Working Too Hard?

Window cleaners hang from their lines as they clean an office building in Washington, September 1. Working too hard leads to strokes, diabetes and heart disease. Why are we killing ourselves?

Why Can’t We Enjoy A Three-Day Weekend Every Weekend? As we enjoy the Labor Day weekend, it is worth reassessing the amount of time we devote to work. What if all weekends could last for three or even four days? What if the majority of the week could be given over to activities other than work? What if most of our time could be devoted to non-work activities of our own choosing?

To even pose these questions is to invite the criticism of Utopian thinking. While a fine idea in principle, working fewer hours is not feasible in practice. Indeed, its achievement would come at the expense of lower consumption and increased economic hardship.

For some advocates of the work ethic, the route to health and happiness lies with the perpetuation of work, not with its reduction. Work makes us healthier and happier. Such pro-work ideology is used to legitimate welfare reforms that seek to coerce the non-employed into work, whatever its rates of pay and qualitative features. It also offers an ideological barrier to the case for spending less time at work. Working less is presented as a threat to our health and happiness, not a means to improve it.

Yet, the idea of working less is not only feasible, it is also the basis for a better standard of life. It is a mark of how we have come to accept work and its dominant influence in our lives that we do not grasp this idea more readily.

The costs of working more: A growing number of studies show the human costs of longer working hours. These include lower physical and mental health. Working long hours can add to the risk of having a stroke, coronary heart disease and developing type 2 diabetes.

By working most of the time, we also lose time with family and friends. And more than this we lose the ability to be and do things that make life valuable and worth living. Our lives are often too much tied up in the work we do that we have little time and energy to find alternative ways of living – in short, our capacity to realize our talents and potential is curtailed by the work we do. Work does not set us free, rather it hems us in and makes it more difficult to realise ourselves.

All this speaks to the need to work less. We should challenge the work ethic and promote alternative ways of living that are less work centered. And, if this reduction of time spent at work is focused on eliminating drudge work then we can also better realize the internal benefits of work itself. Working less may be a means not only to work better but also to enjoy life more.

Barriers to less work: Technological progress has advanced continuously over the past century, pushing up productivity. But not all the gains in productivity have fed through to shorter work hours. At least in modern times, these gains have been used to increase the returns of the owners of capital, often at the cost of flatlining pay for workers.

The lack of progress in reducing time spent at work in modern capitalist economies reflects instead the influence of ideology as well as of power. On the one hand, the effects of consumerism have created powerful forces in favor of longer working hours. Workers are constantly persuaded to buy more and in turn are drawn into working more, to keep up with the latest fad or fashion and to stay ahead of their peers.

On the other hand, the weakened power of labor relative to capital has created an environment that has suited the extension of work time. The recent expose of work practices at Amazon speaks to the power of capital in imposing poor working conditions, including excessive work hours, on workers. The effects of rising inequality has also fed a long work hours culture by increasing the economic necessity to work more.

David Graeber makes the provocative claim that technology has advanced at the same time as what he calls “bullshit” or pointless jobs have multiplied. This is why we have not realized Keynes' prediction that we’d all be working 15-hour weeks in the 21st century, as a result of technological progress.

Instead, we are living in a society where work gets created that is of no social value. The reason for this, according to Graeber, is the need of the ruling class to keep workers in work. While technology with the potential to reduce work time exists, the political challenge of a working population with time on its hands makes the ruling class unwilling to realize this potential. Working less, while feasible and desirable, is blocked by political factors.

Working for change: The costs of long work hours, as mentioned above, are poorer health and lower well-being for workers. But for employers too there are costs in terms of lower productivity and lower profitability. Yet these costs seem to go unnoticed despite evidence pointing to their existence. Here again politics may explain why shorter work time has not been embraced by many employers.

Experiments in shorter working exist, to be sure. Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing retailer, is to allow its employees to work a four day week. This has been widely reported in a positive way. Workers will benefit from a better work-life balance, while the firm will reap the benefits of lower labour costs due to lower turnover costs.

Yet, on closer inspection, the new scheme to be introduced by Uniqlo has its downsides. In return for a four-day working week, workers will be expected to work ten-hour shifts during the days they work (a 40-hour working week will be squeezed into four days).

This is not only an extension to the normal length of the working day; it also puts at risk the potential rewards of working four days in the week. Workers may be so exhausted after working a four-day work week they need a full day to recover from their previous exertions. In this case, their quality of work and life may not be enhanced at all; indeed it may be diminished, if they suffer the ill-effects of overwork.

Ironically, schemes such as the one to be introduced by Uniqlo illustrate the obstacles that remain in achieving less work. Only a reduction in the working week to 30 hours or less can be seen as genuine progress in the achievement of shorter work time.

For us to reach–and enjoy–a three or ideally a four-day weekend, we need to reimagine society in ways that subvert the prevailing work ethic. We need to embrace the idea of working less as a means to a life well lived. We need to reject the way of living that sees work as the be all and end all of life.

So enjoy the holiday while you can. See it as a reminder of a life that could be – a life that we should seek to achieve, by resolving to overcome the barriers, economic as well as ideological and political, to working less.

Window Cleaning Tips From 1992

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Popular Mechanics 1992: Window cleaning tips from June 1992, featured in 'Popular Mechanics' magazine, some of the window cleaning tips are still relevant today as they once were back then. Obviously the article was written with the home owner/diy'er in mind, but still, the basics are there as are some of the tools that are very popular today.

1992 doesn't seem that long a go, but since that date 23 years a go, a new breed of window cleaners have sprung up using waterfed poles & microfiber instead of scrims or as mentioned.. bath towels!

Another tip for homeowners back then (& also today) was to use newspaper to clean the windows. This tip is still passed on, adding vinegar or cornstarch to the mix. What most people don't realise is that newspaper back then was using oil derived from petroleum as opposed to the vegetable or soy oil today. The oil for print back then gave a high shine to the window as opposed to todays vegetable oils which are more cloudy & take much more elbow grease to match up to the lustre given by petroleum.

Save Your Skin: Dermatitis An Itchy Fact Of Life

The second type, contact dermatitis, results from exposure to a skin irritant like detergent.

Save your skin: Dermatitis an itchy fact of life in Southern Colorado - Red, swollen and itchy is unpleasant skin to be in. Inflammation of the skin, or dermatitis, can have many causes and occur in many forms. It can make life miserable but isn’t contagious and usually isn’t life-threatening. It’s a scourge that plagues dry-skinned people — which is just about everybody at this time of year in arid Southern Colorado.

Dermatitis occurs in two basic types, says Dr. Sharon Kessler, a Pueblo dermatologist. There’s atopic, from the Greek for “hypersensitivity,” and there’s contact. “Atopic dermatitis is also called eczema; it’s exactly the same disease,” Kessler says. “It tends to be genetic, tends to cluster in families. There are three genes for it, all closely linked on the same chromosome.” People with atopic dermatitis often have asthma or hay fever as well. While there’s a genetic predisposition, exposure to environmental factors such as dryness, dust and pets, especially cats, can trigger atopic dermatitis.

The second type, contact dermatitis, results from exposure to a skin irritant like detergent or an allergen like poison ivy. Again, it’s not totally clear-cut, Kessler says, as some people may be genetically predetermined to be sensitive to nickel, for example, and break out in a rash if they wear nickel-containing jewellery.

Harsh climate a factor

Dr. Michael Babcock, a dermatologist who practices both in Pueblo and Colorado Springs, says he sees more people with atopic and dry skin dermatitis than contact dermatitis. “A lot of people who relocate here from elsewhere, from the South or the coasts, come in with a weird rash that’s a form of eczema. They’ve been susceptible to it all along but it didn’t appear until they were here” in Colorado’s harsh climate.

For people with mild eczema, some education and over-the-counter products often are the answer, he says. More severe cases may require medication. Babcock says he likes to joke with patients that he has a cure for their dermatitis: a first-class trip to Hawaii once a month.

Skin is a good barrier. If intact, it keeps out toxic agents, but if it’s broken, “all sorts of things can be a problem.”

Skin as barrier

Kessler says the three main offenders in contact dermatitis are grease-cutting dish detergent, furniture polish with lemon oil and window cleaner with ammonia.

“I see a lot of hand dermatitis, usually in women and particularly in winter before Christmas when they’ve been cleaning house like crazy,” Kessler says. “I always ask them if they’re using (brand name) detergent or any lemon-scented products or ones with ammonia. These change the environment so much it allows the skin to crack.”

Skin is a good barrier. If intact, it keeps out toxic agents, but if it’s broken, “all sorts of things can be a problem,” she says.

So what’s a person to do? Keep the skin from getting excessively dry. Kessler advises drinking lots of water; taking cooler showers — even though hot water may feel soothing to irritated skin; minimizing the use of soap — “Water is the universal solvent”; and applying a good-quality moisturizer right after bath or shower while the skin is still well-hydrated. She recommends using a thick cream rather than a thin lotion and choosing a product that contains alpha hydroxy acids.

Preservatives a problem

Babcock says people have become more aware that chemicals in products can cause skin problems, but they always think it’s the fragrance or because they changed products. “The most common cause of contact dermatitis is preservatives — parabens and formaldehyde derivatives,” he says. “Fragrance is the next most common.”

Antibiotic ointments also can cause problems. “One of the things everyone says is, ‘I’ve used X, Y or Z product forever.’ What you have to remember is a company can change its product ingredients at any time, and a person can develop sensitivity over time. You have to have exposure in order to have sensitivity.”

Dermatitis data

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a chronic skin disease that’s most common in babies and children but can occur at any age. This red, itchy rash occurs on the face, scalp, hands and feet in infants, and where the skin flexes inside the elbows or behind the knees in older people. Skin changes can include blisters that ooze and crust, dry skin all over, raw skin from scratching, and leathery areas that occur after long-term irritation and scratching. Atopic dermatitis can be caused by both genetic and environmental factors. It can get worse, improve and then flare up again.

Contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to an irritant or an allergen and it causes red, sore or inflamed skin. Itching — sometimes severe — is common and a rash can occur; the rash may have bumps that become blisters. It often shows up on the hands, although hair products, cosmetics and perfumes can lead to reactions on the face, head and neck. Skin may become inflamed with long-term exposure to an irritant.

Also see: Dry, Cracked & Chapped Window Cleaners Hands, Fingers & Skin 

Would You Clean A Haunted Window?

“We’ve probably been to 360 locations throughout the Midwest. The Belvoir Winery is probably the most haunted place we’ve ever investigated,” said Nick Spantgos, co-founder of Paranormal Research Investigators.

Spooky Kansas City - A paranormal paradise: Kandice Walker was relatively new on the job at the John Wornall House Museum in 2006 when she had the first of what was to become many odd experiences. “It was my third day, and I was opening the museum for the first time,” she said. But as she pulled in and looked up at one of the museum’s windows, she was alarmed by what she saw. Two little girls were apparently inside. Having children locked all night in the museum is never a good thing to have happen on your watch. “I was fairly freaked out,” Walker said. But when she worriedly searched the premises, there was no sign of them.
Only later did she learn that two small girls had lived at the house and had died of childhood disease, and that people frequently claim to have seen them. Walker didn’t know it at the time, but the Wornall House had a long-standing reputation as being haunted, with numerous sightings not only of the girls but of soldiers and the Wornall family. Walker, who went on to become director of the museum, can laugh about it now. “Nobody told the new kid about the ghosts,” she said.
That wasn’t the only weirdness Walker experienced with locking and opening up. Another time, Walker arrived early to unlock and found the door open enough that leaves had drifted inside. But the motion-sensitive alarm didn’t sound until Walker herself entered. That happened twice in a row. The third day, all the doors were shut but none locked, including a “widow’s balcony” door that was never unlocked by museum staff, she said.
Distinct and unaccounted-for footsteps are a common occurrence, say staff members, as well as the smell of cherry pipe tobacco, which is attributed to John Wornall, the home’s former owner. Children seem to be a common sighting as well, according to docents who spend a lot of time there. A few years ago, a little boy whose family lived nearby asked if he could play with the girls he saw in the windows. Another childlike spirit is thought to be that of Mittie Pigg, an orphan who became a servant during the Civil War.

This is the Oliver Family Mansion in Chester, PA. The Oliver family went missing in 1898. The mystery baffled investigators and the family was never found but locals say they can see them in the windows of the mansion.

Photographer Seph Lawless is a master of the abandoned - his frames are filled with eerie portraits of shopping malls, factories, homes. All dilapidated, all empty, all but forgotten. He usually travels across the United States via hybrid vehicle, equipped with a camera and a knack for finding ways inside strange structures, collecting stories of his adventures along the way.

It shouldn't be surprising that Lawless' travel logs include more than a few ghostly tales. He is, after all, venturing through the detritus of tougher times. He was bound to stumble upon a few terrifying properties, left to crumble while the rest of us are too afraid to notice. Just in time for Halloween, Lawless has compiled the most hauntingly beautiful of the bunch in a book titled "'13: An American Horror Story."

Essentially, the tome is a high quality coffee table book for the macabre obsessed. From Texas, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Connecticut, Lawless shows off the real life haunted houses he's visited throughout his work, and the slightly startling histories and personal stories that make them unique.

Most haunted places in Cirencester revealed: The night where ghosts and ghouls come out to play is upon us again. As Halloween approaches, Cirencester Ghost Society describes its top places to visit on a spooky walk around the town. Black Horse pub haunting..  There have been several unknown apparitions in the popular pub. In one incident an evil looking lady appeared in a bedroom, scratched a signature in a black window, before disappearing. Others have smelt lavender by the pub’s fireplace. It is thought that it comes from a ghost of a previous cleaner who always spayed lavender polish near the fireplace.

The town hosted its first haunted house tour (Chesterfield) - "This is the first year of what is to be an annual event," said Keith Reimann, adding there is plenty of material to make each year’s tours different. Stories of ghosts have been around this town for generations, he said. He said he had a disclaimer and a warning before continuing the tour. "Nothing you are going to hear tonight has been made up by me or anyone else for the sake of this tour," he said. "And now, the warning: The history of Crosswicks is full of events that are cruel, violent and tragic and I won’t be sparing any details."

Mr. Wolverton told his guests that if they were brave enough, they could continue with him to their next stop, the Garden Hand Inn, a stagecoach stop up until the 1850s. He told of new homeowners who moved in the early 1990s. The mother was outside cleaning windows one day and ran out of the commercial brand of window cleaner and didn’t want to stop cleaning so she went to the closet, but there was no more, only Uncle Al’s window cleaner. "Her Uncle Al was a favorite," he said. "He liked to invent things and make his own solutions and give it away as gifts to friends." He said Uncle Al had died so she just kept it as a memento.

"It was then she noticed smoke coming in the window," he said. "She looked out; no one was there. She went all the way around the house, and there was no fire. She went back to work. It was then she realized that it was not just any smoke, but it was pipe smoke, and it was the very flavor of cherry pipe smoke that her Uncle Al use to smoke." It comforted her to know her Uncle Al is always here, he said.

July 15, 1962, John Wine came home from a weekend fishing trip sponsored by the insurance company he worked and arrived home around 8 p.m. when he opened his front door and was blown into the middle of Main Street by an explosion, Mr. Wolverton said. "It was a back draft caused by a sudden rush of oxygen to a fire that had been smoldering all day," he said. "His wife, Ethel, 51, had been smoking in bed and was burned beyond recognition." It might have been Ethel’s ghost waiting for the new owners in the late ’70s when the Seahuts moved in, he said. "Someone was trying to keep them out of one of the bedrooms," he said, adding they kept finding the door locked from the inside with a deadbolt. They had to climb out on the roof and go in through a window to unlock it, he added.

Watch moment 'ghost' reveals itself in the window of Britain’s ‘most haunted’ pub: This video footage is believed to show the moment a ghost reveals itself in the window of Britain’s ‘most haunted’ pub. The 19 second clip shows a strange light flickering in a first floor window of Bolton’s 763-year-old Ye Olde Man and Scythe. The footage was taken by a tourist who  - speaking in Portuguese - describes the old Churchgate boozer as ‘one of the oldest’ in England, adding: “And the most haunted.”

Just after he refers to a famous CCTV clip - which became an internet hit after it was first published it in February - something strange can be seen in the first floor window. As the man talks about the ‘crazy cider’ for which the pub is known, a flickering light appears in the window. Pub manager Tony Dooley says the clip is further proof the pub is haunted. Tony, 36, said: “I’m not too happy about it. That’s my flat behind the window. My attitude before I became the manager nine months ago was not to believe in ghosts. I’m convinced now.”

Only a few weeks ago he said he was woken by what he thought what his partner’s pet dog Kallie licking his feet only to discover the animal was fast asleep. “My feet were clammy and wet, like sweaty palms only worse. I went straight to the bathroom and took a shower with the dog in the room making sure nothing else happened. It was creepy. My attitude is as long the ghost doesn’t harm me then that’s fine,” said Tony.

The first ‘ghost’ video emerged after spooked Tony had checked CCTV cameras and discovered a strange, luminous figure flickering into view in the bar. The pub’s owner Richard Greenwood said he is now trying to get in touch with the person who shot the latest video. Asked whether it was a stunt, he said: “I wish I’d have thought of it if that’s the case.” He insisted the pub is haunted, adding: “This gives the original video more credibility, I suppose.”

Factfile on Britain’s ‘most haunted’ pub: The pub, which dates from 1251, is the fourth-oldest pub in Britain and is reputedly haunted by the Seventh Earl of Derby, James Stanley. The royalist, whose family originally owned the inn, is said to have spent the last hours of his life there before he was beheaded in 1651 towards the end of the Civil War. The chair he sat in before he was taken outside and executed is still in the pub today - and some say so is he.

Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were also killed outside the pub in the Bolton Massacre of 1644. With such a bloody history, it has long been considered a hotspot for paranormal activity and a psychic evening held there in 2006 reportedly found it to be haunted by at least 25 spirits. Among them is said to be a woman who hung herself in the cellar several centuries ago as well as an eight-year-old girl and a phantom dog.

The 'ghost' in the bottom right window of Michelle Midwinter's house.

Creepy 'Victorian ghost' picture in house 'haunted by murder suspect' will give you nightmares: Terrified mum saw a spirit staring out from inside her house but on closer inspection, there was no-one was there. This creepy picture supposedly shows the ghost of a murder suspect who is haunting a family home. Petrified mum Michelle Midwinter, 30, spotted the spectre in a photo of her house, which she took to share with friends on her Facebook page. The eerie image appears to show a figure of a man, implicated in an infamous Victorian murder, staring out the window from inside her property in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Mum-of-one Michelle took the spine-chilling photo last month, a week after moving in to North Bradley. Mobile phone case designer, Michelle, who has nicknamed the phantom Old Man Kent, said: "I went outside and took a picture but after initially admiring the brickwork the face just sort of jumped out at me. "I ran into the house to make sure no one was in there because I knew everyone else was at work, but it was just me and my two-year-old daughter. "I studied the photo for a while and then put it on Facebook to see if anyone else could come up with an explanation as to how the face could have got there."

She believes the photo shows the spirit of Samuel Kent, whose daughter Constance brutally murdered his three-year-old son in the nearby village of Rode in 1860. The factory inspector, who died in 1872, was originally a suspect in the Rode Hill House murder but was cleared when his daughter was convicted. Michelle added: "The picture caused quite a stir on Facebook, but no one could really come up with any plausible explanation. "Most people thought it was a reflection of the flowers below the window but the angles are all wrong." "It's hard to believe but it clearly looks like the face of an old man."

This terrifying image comes after a spate of reports that ghosts have been popping up in photographs across the nation, most recently at Cannock Chase, in the Midlands, where a black-eyed girl was caught on camera. Michelle, who denies claims that the picture has been doctored, said a number of ghostly goings on has led her to believe her house may be haunted. "Another weird thing was that my friend saw a door handle move down and the door opened in the same room the face in the window was in. "I was just so surprised because I thought someone was in the house. We also checked the attic to make sure no one was living up there. "I can't really say what I think the face in the window is, as I honestly don't know.

The most haunted part of the building is said to be the oak-panelled ‘Dark Room’, so-called because the windows have various stained glass bearing the Giffard family associations with the site. Several members of staff have refused to go into the room unless there is somebody else with them.

Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton: Also apparently haunted is the Giffard Arms, in Victoria Street, Wolverhampton. There are believed to be a number of ghosts which haunt the pub, in Victoria Street. One of them is believed to be the spirit of Anne Horton, whose ghost has been reportedly seen following young men back from the pub at night. She is said to have been a prostitute who took her own life on the site in the early 20th century. The pub was built in 1922, but the Giffard family had owned a house on the site prior to that.

There have been other sightings of a girl around the age of 11, who is often seen playing with wooden play bricks in the main bar, in the middle seat by the back window. She is also reported to have been seen in the doorway in the kitchen of the upstairs flat. Another sighting is of a man, who is believed to be an old landlord named John, who has been seen locking up the pub at night. He walks right through the actual bar area as it wasn’t there when he had the pub. There have even been reports about a dog haunting the bar.

Over the years there have been stories of glasses moving and exploding for no apparent reason, cold spots in certain places in the pub, doors closing, strange noises and smells. The most haunted part of the building is said to be the oak-panelled ‘Dark Room’, so-called because the windows have various stained glass bearing the Giffard family associations with the site. Several members of staff have refused to go into the room unless there is somebody else with them.

The White Jockey: A white jockey was once seen in the grandstand of the former Ripon Racecourse, now part of the Cathedral Choir School in Whitcliffe Lane. According to Ghost Stories from around Ripon and other Dark Tales of the Past, written by local historian Maurice Taylor and published by Ripon Civic Society, a khaki-clad First World War soldier has also appeared in the projection box of the former Palladium Cinema in Kirkgate, and a hooded monk at St Anne’s Almhouses on High St Agnesgate. Ripon’s first Mayor, Hugh Ripley, is also said to have appeared at the window of the Wakeman’s House, while clergymen and housemaids have been seen at the Old Deanery. A poltergeist, experienced by Mervyn Usher of the former Cobbler’s Corner in High Skellgate, is also featured in the book. Recalling the day in 2003, he said: “It just came flying across the room towards us. We got out of the way and the plate hit the wall. “It didn’t smash, the middle piece just dropped out and stayed in one piece.’

Also see: Spooked Window Won't Get A Window Clean

Robot Cleaning Market Taking Hold

Robot maids to battle Shantabai: Barely a few months into launching, robotic cleaner brands say urban Indians are eager to replace tantrum-throwing maids with 007 gadgets that can mop floors, scrub carpets and shine windows.

The most precious gift Tushar Chopra gave his mother, Meena, last Mother's Day was a 'maid'. Diligent, punctual and far from quarrelsome, the new recruit kicks off the cleaning routine every morning at eight, after the teacher leaves her home in Panchkula, Chandigarh. Mopping floors, dusting carpets, and scrubbing the marble top kitchen counter, this new entrant has changed their lives, the Chopras claim. The fear of having to lose a hand to opportunistic neighbours doesn't arise when your hygiene cop is a disc-shaped robotic cleaner. "The Robocop spruces up our home before I'm back from work. After years, I find myself not having to tell a maid to dig dirt from under the sofa. In fact, it's such a hit, my sister and neighbours borrow it over the weekend," says Chopra.

The robotic cleaner market in India is barely a couple of months old, but manufacturers are excited with customer curiosity. Milagrow Human Tech, a Gurgaon-based firm that manufactures Robocop ( 9,990), SuperBot ( 10,990), Red-Hawk ( 16,990) and the BlackCat ( 15,990), claim they have sold 2,500 units since their launch in February. "People have less time on their hands. More women are joining the workforce, and efficient domestic help is tough and expensive to find. It's only natural for technology to step in. Our latest launch includes a window cleaning robot that we are targeting at owners of homes in high- rise apartments," says CEO Rajeev Karwal, who hopes sales hit 1 lakh units a year by 2015. They are not the only ones. Eureka Forbes has launched Robocleanz ( 7, 990) while LG's Hom Bot ( 43,990) maps your home for dust deposits, before busting all signs of dirt. Robocleanz's Facebook teaser is inviting customers to discuss 'Dus bahane meri bai de gayi...(ten excuses my maid came up with)'.

The Japan Robot Association has predicted that by 2025, the personal robot industry that stands at $5 billion today, will be worth more than $50 billion a year globally. In India, the customers like Amit Sharma will make sure the figures are met. The 45-yearold resident of Gurgaon is a pilot training instructor for a domestic airline, and invested in a robotic cleaner three months ago to enjoy the idea of returning to a clean home every night . "My daily schedule made it tough to coordinate my hours at home with a maid's," says Sharma. In the West, domestic robots end up doing far more. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology has designed robots that stand four feet tall and weigh 122 pounds. The Mahru-Z has a human-shaped body, and is capable of 'seeing' three-dimensional objects and recognising people and identifying jobs that need to be done. It can, for instance, pick up a dirty shirt, throw it into a washing machine and push the buttons to get the laundry done.

Bengalur u-based Ramaprasanna Chellamuthu is hoping to get there with his creations. He has built robots that cook and clean, and even splash water over his head on mornings that he oversleeps.

"My robots come fitted with three webcams and a screen, with a gesture-recognising software. Robot cleaners will change the future of cleaning," says the engineer with Microsoft. Navrisham Kaur Grewal, co-founder of Ludhiana's Metalmate Robotics, although dealing in commercial robotics in India, harbours an old school thought — "Robotic cleaning can never replace haath ki safai". But for urban Indians pressed for time, technology that saves them from tantrums is worth an investment.

Robots gain fans. It's estimated that about 2.2 million robots for personal and domestic use were sold in 2010 — that's 35 per cent more than in 2009. The International Federation of Robotics headquartered in Germany has projected that global sales of domestic robots could reach over 9.8 million units between now and 2014.

So, what can a robo maid do? Clean all types of surfaces, from marble and tiles to carpet, glass and wood. I Work from 45 to 90 minutes, and recharge itself in between cleaning cycles. I Have in-built obstacle and edge detection intelligence to prevent it from colliding into people and furniture, and rolling down a flight of stairs. I Can be auto-scheduled to kick off cleaning operations at particular time and date. In-built UV ray lamp helps destroy virus and bacteria.

Tips for those looking to buy a robo maid: If you are considering an international brand that's been imported to India, you will be shelling out far more. Premium robot vacuum cleaners start at 30,000.

Make sure the after-sales service is good. Dust is a problem peculiar to India, making maintenance vital. I'd recommend the Mint Floor Cleaner robot for Indian homes. It's more of a dry and wet mopper than a full-fledged floor washer. — Navrisham Kaur Grewal, co-founder, Ludhiana's Metalmate Robotics.

If you're the type of discerning person who has a yacht in the ocean, and a rare exotic car in your garage alongside your private jet, you're the perfect customer for the one of the most exclusive products ever created: The GoVacuum GV62711 24k Gold Plated Vacuum Cleaner.

The World's Most Expensive Exotic Vacuum: Want to feel like a million bucks while you're vacuuming your house? Well, you're in luck! Just Haver, VP of sales and marketing for Go Vacuum - an online retailer of vacuum cleaners that has been around since 1996 - has manufactured a set of 100 24-carat gold-plated vacuum cleaners, each with a price tag of $1 million. If you think paying a million dollars for a vacuum cleaner is ridiculous, just wait 'till you hear how Haver came up with the idea for the million dollar cleaning tool. According to Gizmodo, Haver conceived of the idea for a million dollar, gold-plated vacuum while shuffling to his bathroom, his half-asleep eyes blinded by a golden light. (We're serious!).

Making matters worse, the expensive vacuum cleaner is being promoted with an equally ridiculous rap song that goes something like this: "Go Vacuum's $1 million dollar/is gonna make you holler/forget the other vacuums man/don't even bother/clean up your house in golden style/do you follow? Only 100 available/ they may be gone tomorrow." (YIKES!). It took him about six months to manufacture them, but now Haver has 100 vacuum cleaners, each priced at $1 million. "The status and exclusivity of owning a vacuum like this can't be measured in dollar and cents," says Haver, whose $1 million dollar vacuum cleaners come equipped with a 10 amp motor, a 14-inch wide cleaning nozzle, and anti-marring urethane wheels. But considering that you can pay $60 bucks for another person to clean your house, and that you can get a vacuum cleaner for as low as $21.00 on Amazon.com, Haver's million dollar dust-suckers might be a hard sell.

Check out window cleaning robot windoro here & here.

Telluride’s Transparent Cleanliness

Mark Plantz, owner of Mark’s Window Washing, has been keeping Telluride’s windows clean for 16 years. Click to enlarge.

Transparent cleanliness: It’s the day after a particularly heinous dust storm, and the evidence is everywhere. Cars, benches and windows all sport a fresh brown coat. A dusty truck rumbles down Colorado Avenue, pausing as its driver sees a group of rivals across the street. The window rolls down and a series of gang signs flash back and forth between the driver and his opposing posse.

The truck’s driver has thrust both arms out the window, shaping the fingers of one hand into an M and the other into a W, for Mark’s Window Washing. Once the laughter dies down, they all get down to business, and main street’s windows slowly morph from translucent, dusty messes into gleaming transparencies.

“I’m always stoked when I see dust on the horizon,” said Mark Plantz, who has owned Mark’s Window Washing for the past 16 years, always sporting the motto “Safe. Reliable. Courteous.” “I do emergency window washing, too. I’ll put a red light on the truck and rush to your house.”

Plantz said he gets most of his business by word of mouth, but his long running ad in the Daily Planet has helped, too. “It’s turning into an icon, like Betty Crocker,” he said. “If you look at the ad, I haven’t aged in 20 years.”

Paul Pierce of Mark's Window Washing rappels down to buff the skylights.

Plantz used to get most of his business at the Last Dollar Saloon and the now-defunct Swede-Finn Bar, coming home from nights’ revelry with names and numbers scrawled on his palm. Nowadays, most people in town know who he is. In fact, a handful have actually worked for him over the years.

“I usually have anywhere from four to seven guys working for me at any given time, but I tallied it up, and more than 100 have claimed the honor at one time or another,” he said. “I always see ‘em walking down the street and say we say hi. I pay ‘em a decent wage and treat ‘em right, so I don’t have anyone going around town saying I was a lame boss.”

According to Plantz’s experience, washing windows is one of those trades most people wouldn’t notice unless it went away. Main street shopkeepers — eager to show off their wares as clearly as possible — are the most obvious beneficiaries of the service he provides. But new homes, coated in construction grime but ready for sale, are also a big deal.

“Sometimes it can take months or even years to build a house,” he explained. “The windows can get pretty dirty, so we get out there and clean ‘em up so that they’re ready for sale.”

Asked what they want to be when they grow up, most children opt for iconic professions such as astronaut, firefighter or doctor. Plantz said that his choice to wash windows for a living boiled down to finding a way to become part of Telluride’s community fabric. He found a niche that needed to be filled, and went for it.

“I was just a slope dope and needed a job like everyone else,” he said, grinning. “After I learned the skill from Jerry Robertson, I got busier and busier. I’d like to put two kids through college, so if you need your windows washed, I’m safe, reliable, courteous.”

How Much Does Window Cleaning Cost?

Do you price per window or per job? Here are some articles, the second being from 2008.. how have your prices gone up? 

How Much Do Window Cleaning Services Cost? Cleaning windows can be a real “pane”. But, it’s great to be able to look out your window and admire the outdoors like it was meant to be seen. Cleaning windows can be a challenge because of the height issues. Especially hard to clean, are the outside window panes on the outside of your home. Depending on how many stories your home has it can get pretty high up to reach the outside panes of the windows. For this reason, sometimes windows go unclean for decades.
Window Cleaning Prices: It will cost $25 to $45 an hour to hire someone to clean your windows. Another way that a professional window cleaning service may charge you is $200 for a half day and $400 for a full day of cleaning. For an average size home or business it will not take more than half a day to clean the windows. Things to Consider...

The cost of cleaning your windows will depend on:

• The height of the windows- Are the windows accessible without a ladder? Are the windows accessible with a step ladder? Does a person need a 40 foot ladder to reach your windows?
• How large are the windows? Are the windows large or small? Larger windows can be washed with a squeegee. This may actually work to your advantage as it will take someone less time to clean large windows with the speed that a squeegee can bring.
• Do the windows have dividers? Or is the window one solid pane? The greatest time consuming element of windows are navigating the corners of the windows. It can be difficult and more time consuming to get into the corners of windows. 

How Much Does Window Cleaning Cost? Most window cleaning services charge by the number of panes. Each pane is a piece of glass framed on all sides by wood or metal. Some companies charge by the total square footage of the home.

Typical costs:

• Generally, window cleaning costs $2-$7 per pane. 
• For a 1,300-square foot home with 20 panes, the cost would run $40-$140. 
• For a 2,200-square foot home with 28 panes, the price would average $56-$196.

Self-cleaning windows can be made easier with the proper tools. The Housekeeping Channel recommends buying a professional squeegee and using dish soap. Squeegees and window washing tools run under $10.

What should be included: Typically a professional window washer will remove and mark all screens, cleaning both sides of the screens before setting them aside. Both the inside and outside of the windows should be washed, including the window tracks and sills. The clean screens should then be put back in place. Ideally, household windows should be washed twice a year, according to ThisOldHouse.com, which describes techniques for specific cleaning tasks such as picture windows or multi-pane windows.

Additional costs:

• Screen cleaning is .50 cents-$5 each, depending on size. Some companies will not clean broken or torn screens.
• Sliding glass doors run $2.50-$8 per door. Some companies average the cost of sliding doors with small bathroom windows, to cut the price.
• Some cleaners will include sills and tracks. If not, the price runs .50 cents-$5.
• While second-story work is generally charged the same as single story, third and fourth-floor ladder work runs $3-$5 extra per window.
• Paint or stain removal on the windows costs $3.50-$6 for a regular-sized window.
• Removing mineral deposits is included by some companies and runs about $20 per pane at others.
• Some companies offer a 10-20% discount for scheduling with neighbors.

Shopping for window cleaning:

• The International Window Cleaning Association offers an online membership directory.
• Home Reports.com in Atlanta Georgia advises making sure any contractor hired has liability insurance.
• Good Housekeeping recommends asking friends or calling professional associations and then contacting the local Better Business Bureau to make sure no complaints have been filed.
• Mr. Window Cleaner offers a website calculator to estimate individual costs.

Recent Comments - from 2008 till 2011..
 

Window Cleaning
Amount: $6.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Ebony in Lttle Rock, AR.    Posted: September 3rd, 2008 08:09AM
Number of Windows: 87    Firm: Best Window Cleaners
Additional Services: Free Pressure washing inclued there was a company that was a little cheper but did not offer such a detail job.

Best Window Cleaning Ever
Amount: $225.00 per cleaning
Posted by: The Beef in Nashville, TN.    Posted: September 12th, 2008 01:09AM
Number of Windows: 200    Firm: Tennessee Commercial Services
Additional Services: Office Cleaners and Floors
We hired these guys to do the windows at our office. They really took thier time and the job turned out really nice. My boss asked if they did sealing and waxing for floors. After they did the floors, my boss hired them to clean our office every night. They do a grear job. I thought our prior cleaners were good, but you never know until you see.

Shees kids or profesinals?
Amount: $2.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Georgia in , Other.    Posted: October 20th, 2008 12:10AM
Number of Windows: 70    Firm: Hamiliton window washing
Additional Services: just neat and tidy
well im to old to wash my windows and so i hired this kid to do it, i don't have a lot of money. But this kid did an excellent job and $2.00 instead of $5.00 a window is good priced if you ask me.

Great window cleaning service
Amount: $208.00 per cleaning
Posted by: JerryTom in Mesa, AZ.    Posted: April 12th, 2009 02:04PM
Number of Windows: 2800 sq feet    Firm: Clearco Window Cleaning
Additional Services: Detailed our tracks
My brother recommended this company to us and they did a great job. They were very polite and attentive. They wore shoe covers in our house and that was nice. They answered when we called and gave us a price over the phone and it was simple and fast. We were able to make an appointment for a few days later to get our windows cleaned.

Excellent Window Cleaning
Amount: $100.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Brett D. in Atlanta, GA.    Posted: May 11th, 2009 11:05AM
Number of Windows: 22    Firm: Howard's Window Cleaning
Additional Services: Cleaned window seals
A friend of mine recommended this company after I hurt my back and couldn't clean my windows. I went onto their website and contacted them and I was able to get a free quote the same day I called. I had planned on just using them temporarily but they did a great job so now I use them for my home and business. I recommend this company to anyone looking in the area.

Did an excellent job
Amount: $99.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Christina Moore in Indianapolis, IN.    Posted: May 23rd, 2009 11:05AM
Number of Windows: 20    Firm: wowmywindows.com
Additional Services: Just had window done
This company came in and cleaned all of our windows last week. They were very professional and did a great job. My windows have never looked better. They even cleaned my screens for free.

Unbeatable prices, and Unbelievable results
Amount: $150.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Chauncey Forbes in Bountiful, UT.    Posted: June 25th, 2009 10:06AM
Number of Windows: 50    Firm: R&R Window Cleaning
Additional Services: Screens were free
I got a free estimate and scheduled an appointment on the same day. Because the price was so low I was worried about the quality of the job, however I was pleasantly surprised. They worked quickly and efficiently which made it easy for them to charge low prices. Very friendly and polite.

Professional,Polite & Honest
Amount: $12,000.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Fred Young Jr. in Peoria, IL.    Posted: July 1st, 2009 08:07AM
Number of Windows: 25    Firm: R & A Professional Window & Cleaning Ser
Additional Services: clean window sills
These Individuals were very Professional, Polite and Honest. They will even Negotiate The price to fit your budget. They did an excellent job. I recommend them to everyone who want a good window cleaning.

Window Cleaning
Amount: $279.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Mrs Raimondo in Bedminster, NJ.    Posted: October 6th, 2009 07:10AM
Number of Windows: 32    Firm: Suburban Window Cleaning
Excellent Service

Above and beyond expectations
Amount: $295.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Mich M. Kincaid in Santa Fe, NM.    Posted: January 10th, 2010 05:01PM
Number of Windows: 35    Firm: We do Windows Santa Fe
Additional Services: Clean seals and screens
They were extremely professional, polite, honest and realible. They did an excellent job! The windows have never looked better.
I recommend them all the time here in Santa Fe.

Amazing Service
Amount: $150.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Shane02 in Adelaide, AL.    Posted: February 2nd, 2010 03:02PM
Number of Windows: 20    Firm: Windows SA
Additional Services: sliding doors
These guys are actually in Adleiade, Australia they are a new but they did the best job ive ever seen. they cleaned the black seals around our windows, and the screens. i highly reccommend them to everyone especially because of the amazing job, for a reasonable price.

Window Washing, Pressure Washing
Amount: $248.00 per cleaning
Posted by: shell in Charlotte, NC.    Posted: February 12th, 2010 04:02PM
Number of Windows: 1800sq. ft. house    Firm: Spencer\'s Extreme Cleaning Services
Additional Services: pressure washing, gutter cleaning, windo
This company did my window washing in and out and pressure washing of my house, driveway, and sidewalk and cleaned my gutters. They did and excellent job! They were professional and very timely. I would recommend this company to everybody. Thanks

Heart of Texas Window Cleaning
Amount: $225.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Jeff Campbell in austin, TX.    Posted: February 23rd, 2010 06:02AM
Number of Windows: 45    Firm: HOT Window Cleaning
Additional Services: added a protective sealant
I usually don't write these things but my wife wanted our windows professionally cleaned. The company we choose was the most expensive but they did a demo on one of our hard water stained windows and that sealed the deal. I see why they were a little more than the other guys now. We were both surprised with how much clean windows brightened up our living room. These guys also wore booties when they came inside our home. True professionals and we'll use them again. Oh, and after it rained we had some mud spatter on one of the side windows on our home. I called just to see if they really honored the rain guarantee. The owner said he would have someone back to our place first thing in the morning and they showed up as promised!

Window Cleaning
Amount: $250.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Trudy in Englewood, NJ.    Posted: July 9th, 2010 02:07PM
Number of Windows: 18    Firm: Total Care Cleaning Services, LLC
Additional Services: laundry, cleaning for entire house,
These guys are really professional, trustworthy and good at what they do. New company, but I like them. They did an awesome job with the windows and the rest of the house. My husband was really impressed with there work and so we use them on a weekly basis. Cost for cleaning lowers after the first week using them, as they do an initial cleaning. Average I pay is between $100 -$150 depending on what I am getting cleaned that week.

Great Value and Results
Amount: $360.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Trisha Pender in Phoenix, AZ.    Posted: August 4th, 2010 10:08AM
Number of Windows:     Firm: Clean Distinction Window Cleaning
This was a great experience. Very fast and efficient. Cleaned all windows inside and out with precision. I get my windows cleaned 2x per year. I now use them on 25 of my retail stores.

Best Cleaning Company Around!
Amount: $220.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Lorena Heimann in San Diego, CA.    Posted: August 16th, 2010 03:08PM
Number of Windows: 28    Firm: Sky High Windows
Additional Services: Tracks & Screens
This was the best window cleaning we've had yet. We just switched to them this year, and they are great! They came on time, very professional, worked efficiently, and did a fantastic job. Even took a few of my torn screens home to repair them & brought them back the next day. I was so impressed I hired them to clean our house and my office. I really liked their professionalism. They gave us a package deal with a great discount.

These guys were great!!!
Amount: $373.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Mrs. Freeman - Freemans Family Daycare in Inglewood, CA.    Posted: August 18th, 2010 06:08PM
Number of Windows: 56    Firm: Precise Window Detailing
Additional Services: Power washing -$60 hr. X 1
WOW, they were on time, professional and did an out standing job. I liked them so much they will be doing my 2 houses, and my shop. Thanks again Jamie and Rayshon...

wow one man per house amazing
Amount: $125.00 per cleaning
Posted by: avery in atlanta, GA.    Posted: September 7th, 2010 05:09PM
Number of Windows: 20    Firm: A window washing company
Additional Services: cleaned sills and screens free
Wo.w this guy was awesome he was early ,he cleaned my windows in house in almost the same time as a full crew. I was not so sure at first because of the low price and he was a alone but he guaranteed no streaks and sparkling windows and that what I got wow.

Window Cleaning
Amount: $255.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Angie Mc in Columbia, SC.    Posted: September 28th, 2010 12:09AM
Number of Windows: 35    Firm: Premiere Pressure & Window Cleaning
I was hesitant to have my windows cleaned by this company, but their prices could not be beat. Most companies that I spoke with quoted me outrageous prices, so I kept calling around. Eventually, Premiere came out and gave me an estimate, schedule an appointment, and now everyone compliments me on my windows. Thanks Premiere! I have recommended you to all of my friends, and co-workers.

Great Professional Service--Non pro price!
Amount: $150.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Carolyn DC to UT in Salem, UT.    Posted: October 7th, 2010 12:10AM
Number of Windows: 48    Firm: Clear Vision Windows
Additional Services: Screens/Stucco removal
They were very professional, knew what they were doing and even got all the stucco off the basements that have never been washed. Recommend them to everyone now. Best job ever.

window cleaning residential
Amount: $75.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Debbie Ramondi in Melbourne, FL.    Posted: November 8th, 2010 08:11AM
Number of Windows: 18    Firm: zlots window cleaning
Additional Services: cleaned the screens as well
great guy, new one man company, beat 2 other price quotes in the area. My windows were spotless. ONLY CHARGED ME $75.00. call this guy if you need your windows done for the holidays. ALAN Z 321-615-2358

These Veterans Are The Best I've Ever Seen
Amount: $120.00 per cleaning
Posted by: D Shepherd in Phoenix, AZ.    Posted: December 9th, 2010 07:12PM
Number of Windows: 40    Firm: Veterans Window Services
Additional Services: Commercial and Residential Cleaning
This was absolutely the best window service I have ever delt with. I Had them do my house on a referral and was taken by the highly respectful and professional manner in which they performed their service. Their attention to detail was spot on, as at times I am a little overbearing about how I like things done. They have always exceeded my expectations and I rarely brag about services I have had, but I must give these guys credit because they really take an honest pride in their work. A perfect example of our loved Veterans. Recommend! Recommend! 602-828-9539

Wonderful Window Cleaning
Amount: $170.00 per cleaning
Posted by: George1 in Greenville, SC.    Posted: January 28th, 2011 05:01AM
Number of Windows: 28    Firm: Clean Windows Plus
Additional Services: Sills and Screens
They did a great job. Everything was simple. They came out told me how much it would be (much lower than others that estimated the job), they then scheduled me for the same week. Eric did a great job and was very professional. Will use them again in the spring.

My pane was their pleasure
Amount: $350.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Steve Toews in Santa Maria, CA.    Posted: February 25th, 2011 12:02PM
Number of Windows: 22    Firm: Royal Pane Window Cleaning
Additional Services: Cleaned screens and tracks, mirrors also
Very professional young man. He showed up as scheduled, did an amazing job!!! Excellent cleaning removing hard water spots from windows and shower doors.Great service and highly recommended. See ya in the Spring.

Mrs Jay Johnson
Amount: $171.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Beatrice Boyd in Pittsburgh, PA.    Posted: March 17th, 2011 03:03PM
Number of Windows: 58    Firm: Williams Inc
Additional Services: My House
After I saw the out-come of what those professionals from Ella's Professional Cleaning Team had done for the Office I new I had to try them ,those windows are transparent unbeleaveable I had to have them do my windows and their wonderful and they'll be back agin in 4 months and their prices are Great...

Truely Light and Bright
Amount: $200.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Dankevo in Wayzata, MN.    Posted: April 13th, 2011 09:04AM
Number of Windows: 20    Firm: Light and Bright Cleaning Services
Additional Services: House Cleaning
I was very pleased with the cleaning i received from Light and bright cleaning services. They came to give me an estimate on my windows but ended up doing my windows and house cleaning. The house was left spotless i am very pleased.

Great window cleaning
Amount: $165.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Johnny j in Atlanta, GA.    Posted: June 21st, 2011 07:06PM
Number of Windows: 35    Firm: Gutter Pro
Additional Services: Gutter cleaning
The Gutter Pro guys are great, they have cleaned my gutters for years but they recently cleaned my windows too and man did they do a great job. I would recommend them to everyone.

Great Window Cleaning
Amount: $435.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Maryanne in Brookfield, WI.    Posted: July 14th, 2011 03:07PM
Number of Windows: 34 French Glass windows    Firm: windooclean.com
Windoo did a great job and exceeded my already high expectations. Many of my friends and neighbors had used them and raved about how much better they were than others they had hired in the past.

Diamond Window Cleaning
Amount: $200.00 per cleaning
Posted by: Bob Hover in Torrance, CA.    Posted: July 18th, 2011 04:07PM
Number of Windows: 40    Firm: Diamond Window Cleaning
Additional Services: Pressure washing, Rain Gutter cleaning
I called Diamond Window Cleaning and they showed up on time, wore shoe covers, and power washed the house, there price was the best in town and they did a great job!

WFP Horse, A Dummy & A Sparkling Genie

Emma saddles up for tough job: Torridge housewife takes housework to new heights. Talk about being saddled with a difficult job. Torridge housewife Emma Massingale has found a novel way of window washing without a ladder. The 29-year-old equine behaviourist balances on the back of her two horses to reach the upstairs panes of her farm in Bradworthy. Emma said: “In my line of work, even house work is never dull.”

Dummy dangling from Seattle billboard causes stir: Seattle firefighters responded to a call this morning of a lifeless man dangling on the side of a downtown billboard. The call came in about 11:22 a.m. after someone spotted the body high above Second Avenue near Virginia Street. The body was slumped over, with a rope around its waist. “Somebody thought it was a window-washer,” said Kyle Moore, spokesman for the Seattle Fire Department. But it took rescue workers less than a minute to realize the body was actually a dummy, Moore said. At first they thought it might be a Halloween prank, but it turned out to be part of an insurance ad by Lifewise Health Plan, he said. The billboard features a giant agent looking down at the dummy, with the slogan: “A dependable plan that’s there when you need it.”

"Lifewise designed the ad to get attention, but it seems to have captured a bit more than we anticipated since the figure in the ad was supposed to be shown painting the lower corner of the billboard rather than slumped over." "We’re working to have that corrected now." "The purpose of the ad, which is part of Lifewise’s award-winning BoringlyGood ad campaign, is to let people know that no matter what risks people may take in life, they can have peace of mind knowing that they have a dependable health plan that’s there when they need it."

Window Genie offers services that include window cleaning, tinting, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, concrete and paver sealing, in addition to light fixture cleaning. Burrows proudly stated, "Estimates are always free and most customers are pleasantly surprised by the price. Click to enlarge.

Windows & more: Jeff Burrows is not too proud to admit he does windows. He scrapes them free of imbedded grime and uses environmentally friendly cleaners to remove the loose dirt. He'll even install different kinds of window film, pressure wash your driveway or sidewalk, clean your gutters and seal your brick pavers. And he does it with a colorful smile as bright as his purple polo shirt, embroidered with the Window Genie logo. These services, among others, are just a small part of what Burrow's company does as it finds its niche in Hernando County. "We clean windows and a whole lot more," he said, quoting his company's tag line. His webpage itemizes the other services they perform.

Burrows and his wife, Nicole, opened Window Genie in March after doing extensive research into lucrative franchises. They wanted to start their own business and purchasing a franchise seemed their best option. "We worked with a franchise coach," Burrows explained, who helped the couple weed through businesses that had formidable foundations. The Window Genie concept captured their interest. The first of its kind in Hernando County, Window Genie boasts services many homeowners are willing to invest in, even during tough times. "No one likes to wash windows," Burrows said with a laugh.

A professional window cleaning isn't a small job. "We start with professional tools and use a commercial grade cleaner," Burrows explained. "It's not Windex and paper towels." The exterior windows are first scraped with a tool called a triumph blade that is designed specifically to protect the glass from scratching. "It removes the dirt and film that has built up over time," he explained. Interior windows are not scraped, however. "We don't want to ruin any existing window film." Installing film is another typical request. "Solar film is the main need here in Florida," Burrows said, to block the heat and glare and protects against fading. They also install security and safety films.

Although windows are a big part of Window Genie, the company has expanded its services to include other maintenance jobs that home and business owners are often willing to hire out. These fundamental services go along with protecting an owner's costly investment. Physical safety is a big factor, Burrows explained. Climbing on ladders can be dangerous. Window Genie technicians are trained in safety awareness practices. The company is also bonded and insured, giving home and business owners a sense of security. "All my guys are bonded as well," Burrows added.

Although the business is relatively new to the county, the Window Genie Corporation has been around since 1994. Burrows said there are some 45 franchise locations across the United States and at least six in the state of Florida. The Pasco location has been operating for three years. That was a big reason the Burrows decided it was a concept they could build upon. Backed by an impressive history, a strategic marketing campaign that includes a professional website with individual web pages for each location, and a following of happy, repeat customers, the Burrows were confident a strong foundation was already set. Their job was to establish their own sturdy platform, under the company umbrella, in Hernando County. "We are a locally owned and operated company with the backing of a national franchise," he said. "It's the best of all worlds."

In just eight months, Window Genie has built a solid repeat and referral base within the county, anchored from the quality of their work and the reliability factor that often drives customers to grant their loyalty. Maureen Bailey, who lives in the Heather, hired Window Genie to clean the vinyl windows in her Florida room. "They hadn't been cleaned in years," she said. The technician who came out was very thorough. He uncovered a small window, near a sprinkler head, that was exposed to water almost continuously for years. "He wasn't sure he could get it clean," she remembered. "But it was a lot better when he got done." Bailey was so impressed with Window Genie that she had the technician clean all the windows in her home

Window Genie is completely mobile, bringing the technicians to the customer. "Our business comes to you," Burrows said. They are difficult to miss, pulling up in the "Genie Mobile," with their colorful graphic logo across the exterior body of the SUV.  It starts with a free estimate that is typically scheduled within 24 hours. The job is then worked around the customer's convenience. Burrows said most customers are surprised by the cost, which is typically less than they expect. And many times, a window cleaning has led to other services. "We mold our services to our customers," he said. "We have many happy customers."