injured, it's reported as an attempted suicide and the victim's family is denied any compensations.

Mr Squeegee of "A New View window cleaning" brings you the 6th & 7th episodes in the summer series of "weather or not." In the first video, Tony shares his ideas on add-on services during the slowdown. In the second video, Tony gives his thoughts on scheduling jobs around the heat. The third video shows you Tony utilising his backpack with a wfp on a balcony. See other videos here.

Shawn Gavin of Reach Higher Ground shows us the clamps & operation of the Gardiners SLX pole in the next 3 videos. RHG was started in 2006 by Shawn Gavin, a window cleaner with a vision. Shortly after getting into the window cleaning industry Shawn discovered pure water window cleaning. In his day to day operations of his window cleaning business Shawn found a need for products that were not currently available. As a result he sought out those products from other markets and began to utilize them in his own business. Since then, he has become committed to making those types of products available to other window cleaners. Shawn still operates his window cleaning business and his passion is to educate his fellow window cleaners about the benefits of pure water and help them incorporate it into their business. Reach Higher Ground, manufacturers in Colorado and distributes to many countries around the world. Check out the new website here.

Another new video series in the making from Window Cleaning Resource, this one titled "WFP's on WCR." Hosted by Micah Kommers of "We Wash Windows" from Greenville, South Carolina. Also shown is an exterior gutter cleaning video utilising a pressure washer.

The North West Window Cleaners BBQ was the gathering place for all window cleaners in the North west territory & was a resounding success. Here is the video below to show what happened on the day. Look out for the world's biggest squeegee "the Slayer." Tim Hunter of "Gleaming the View" showcased Networking, Demos, a Swap-meet & a BBQ. Click here for more details & pictures.

Finally....I think the heat has finally got to this window cleaner.

Water Fed Pole Demo Live from Window Cleaning Resource USA

Coming to you live from the USA, the water fed pole convention above. Showing demonstrations of Xtel poles Gardiner poles & products from Reach Higher Ground. "Massive Sale on the following brands today only. We will beat any advertised price. Order online or call 862 266 0677 - Order must be placed today to save!" If you are a member of the forum at Window Cleaning resource, just click on the logo to the left to take you straight there. If you are not a member - click on the top picture to take you to the FlixWagon live feed. There may be live feed below - but blogger may be slower than actual live feed! If transmission stops, just refesh page.

Window Cleaning News & Video

Mark Strange of "Beautiful View" from Toronto, Canada gives us another installment with a few more unbiased reviews of products from Window Cleaning Resource in the window cleaners workplace, this week - "Unger angle arms."

Cleaning up at Young Business Awards: Twenty seven year old Eunan McKernan of Ballymoney based Proclean has been recognised by Advantage NI and Invest Northern Ireland for being amongst the most successful and inspirational young entrepreneurs in the Ballymoney area. Funded by Invest NI, Advantage NI celebrates the spirit of enterprise that is alive and kicking in young people aged 16-30. Eunan was inspired to start up in business by his brother, who is also a cleaning contractor. Proclean commenced trading in February 2007. The company is based on domestic and commercial maintenance cleaning that includes window cleaning, power washing, pvc cleaning and carpet cleaning. Customer satisfaction and competitive pricing is high on Proclean’s list of motivators. Using only the latest in technology to ensure the highest levels of efficiency Proclean delivers to the demands of its market. As Proclean goes from strength to strength Eunan is still not content with stopping here, as he sets his sights high for the future of the business - just as any entrepreneur would! In the future Eunan wants Proclean to have more cleaning machines and more vehicles on the road, creating employment in the local area.
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Vail Valley company to offer free window cleaning: In an effort to stimulate the small business economy in the Vail Valley and Summit County, C&K Window Cleaning recently announced it will provide free window cleaning for small businesses. The offer is good only for those who call on April 17 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. “If small businesses are going survive these turbulent times, we are going to have to help each other when we can, because Washington DC doesn’t give a damn about us,” C&K Window Cleaning owner Tracy Matthews said. “That’s why I have committed to help the small businesses of Summit and Eagle Counties by offering free window cleaning so they can better present their products and services to the consumer and hopefully increase sales. This is not the cure all to fixing the local economy, it is a very small step”. The offer applies to ground-level storefronts, lobbies and showrooms.
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Sing Up, we've got the wrinkly blues: A Leighton film-maker has come out of retirement to post a music video on the interactive internet site YouTube highlighting the plight of Britain's pensioners. Bruce Barlow, 67, of Steppingstone Place penned the words and music to A Pensioner's Blues. The action illustrates the anger and frustration of older people trying to live a comfortable life on a fixed income and the apparent apathy of the government and forces of law and order to their plight. Featured characters include a shifty-looking window cleaner, a burglar, hooded thugs, a definitely dodgy David Cameron lookalike and a jobsworth policeman. Click on the picture for the video featuring a ladder climbing window cleaner.
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Shawn Gavin shows us the backpack & Mike Draper his water fed pole skills at their last demo with products from Reach Higer Ground.

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HOLLAND, NJ. Although Norbert Hirst Jr.'s Kleen and Fresh Co. has been cleaning carpets for 22 years, he is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. That's because in 1989 he met a man who revolutionized his technique. The paths of Mr. Hirst and Jim Wulf crossed because they patronized the same supplier. Mr. Wulf is now retired, but in those days he operated Magic Carpet Care in Bucks County. "He saw that I used a portable and asked if I was interested in learning how to clean carpets the right way." Without revealing any trade secrets, Mr. Hirst recalls, "The next three years I did my apprenticeship with him and he taught me every aspect of the industry, including building my own truck-powered carpet- and furniture-cleaning equipment. This same unit is still in use today."
Another highlight of the Holland Township company's history came in 1997 when Mr. Hirst met his wife Deborah, who would also become his business partner. In 1998, she increased their business by 30%. He said, "She runs the office and is the pleasant voice you talk to when setting up your appointment."Over the years, the Hirsts added Oriental rug cleaning and window washing to their services and may soon add tile and grout cleaning.Although the company's carpet cleaning is not yet 100% "green," says Mr. Hirst, jobs can be done that way by request. He can also use hypoallergenic products, if that's what a client requires.
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HIS creditors have lost millions and some could go to the wall but high-flying Gold Coast developer Jim Raptis (pictured) is back in business. The man who has transformed the Glitter Strip's skyline has also shown a Midas touch for survival after pulling off a $1 billion rescue of his embattled Raptis Group. But angry subcontractors and suppliers branded him "Teflon Jim" after, for the second time in his career, he cut a deal with creditors which will see them paid a fraction of what is owed. While a majority of creditors agreed to throw him a lifeline, others said Mr Raptis did not deserve another chance. They said his companies should be liquidated and pursued for possible insolvent trading. "Why would we want that person (Mr Raptis) to run the company again?" businesswoman Katrina Pollard said.
Highrise window cleaning company boss Paul Scott said businesses owed about $10 million by Raptis would be "lucky to see 4c in the dollar" and some would not survive. "Teflon Jim's a good name for him," Mr Scott said. "He's used the legal system to get what he wants and he'll be back in business next week. We'll struggle to survive it." The Raptis Group and associated companies collapsed late last year with debts of around $1 billion, leaving subcontractors out of work and a $700 million Hilton Hotel project in Surfers Paradise in limbo.

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Court for window cleaner who glued up Wirral alleygates: A disgruntled window cleaner’s one-man anti-alleygate campaign cost a Merseyside council thousands of pounds. During a crusade lasting almost two years James Norman, 47, glued up alleygates on his Rock Ferry and Tranmere patch. Liverpool Crown Court heard the council installed the security gates to crackdown on vandalism, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. But furious Norman believed Wirral Borough Council was ruining his business. After falling while trying to climb over a gate he began to sabotage the system by sticking putty in the locks. Giving Norman a two-year conditional discharge Judge Bruce MacMillan said: “These difficulties were not insurmountable, you could have just asked a resident to borrow a key. “Instead of that you glued up the locks on various gates that the local authoritywent to considerable trouble and expense to install atthe request of local residents. “When these locks were glued by you the gates were inoperative and all sorts of anti-social, disruptive behaviour, so unpleasant to the residents, recommenced.” Norman, of Palmwood Close, Prenton, admitted 14 counts of criminal damage. He was arrested after he was caught on camera when officials installed CCTV. Anya Horwood, prosecuting, told the court more than 150 locks were broken. But Norman only admitted 30, causing £6,240 worth of damage which he was ordered to repay. Miss Horwood told the court following his crime spree the council decided it was “economically unviable” to keep replacing the gates.

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Jacob John Jennings, 20, of Coon Rapids, had been working as a window washer Saturday morning, March 21 outside an office tower near Interstate Hwy. 494 and Normandale Blvd. in Bloomington, Minn. He died the next day at Hennepin County Medical Center. While the Star Tribune reported he had been working with his brother, Randy Jennings, Bloomington Deputy Chief Perry Heles noted a co-worker witnessed Jacob sliding down an angled window trying to grab onto something. Slipping out of view, Jennings was later found on the ground with significant head injuries, Heles told the Isanti County News on Monday. “It’s a tragic accident. He probably wasn’t wearing the safety equipment he was supposed to be wearing, though that hasn’t been established. It’s a logical conclusion when someone falls,” said the deputy chief, adding ropes, ladders and harnesses were found at the scene. Along with police, the Star Tribune reported, state safety officials are also investigating the incident at the 21-year-old tower, which is 381 feet tall and comprised of 24 stories. It is one of four buildings that make up the 1.43 million-square-foot Normandale Lake Office Park. Jennings worked for City Heights, Inc. of Anoka. More details here.

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Window washers clean the panes on the 69th floor of the John Hancock building in Chicago.

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Another window cleaners cradle video, that obviously wouldn't pass an inspection - with two young guns in high winds at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia.

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Jake at the Blue Cross in Philadelphia - impressive building.

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And Finally: The best Asian disc jockey (DJ Aon) ever tells us his story through the power of video....

Jim's DVDs, Podcasts, Gardiner Poles & Booties

Jim Willingham Memorial DVD: DVD contains two Videos which are - Jim's Advanced Techniques and Memorial Video. 100% of the proceeds from this DVD will be split 50/50 between Jim’s two favorite charities; IWCA’s Ronald McDonald House and The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, Texas. Description of contents below:Willingham’s Advanced Squeegee Techniques (25min) Just two months before he passed away, Jim was filmed teaching all his squeegee and pole magic as he started work on “Willingham on Windows.” What was filmed is wonderful, and can be used to train window cleaners, including:» How to hold a squeegee» The right edge of the rubber» Proper squeegee tension» Time and cost saving techniques» The basic straight pull» Around the Mountain» Pole Work» Sponge work» Deep frames (butt-up technique)» Closing Out.
Jim Willingham Memorial Video (25min) Set to Jim’s favorite music this moving memorial includes photos from his youth, IWCA early days, Jim’s recent sojourns, and quotes from industry members on the impact Jim had on the window cleaning industry. It also features “Jim-isms,” things he used to say that made you think while bringing a smile to your face. The window cleaning industry should never forget who Jim Willingham was, and this video is a fitting tribute to the man who brought the industry together. Price $65.00

Jim can be seen in some of his product videos here. Previous blogs here & here.

Another first from Reach Higher Ground. As the leading distributor of waterfed poles in the US, they are positioned to bring products to market before all others. At the IWCA Trade Show in Atlanta last week, Reach Higher Ground introduced several new sizes of carbon fiber poles from Xtel. Those sizes include 24', 31', and 35' Carbon Fiber Poles. Reach Higher Ground is on tour! - visiting a different state each month during 2009 to bring waterfed technology to the window cleaners and thank many of you who have already invested. March 21st they will be in Bloomington, Illinois with Michael Draper where they will be presenting seminars and doing outdoor demos. Here is a link to the schedule as it develops for 2009. And some pictures of the new water fed pole clamps for the Gardiners SLX pole, click on the pictures to enlarge.

Don Marsh has released his first audio podcast: This is the inaugural release of The Window Cleaning Podcast. In the background you will hear Plato doing his best Hound of the Baskervilles imitation. This podcast is only 10 minutes and 16 seconds long and it should not be too hard on the ears, and it is largely promotional in nature. Therefore, it is not for sale and it is not a part of the premium content. Don created this site to thin the herd, and make it possible for him to take time away from his window cleaning business to help those who are serious about starting window cleaning businesses of their own! I'm happy to promote Dons stuff, his blogs make a lot of sense & are easy listening. Every window cleaner should have a look in!

Mr Squeegee (aka Tony Evans) of New View Window Cleaning in Wellman, Iowa goes inside for a change & gives you hints & tips on customer care. You can now view all his videos together on his website here.

Window Cleaning Videos for Your Enjoyment & Pleasure

Mr Squeegee (aka Tony Evans) of New View Window Cleaning in Wellman, Iowa gives us a taste of the weather & cleaning windows in cold weather. Second video: Sean the salesman, just back from the IWCA trade show gives us an update on the inititive program for the window cleaners.

Mike Draper of Reach Higher Ground gets interviewed at the first Canadian convention in the first video. Whereas Wayne of Specialised maintenance & awning cleaning services shows us round his local supplier - Dallas Window Cleaning Supply in Dallas, Texas.

Window Cleaning tips from Park City, Utah. Joseph, owner of Mountain View Window Cleaning, explains the cause and solutions to hard water on glass.

The "saviour of windows" shows us how quick of a draw he is - not as fast as the second guy.

The New Reach Higher Ground WFP Trolley - R3

Shawn Gavin of "Reach Higher Ground"

'Reach' Residential RODI- R3: The Next Generation of mobile water purification for window cleaning is here! The lightweight and powerful 'Reach' Residential RODI, or the R3, is the latest in the line of high end systems from Reach Higher Ground. System includes everything you would need for producing pure water from a mobile cart. This system is not a starter package needing to be upgraded in the future. It is made to work right, from day one, drop one!
Sediment/Carbon Pre-Filtration-Removes particulates and harmful chlorine21" RO Membrane-Removes 98% or more of impurities21" DI cartridge-Removes remainder of impurities Inline TDS meter-Measures water after RO and DIElectric Motor/Pump AssemblyConveniently placed On/Off Switch30' Power Cord with GFI Switch Simply the best bang for your buck!
Carts are made from a high grade powder coated aluminum. They will not rust.

Born out of neccesity, RHG was started in 2006 by Shawn Gavin, a window cleaner with a vision. Shortly after getting into the window cleaning industry Shawn discovered pure water window cleaning. In his day to day operations of his window cleaning business Shawn found a need for products that were not currently available. As a result he sought out those products from other markets and began to utilize them in his own business. Since then, he has become committed to making those types of products available to other window cleaners. Shawn still operates his window cleaning business and his passion is to educate his fellow window cleaners about the benefits of pure water and help them incorporate it into their business. Over the years Shawn has gone on to develop his own pure water systems that his company, Reach Higher Ground, manufacturers in Colorado and distributes to many countries around the world.

Reach Higher Ground WFP System in Hawaii

This latest video looks what seems to be the new generation of water fed pole carts from "Reach Higher Ground." The advert itself promotes the 'green' cleaning factor but is also a great ad' for "Eco-Organic" in Hawaii. Its probably the best wfp advert I've seen!

The 'Reach' 5 Stage RO/DI Electric Powered Cart 5 Stage purification process includes everything you would need for producing pure water from a mobile cart. This system is not a starter package needing to be upgraded in the future. It is made to work right, from day one, drop one!

Details: Sediment Filtration-Removes particulates up to 5 micron Carbon Filtration. Removes harmful chlorine from water. Anti-Scaling Device 40" RO Membrane-Removes 98% or more of impurities. 40" DI cartridge-Removes remainder of impurities. Inline TDS meter-Measures water after RO and DI. 1 HP Motor/Pump Assembly. High quality Cox Hose reel 160' of Premium hose Works with or without the pump powered on. Simply the best bang for your buck! Carts are made from a high grade powder coated aluminum. They will not rust. Available here.