Twenty Questions with Oregon's Tim Hunter of "Gleaming the View."

Tim Hunter from Oregon of "Gleaming the view" window cleaning & our second sponsor of the blog. He gets asked 20 odd questions for today's edition. Tim is quite active in the on-line window cleaning community, he has recently started his own blog & added some videos too! Go here to see the blog. Tim is pictured above, holding the worlds largest squeegee - "the Slayer." Normal, ordinary guys can also buy them here. Tim has also been featured before in the blog here.

1.How long have you been window cleaning & what circumstances led you to start in the first instance?

I've been cleaning windows for just over 10 years. I believe it all started by reading a magazine article about some self made millionaire cleaning windows!

2. Which is more lucrative for Oregon window cleaning? Commercial or Residential?

Our most lucrative service is our residential window cleaning. It far surpasses our commercial accounts.

3. Have any favourite tools?

I have a particular screen popper I’m quite fond of. Her name is Betsy and she has been with me a long time...LOL

4. What’s your newest tool & was it worth buying?

I have just invested in water fed poles. They have been a huge success for us with a few pretty upset customers going through our learning curve, I think we got a grasp of it now.

5. Ever tried a Wagtail?

I did get to use a Wagtail. I believe the guys at WCR provided it for the North-West Window Cleaners BBQ in 2008. I thought it was a great tool, that would compliment any window cleaners tool box! Wish I had been the one to keep it! LOL.

6. What do you do to calm down on the job? Or do you just go all "John Mcenroe?

I take great pride in keeping my cool on the job. Things can really build up on me real quick. I usually take it out on my poor steering wheel though.

7. Are you in a trade association? Which one & why is it so good?

Yes, I’m currently in Master Window Cleaners of America. My home group I call it! LOL. I’ve been a member over there for this past 3 or 4 years. I am also a current member of the AUWC, although I don’t participate as much as I want. Masters keeps me pretty busy and the pressure washing and roof cleaning groups I participate in.

8. Who makes the best squeegees?

Lately I’ve been a huge fan of THE SLAYERS.

9. What possessed you to advertise on this blog?

Karlos, you have a great blog! I don’t know how you get this information but its always a great read.

10. Fabrication debris - it's a big topic in the USA. What do ya reckon?

I’m comfortable with our association’s stance on the matter. There are groups amongst the associations tackling GANA head on with our issues. I firmly believe though, if more of us window cleaners take action and join the associations - we have a lot better chance of getting our voice heard to make change and make GANA pull there head out of there ass! Until then I highly recommend getting a waiver signed before those blades come out!

11. How many current employees do you have?

I’ve been affected quite a bit with the real estate market being slow this past year. Typically about 80% of my business is getting homes ready for sale. I currently have 2 employees.

12. Your most hated chore in your work services?

Making phone calls! I wish I had every one’s e-mails...LOL

13. Which Disney character would you be & why?

Owe, I’m a Goofy guy!!!

14. If you weren't doing the best job in the world, what would you be doing?

Fishing

15. Are you going green or is it all a con?

Hmmm. I guess I haven’t heard anything about cons with the green move. Living in Oregon we have a huge majority here that are earth friendly. We get asked all the time if we use green products, I laugh and tell them "I think its blue" LOL. I honestly make many efforts in doing my part in taking care of the environment.

16. Favourite team?

Seattle Seahawks!!! Looks like another year going in the dumps though!

17. How many squeegees do you actually own?

In my possession? Or how many are in my customers bushes and trees? I think around 40 or so!

18. Why did you buy the biggest squeegee in existence? Have you ever used it?

I’m glad you asked Karlos. I’m not trying to compensate for something honestly! It is a real eye catcher though and I just wanted to say my squeegee is bigger than yours! LOL.

I found some windows the other day at a shopping mall that the squeegee would work on… I got all set up, bright and early in the morning, if I may add. The video camera was just set to record and a very young security guard with a badge bigger than he was made me stop. I asked what the problem was and he insisted I get permission before cleaning those few windows. I looked at him like he’s crazy, I’m cleaning there windows for free, you think there going to say no! LOL. I haven’t gone back!

19. Are you friendly with the other local window cleaners?

I better be! I host the Northwest Window Cleaners BBQ. We’re making it an annual event here. Window cleaners are far fewer here being there’s so much rain I guess. I think we get left out a lot of the bigger events and trade shows for our industry. So bringing us together once a year is a start. I have hopes a chapter may form here with our associations in time. I have personally invited every window cleaner within a hundred miles from me. It’s funny the different responses I get when talking to them about it. I’ve been amongst the groups online and have attended a few seminars so I’m more use to talking to fellow window cleaners. The Northwest is the home of the most versatile window cleaners in the world. A lot of great people earning an honest living! There are those few, you know who you are. Just play a fair game, bad mouthing the competition just makes you look bad!

20. How often do you change your squeegee rubber?

Once a month maybe, that’s about how often I put my belt on. My guys go through a lot. We change them up daily.

21. Which soap do you use? Have you tried any others?

GG4 & I am a fan of a product made by Coast wide labs. 64/1 concentrate with a floral scent my customers love. I often just crack the bottle to smell! Works good too!!

22. What’s the best thing about trade shows?

Trade shows are a lot of fun and educational, I’m lucky to take home a small fraction of everything that can be passed to you there.

23. When will you retire & on what terms?

I will retire when I get my Bass boat to join the B.A.S.S fishing circuit!

23. What is the next biggest expense you'll have to pay?

Trailer mounted hot water pressure washer!

24. If you were going to go for the humorous side of window cleaning - what would you have called your company?

“Peeking window cleaners” or maybe “I C U” I don’t know, both of those sound kind of creepy actually.

25. What’s next for Gleaming the View?

Opening a remote office at the beach and taking our roof cleaning business to another level by joining a certification program. I highly recommend roof and gutter cleaning as an add on service.

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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.

The Biggest Squeegee in the World

As the Slayer squeegee takes dominance in the squeegee market, look at this 8 foot monster below. This squeegee made by window cleaning resource is being used more & more by window cleaners everyday. A personal favorite of mine, it seems to be taking America by storm adding to the range of squeegee's available in your bucket. Available in the USA here & soon in Europe. Available in a multitude of sizes: 5", 6", 8", 10", 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24", 26", 30", 36" and a massive 96". More information here.

New Squeegee :The Slayer Channel finally Appears

The new Window Cleaning Resource "Slayer" Squeegee Channel is fresh hot off the production line & ready for sale! The channel is already looking like it will take the market share of the huge squeegee market out there. At the moment it's a first come, first served basis. The next round of production will introduce about 8 additional channel sizes.

Presently available in sizes: 18" / 24" / 30" / 36"
Comes with: 18" LFI Rubber 24" Soren Rubber 30" Soren Rubber 36" Soren Rubber and fitting the Super System Super Channel Handle & the Contour Pro+ Super Channel handle.

And if you're wondering why this post is a day late for production .... I had to get my order in before they all went!

This is what they've been saying;

Can't wait for the reviews I'm looking forward to trying a new squeegee...

I'm dying here, give me a Slayer now!

From my understanding the Slayer is a new squeegee from WCR that will slowly but surely take over the world...

So is it coming out today????? im anxious....

The color is cool!

So now one of the best squeegee channels ever made can be gotten at WCR..

Click on the pictures to enlarge: