Window Cleaning Add-On - Security Film

With this in the news today & in todays desperate society, I'm sure it could be of interest to many professional window cleaners: -

Film could allow removal of security bars on Main Street, Arizona: Pictured left, a local business owner inspects a sample of glass using Armorcoat. The film keeps broken glass held together so as to deter easy entry to a facility, and avoid injury. The campaign to remove the bars from the windows comes from Main Street Revitalization consultant Maralan Hutchins, to make downtown more appealing and windows more open to window-shoppers. With the bars, cleaning windows is also a much more problematic chore. Representatives Aaron and Ron Rumfallo with Queen Creek company Advanced Window Films gave an overview of the product they sell from renowned window film manufacturer, Armorcoat. According to Aaron Rumfallo, the product is used worldwide but picked up in popularity after Sept. 11, 2001; it has been used to retrofit all Washington government building windows to make them more resilient to blunt force.

The film comes in various tensile thickness, which Aaron suggested 8 mil and thicker for commercial storefronts. Showing a short video, business owners saw a presentation demonstrating how the windows with film stand up to different weapons such as a baseball bat or 2x4. Samples of glass tempered with the film were also passed around, showing the criss-crossed webbing of the broken, but unpenetrated, glass. The film is designed to keep the window from breaking apart, and slow down a criminal.
"I want to make this clear to everybody right now. There is no guarantee, just like any other security product, that it's going to stop everybody from breaking through. Just like the current security bars - I've seen bars ripped out of the walls with a chain and a vehicle. Nothing is a 100 percent. The product is not designed to stop glass breakage...what it does do is hold that glass together. It's an invisible barrier. Consider it an invisible peace of mind." According to the FBI's Unified Crime Report, almost 70 percent of burglaries are performed through breaking a window or forced entry through doors. With the film, windows are equipped to stand an incredible amount of force, and would take many repetitive attacks before it could be penetrated. Even at that, it would take much more work on the would-be thief's part to pry a hole big enough in the glass to gain entry. "Most criminals if they don't get in and out in less than a minute, they start making mistakes and their adrenaline gets pumping - and so, they're gone," Aaron explained. "They want to get in and out to the easiest target. In most cases they'll try to break in a couple times. They'll take a few blows to the window and realize that they're raising all this noise and exerting all this effort, and most move on."

Cost of the installation of the film is approx. $6-8 a square foot, and $5-6 a linear foot for the attachment apparatus. A group rate is "totally negotiable," Aaron added. According to Hutchins, the city has been working with El Paso Gas Corp., which could be donating a sizeable amount to help cover costs of the window project. The only downside to that would be that should an attempt at breaking the window be made, the cost would be back on the storeowner to replace the window, and a reapplication of the film. But several storeowners were critical that the film would help at all. Western Auto owner Lupe Galaviz recounted how she and her sister and co-owner Janie Rodriguez had to resort to plexiglass several years ago after constantly replacing glass windowpanes. Other business owners have had the same experiences, replacing countless windows, broken the majority of the time by rocks.

Armorcoat is a strong, resilient film that helps protect people and property from the hazards of broken glass. Manufactured by Bekaert, a world leader in window film, Armorcoat has met impact requirements for some of the most stringent tests in the industry and has been field tested for over 20 years. Armorcoat is made from only the highest quality materials, such as tough, high tensile polyester and ultra-strong mounting adhesives – available in thicknesses ranging from 4 to 14 Mil, with thicker films offering greater protection.

There are many other manufacturers, including the range from Bekaert also 3M, DIYwindow security & Shatterguard.

Spring Cleaning at the Governor's Palace

The annual spruce-up of CW's Governor's Palace is an enormous task: Pictured above: Richard Baker, Colonial Williamsburg senior historic interiors technician, cleans the very old mirror on the first floor of the Governor's Palace. Once a year the building closes for a cleaning, repairs and improvements.
With all the visitors who walk through the Governor's Palace each year, it's no surprise that the 15,000-square-foot landmark can get a little dirty. On busy days, as many as 2,000 people pass through the famous Colonial Williamsburg structure, leaving behind a constant tide of dust and fingerprints as well as endless wads of gum. Daily cleanings keep the subsequent build-up of dirt and grime at bay during the long tourist season. But when the Christmas crowds finally subside, the palace closes its doors — enabling a team of about 100 conservators, curators and other professionals to give the interior and its collection of more than 2,000 objects the museum equivalent of a good spring cleaning. Dust is their primary and most pervasive enemy, says Patty Silence, CW's conservator of museum exhibits and historic interiors. Fingerprints, ultra-violet light leaks and indoor air pollution add to a formidable list of foes.
She and the other members of the team also have to grapple with the cleaning and conservation mistakes of the past — not to mention making sure they do no harm today by committing mistakes of their own. "We want to be thorough — and this is the time of the year that we try to get into the corners and other places that we don't usually reach," Silence says. "But overdoing it can cause as much and sometimes even more damage than doing nothing at all." Beginning just after New Year's Day, the three-week-long project opens with a massive moving operation in which many of the smallest objects in the palace are boxed up and portable pieces of furniture such as tables and chairs are moved. Heavy or particularly vulnerable items such as bedsteads, musical instruments and paintings stay in place, enclosed in temporary cocoons of protective plastic sheeting. "There are times when they're swarming like ants in here," Silence says, describing the seemingly chaotic but purposeful dance of the curators, conservators and art handlers. "The moving alone is a pretty labor-intensive process."



Once the walls are cleared, ladders and scaffolding rise in place, enabling the team to tackle a long list of tasks that ranges from examining, dusting and conserving the palace's collection of rare period paintings to inspecting and cleaning the tall, multi-paned windows.
Ultra-soft badger hair brushes sweep the dust from the surfaces of the portraits, Silence says, while the laborious window maintenance work requires the removal, cleaning, then reinstallation of hundreds of Plexiglas sheets that protect the interiors from the deteriorating effects of ultra-violet light exposure.
This is also the time of year when the team members inspect the soaring Venetian blinds, retaping and restringing any light-weakened fabric elements as needed. "This is the only opportunity we have to move the furniture and make the space we need for ladders and scaffolds," Silence says. "So we try to take care of everything that we can't reach without them."
Two special projects complicated the conservation and maintenance effort this year. Both should go a long way toward improving the day-to-day safety and condition of the palace as well as the objects it houses, Silence says.
Hidden in the ceiling of the expansive ballroom, a new fire detection and security system not only provides enhanced capability but also reduces the visible part of the sensors to the size of a fly. The foundation's electricians also wired the wall sconces and ceiling fixtures in the lower hallway, staircase and upper hallway for the first time, substituting eye-fooling bulbs for the bee's wax candles and open flames that have illuminated these parts of the palace since it was reconstructed in the 1930s. "We can't replace these wonderful fixtures — and previously they were in danger of being broken every time an interpreter went to put in a candle and light it." Silence says. "We also don't have to worry about all the problems we had with dripping candle wax and soot — or the threat of fire."
Cleaning, cleaning and still more cleaning occupies much of the team's time, beginning with the highest black walnut moldings in the palace's musket-studded entry hall and continuing down to the heart pine and marble floors. Simple dust and grime removal is the key objective, Silence says, because — despite its innocuous if untidy appearance — "Dust attracts moisture — and that's how the damage starts." Conservators give the dramatic array of muskets and swords that covers the ceiling and walls of the entry hall special attention during this high dusting task, looking for telltale signs of moisture damage on their vulnerable metal surfaces. Down on the marble floor, they step from their ladders to their hands and knees, then use a specially purified soap, natural bristle brushes and water to clean the black and white stones. Wooden scrapers help remove the traces of wax mistakenly used in the past as a protectant, Silence says. Then the whole surface is sucked free of water and soap residue by a shop vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency air filter. "We're trying not to leave anything behind," Silence says, "and water by itself is a really powerful solvent."
Micro-fiber dust clothes provide the primary weapons for cleaning the walnut paneling and stair rails, including the carved baskets of fruit that decorate the ends. Yet not only does the team forgo the use of penetrating oils and silicone polishes in favor of static and elbow grease but — this year especially — they also toil to remove any such films applied in the past. "We're not coating these surfaces anymore because of the damage it does," Silence says. "It darkens. It gets gummy. And then it just picks up more dust and dirt. So we actually did some work this year to try to remove it."
Ammonia is another old cleaning agent that the conservators have learned to avoid, partly because of the damage the fumes inflict on metal. Feather dusters have fallen out of favor, too, because of the scratches that can come from a broken quill. That leaves such gentle solvents as water and purified soap — or the 50-50 mix of ethanol and water used to remove the smudges and fingerprints from the antique mirrors. It doesn't work as fast — and it requires more attention and elbow grease — but it's all part of the foundation's plans to help such objects last another 300 years. "It's not a terribly glamorous or sexy job," Silence says. "It's a time and energy issue, really, and we spend a lot of both trying to make sure we do it right."

1st Annual Canadian Window Cleaning Conference

Keynote Speaker: Kevin Dubrosky is the President and 100% Owner of Paneless Perfection Inc - a Toronto-based professional window and eavestrough cleaning company that he began from scratch in May of 2003, with zero leads, zero prospects, and no golden geese laying eggs in his direction. Toronto is the largest and most competitive window cleaning marketplace in Canada, with upwards of 400 window cleaning companies currently operating.
Within only 4 years, Paneless Perfection Inc went from generating $130/mth in revenue to more than $32,000 in rapidduring May of 2007, despite the fact that Kevin worked only part-time to build the company from 2003 to 2005.
Kevin has since helped several close friends and business colleagues within the window cleaning industry build successful and profitable companies from scratch in various markets, and is a paid consultant specializing in window cleaning business growth. He is the Founder and sole contributor of WindowCleaningBusinessCoach.com He is the Author of the brand-new 218-page Business Building Reference Guide “Why Everything You Think You Know Is Probably Totally Wrong”. Kevin currently lives in Toronto with his wife, and continues to work only part-time on his business. Kevin will be appearing at several upcoming events within the window cleaning industry as a guest lecturer, between October 2008 - March 2009. Specific event information can be found here.

Mike Draper entered the window cleaning industry nearly 20 years ago working with Brite-Way Window Cleaning in Galesburg, IL and then Worked for Quad Cities Window Cleaning in Moline, IL. In 2001 Mike started Clearly Windows. Clearly Windows is based out of Bloomington IL and covers all of Central IL including Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, and Decatur. In January of 2008 Mike started dealership arrangements in several markets throughout IL and continues to help those dealers grow their window cleaning businesses. Aside from managing those dealerships, Mike also works for Reach Higher Ground. Reach Higher Ground is the leading innovator in the water fed pole industry. They manufacture mobile water purification systems as well as distribute water fed poles to the window cleaning industry worldwide.

Adam Robertson is the President of Canadian Operations for GutterFilter. He is also the owner of Adam's Eaves , a gutter cleaning company in Montreal that he founded in 1986.
Adam will speak on Gutter Cleaning as a business as well as GutterFilter and the importance of "add ons" in any service business. GutterFilter is the leading foam insert gutter protection in Cda. Adam will have a working unit at his booth showing the effectiveness of GutterFilter. You will be able to ask any questions and there will be the possibility for you to carry GutterFilter, as a sideline add on with a terrific profit margin. Mr.Robertson has taken GutterFilter in 3 years from very little in Cda. to over 250,000ft. sold last year alone ! "

Brady started his window cleaning business, Big Shiny Windows, in July 2004 as a 1 man operation. He quickly realized that the amount he could earn in a day was fairly limited. Within a year, he had purchased his first waterfed pole (30Ft. Ionics Glass Fibre) and portable DI Cart (Eagle Power single stage). By adding these pieces of equipment to his business, he was able to look at many opportunites for growth in his business. Brady's seminar presenation will focus on his experience with purified water and waterfed poles and how these pieces of equipment have helped to grow his business.

David Lebel of White Glove Window Cleaning has been a professional window cleaner since 1979. He operates his year round company out of Cobourg, Ontario and his business spans to Toronto. David is experienced in high and low rise, commercial and residential applications. White Glove has received 2006 Readers’ Choice Award and was a nominee for his business achievements in 2007. He has been featured in American Window Cleaner and European Cleaning Journal magazines portraying his expertise and knowledge of cold climate window cleaning. Mr. Lebel has guest spoken for the International Window Cleaning Association in Anaheim, California on the same topic of interest.

I started in the industry with College Pro Window Cleaning in 1984 strictly as a window cleaner. The next year I became a franchisee with the newly started "Action- The Student Window Cleaning Team." Then, is when I saw the potential of the window cleaning industry, as my summer earnings easily paid my way through university. In 1990 I graduated with an Honors Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario. That same year I was offered a partnership position in Action, an opportunity I excitedly took advantage of. At that time Action had close to a million dollars in sales across Ontario. In 1991 Action branched off into the high rise sector and created "Clear Choice Window Cleaning," a division headed by myself. New View Window Cleaning Ltd., my current endeavour, specializing in residential window and eavestrough cleaning was born in 1993 with 230 clients in its first year. After 15 years we have over 1400 clients, and upwards of 5 employees. To this day I still grab a squeegee like one of the employees.

In 2002, Crystal Clear Window Works (CCWW) secured the exclusive, worldwide patent rights to a process for removing moisture and condensation from failed insulating glass units.
CCWW then proved and commercialized the business of DeFogging windows using its own proprietary window restoration and defogging techniques that include specialized tools, environmentally safe solutions, business systems and unique venting and valving technologies to remove fog, chemical fogging, moisture and residue from failed thermal pane windows.

Morley Raymer had spent more than 22 years in the corporate world when he decided that he needed a change. He started Way More Cleaning in 1998 operating out of Barrie, Ontario. His successful window cleaning business still continues to service Barrie and also covers the surrounding area. Way More does residential, low rise, commercial, store fronts, power washing and eavestrough cleaning. In 2001 Way More Cleaning won the Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Jamie of Ultra Window Cleaning will be sharing the importance of having a vision for your company. A vision for your company is everything, especially if you are in business alone. It is like the foundation of a house....without it you can't build a structure. You will also learn how to speak that vision to your employees. You will come out of this workshop with the steps on having a clearer direction for your business.

IWCA Convention Atlanta Feb' 2009

Just two weeks to go before the next convention: For the past 20 years, IWCA has been helping those working within the window cleaning industry learn how to improve their businesses through education, safety and of course, by introducing them to companies like yours in order to help their businesses grow. The tradeshow is one of the most important features of the Annual Convention and it draws the key people and decision makers in the industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet face-to-face with the people you are doing business with – or may be doing business with in the future.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 (Click title bar for full details).
10:45 a.m. - Noon
A1 Avoiding Litigation Landmines - David Rosenberg
A2 Follow Me, I'm Right Behind You - Jody Urquhart
A3 What Does Going Green Mean To Your Bottom Line - Vickie Eubanks & Jeff Tishko
1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
B1 Fabricating Debris – If you haven't heard about it, your business could be at risk. - Craig Aldrich
B2 Incorporating Water-fed Poles Into Your Business
B3 IWCA Safety Certification - Stefan Bright & Dan Dvorak
3 – 4:15 p.m.
C1 Route Panel - Damian Casillas, Matt Pierce & Brian Welker
C2 Ronald McDonald House Cleaning
C3 Operations Management - Jack Evans

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Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
D1 How to take the work out of networking - Jason Evers
D2 Glass Education - Paul Duffer
D3 Pressure Washing 101 - Pete Marentay
10 – 11:15 a.m.
E1 Accounting In A Tough Economy – Accounting and Tax Tips to Help You Better Manage Your Business - Rob Schwarzmann, Tax Principal, & Tim Messman, Audit Principal, Both of Porter Keadle Moore, LLP
E2 Chemicals And Hard Water Issues What You Need To Know - Craig Aldrich
E3 Professional Image Contest
Friday, Feb. 20, 2009
8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
F1 Marketing Boot Camp for Small Business Owners - Kristy McKibben
F2 How To Make Your IWCA Membership Work For You - Mandie Bannwarth, Deb Nemec, Stefan Bright
F3 Construction Clean Up: Make it Profitable - Chuck St. John
2:15 – 3:30 p.m.
G1 PEO Services and Employee Leasing - Mark Reinhart & Meghan Laux
G2 High Rise Panel – Jon Arreguin, Andrew Kreidenweis, Harold Gidish & Kent Scott
G3 Insurance 101 - Lawrence Green
4 – 5:15 p.m.
H1 Joy Of The Job - Jack Evans
H2 Residential Panel - Maury Benamy, Sheila Smeltzer, Kolan Hairston, Seth Fensterstock & Jeremy Morgan
H3 Taking Your Business To The Next Level - Kenny Cohn & Kynan Wynne
Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009
Hands On-Safety Training Session* 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

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Trade Show Hours: Thursday, Feb.19, 2009 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 8:30 a.m. – Noon
The IWCA Trade Show will showcase valuable tools and resources from both longtime and new IWCA supporters. Our wide variety of exhibitors will introduce attendees to new products and services designed to make work-life easier and your business more profitable and competitive. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009Window Cleaning Contest 6 – 9 p.m.
The IWCA Window Cleaning Contests feature two different categories: Speed and Medley. The key to winning both contests is cleaning the windows as fast as possible with the fewest mistakes. The speed contest consists of speed cleaning three windows of the same size and the medley contest consists of cleaning nine windows of varying sizes. It is a race to the finish for the title of “World’s Fastest Window Cleaner.”
The IWCA Charity Auction is the perfect opportunity for you to give back to the community. During the luncheon, attendees will be able to bid on items that were donated by our membership with all proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This is a great way for you to have some fun outbidding your competitors all while helping families in need.

Window Cleaning News & Videos

Residents warned over bogus window cleaners, Gloucestershire: Police in Bishop's Cleeve are warning residents to be on the lookout for bogus window cleaners. PC Phil Groom, from the Safer Community Team, said the bogus callers had been reported as operating in the area last week. “On Tuesday, January 27, we received two separate reports of people purporting to be window cleaners in the neighbourhood," he said. "They were using ladders to access peoples property, and giving a story that they had been asked by their neighbours or family to clean the windows. "We ask residents if they have any doubts regarding anyone’s identity to ring the police immediately”. One of the males was described as white, 5ft 11 to 6ft, aged in his early 30's, of medium build with short dark hair, sporting a small goatee beard and wearing a dark hooded top and jeans. It is believed he was accompanied by an older male, together with a female and driving a red coloured estate car. PC Groom added: “We are anxious to speak to these people as quickly as possible and would be interested to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience over the last few days or may have seen these individuals.” Anyone with any information about these incidents should contact police on 0845 090 1234, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 215 of January 27.

Web Hosting News, LONDON, United Kingdom - Telnic Limited, the registry operator for the new .tel top level domain (TLD), today announced that small businesses and owner-managers around the world can now get their own domain name which can be used to be found online without the need to build, maintain and host a full Web site. Dubbed the “Webless Web,” .tel domains are set to open up Internet publishing to everyone, regardless of budget or technical expertise. “Small businesses have been caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to getting benefit from the Internet,” said Khashayar Mahdavi, CEO of Telnic. “Until now, they either needed the skills in-house to develop and maintain a Web site, or pay for others to do the same, all without knowing whether or not the site was of interest to their customers. Now, with .tel, small businesses get a presence online akin to a listing in a directory service but under their own brand and their complete control, at a fraction of the cost of a listing in a traditional directory service.” “Plumbers, dry cleaners, chauffeurs, window cleaners, actors, fitness instructors and interpreters, to name but a few, can all take advantage of consolidating their costs in directory listings, saving money on customer communications and benefitting from free SEO built in the .tel domain,” added Mr. Mahdavi. “At a time of economic pressure, there’s a huge opportunity to improve customer communication and access whilst consolidating costs.”

In Energy Management, 3M received the very first window film patent in 1966 and continues to be a world leader in window film technology over four decades later. Today, 3M’s window film portfolio has grown to include solar management, safety and security and decorative technology platforms that are sold in the Automotive, Commercial Building and Residential market segments throughout the world. The Prestige Series, one of 3M’s innovative lines of window film products, are the first clear and non-metal based window films to significantly reduce heat and ultraviolet rays entering a building. These films block up to 66 percent of heat penetrating the window, resulting in less stress on air-conditioning and lower energy costs. 3M continues to break new ground with innovative products and services in the ever-changing, and rapidly expanding energy management market to meet customer needs.
The company’s uncanny ability to mix and match seemingly unrelated technologies plays out time and again to create state-of-the art solutions. For instance, 3M pioneered solar films 25 years ago, when scientists first developed solar energy and mirror films. The company also has significant experience in developing products for long-term exposure to outdoor environments and has unmatched capabilities in weathering. 3M’s 106-year history with established coatings, film, tape, adhesive and optical technologies continues to spur breakthrough innovation with new products and applications in renewable energy to meet ever-changing demands in the marketplace.

Tests on brain of man killed at pub: Tests have been carried out on the brain of a man who died following a row outside a pub in Armoy, the High Court heard yesterday. Amid claims that Darren Murphy (pictured), 32, may have fallen earlier on the night of his death, lawyers also disclosed that post-mortem results will be available in two weeks’ time. The developments were confirmed as a man accused of his manslaughter in December 2007 was allowed to return on bail to his home address. Raymond Hamilton, 37, of Travers Place, Dervock, near Ballymoney, was charged after Mr Murphy, a father of two, was fatally injured outside a bar a few miles away. Hamilton had been staying at an address near Strabane due to fears of tension if he was allowed back to the area where the incident took place. With the arrangements said to be causing him financial problems and labouring and window-cleaning work available closer to home, Mr Justice McLaughlin agreed to let him return to Dervock.

The ladder of the law: A Romanian judge has ruled a man must use a ladder to get into his first floor flat - because his neighbour owns the ground floor entrance. Eugen Dumitrescu, 70, from Pitesti, had been using the entrance for years until he fell out with the family living downstairs.
Now following the ruling he has to climb 15ft up a ladder to get into the sitting room window of his apartment - but is preparing an appeal. "I will take this to the very top," he vowed. "I am talking to my lawyers because I cannot go on living like this. Passers-by see me on the ladder and think I'm either a window cleaner and ask me if I can come and clean their windows or that I am a burglar and call the police.


Vitro launches in Europe its new line of self cleaning glass ECOPURE®: Vitro, announced today the launching of its new product line ECOPURE®, its new self cleaning glass, through its European affiliate Vitro Cristalglass.
• ECOPURE® improves visibility through the glass when it rains.
• Expenses related to window cleaning are reduced considerably.
ECOPURE® is a glass called hydrophobic that is very resistant and colorless which substantially improves visibility during and after it rains. Its exclusive coating destroys organic contaminants on its surface and increases the sliding action of the water over the glass thus allowing for easy elimination of dirt and reduces considerably the frequency of manual window washing. The self cleaning window works thanks to the combined action of two natural elements: sunlight and rain. Sunlight, even on cloudy days, decomposes dirt and grime on the glass. Later when it rains on the window’s surface, without forming drops, the rain completely rinses the residues previously decomposed by the UV sun rays. In addition to the advantage of time savings and maintenance expenses is added the feature of improved visibility through the window when it rains and also, very importantly, it helps the environment by reducing the use of detergents. ECOPURE® is a glass that can be combined with other products from the product selection of Vitro Cristalglass as the treatment is applied on just 1 face of the glass surface.

Last June I hired a company to clean my home's windows (inside and out). A few days later I saw that several windows had some hazing on them. I attempted to clean them again, and the results were the same haze. Then in August I noticed condensation and more hazing on my sunroom window, the biggest in the house. The company was not responsive to my repeated calls to come back and repair the damage. Any suggestions?
Call a different window cleaner or a window-glass fabricator and ask for an assessment, suggests Sam Terry (pictured), the immediate past president of the International Window Cleaning Association, an industry group. Terry, who owns Sparkling Clean Window Co. in Austin, says there are numerous possibilities, so you need to have someone take a look.
If the hazing is between panes, the desiccant incorporated in the edge material is probably spent, and you'll need to replace the glass units. If the windows are still under warranty, the manufacturer should pay some or all of the cost.
If the haze is on the interior or exterior surface, the glass could have microscopic scratches that might or might not be the fault of the window cleaner. One possibility, Terry says, is a phenomenon known as tin-etch hazing. When the glass was made, the manufacturer poured the molten glass onto a large tin tray, so one side of the glass wound up with a microscopically thin layer of tin. An acidic window cleaner or even acid rain could have etched that layer, leaving the glass looking cloudy. The remedy would be to polish the glass with a special buffing machine.
The previous window cleaner didn't necessarily cause the problem, Terry says. "If the windows hadn't been cleaned in a while, the dirt could have been covering a haze that's now visible."


First video: 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, from window cleaning resource gives us an update on the inititive program for the window cleaners.

Ladder Safety & Downloads - Another Incident!

Cabbie tells of fall bloodbath: A taxi driver told today how he came to the aid of a badly injured, blood-soaked window cleaner.David Cook rang emergency services after finding the 45-year-old man in Prendwick Avenue, Hebburn. It is believed the man fell from a ladder while on his window cleaning round, at about 1pm on Wednesday. The man is described as in a "stable" condition at South Tyneside District Hospital, suffering from head and back injuries. Mr Cook, 37, a driver with Hebburn Taxis, said: "I was just returning from my school run when I saw this guy propped up against the fence. "Blood was pouring out of him, and he looked in a terrible state. He was staggering and unsteady on his feet, and I didn't know what had happened. "I rang emergency services and tried to keep him calm until the paramedics arrived. He seemed a little delirious and severely concussed. "There looked to be four big holes or wounds in his head, and there was blood everywhere. From what I could gather, it seemed like he'd fallen off his ladder. I knew the house where he had been working and I later saw blood all over the drive-way." Mr Cook said he had seen nothing like this in his 15 years as a taxi driver. Inspector Ian King, for Jarrow and Hebburn police, said: "We are still looking into this incident and appealing for witnesses, but it appears this window cleaner fell from his ladder. "He is conscious and in a stable condition at South Tyneside District Hospital."

This comes after a death in the same area last year: With a new baby on the way, a loving fiancée, a steady business and a family who adored him – Graham Clark had everything to live for. But that all tragically changed on May 31, when the window cleaner fell 15ft from a ladder, at a house in Laygate, South Shields, and spent almost a week hooked up to a life-support machine. The 21-year-old's heartbroken family eventually had to make the painful decision to switch the machine off, after doctors said tests showed he was no longer responding. His mum, Elaine, 44, from Biddick Hall, South Shields, said: "We were told to gather at the hospital on the morning, but I thought it was to get the results of some of Graham's tests – I didn't realise it was for the last rites." Mr Clark, who was due to become a father for the second time, died last Wednesday. His family were at his bedside. His mum added: "As parents, we were just picking out the positive things the doctors were saying. "We really thought he was going to get better, and we were thinking ahead about how we'd manage when he came out."

There are numerous sites on ladder safety, please check them out. UK, USA, Australia,



NEW - DVD "Safe use of portable ladders and water-fed poles": Safe use of portable ladders and waterfed poles is the title of a new Safety training DVD. It shows the importance of a thorough inspection of the site and of the equipment. Moreover the importance of safety in securing the ladder and its correct use….with an emphasis on the potential consequences. Waterfed poles - Traditionally, window cleaners have used all manner of ladders and platforms to reach the higher windows, but the introduction of new technology and the Working At Height Regulations in 2005 have shown us that if it’s not essential to work at height…then don’t! While using these telescopic poles might seem like the ultimate solution, but they’re not without their dangers. In this short video, we’ll aim to show you how to get the most out of your water-fed pole system and how to keep you and the people around you safe. Available from the Federation at an affordable price of £15.00 for Members - £35.00 for Non-Members. Telephone: 0161 432 8754 or Email: info@f-w-c.co.uk to place your order.

By clicking the picture above, it will take you to the FWC downloads section for all ladder safety brochures. This is what I use!

Chemicals & What Goes In Your Bucket?

Every couple of times a year or more, the window cleaning forums come back to which concoctions or bought solutions are best for cleaning windows. And each time the users religeously vote for the solution they have used & the past experience they have had with other brand names. Some vote for dish-washing liquids others for brand names especially formulated just for that - cleaning windows. And others often try to concoct a mixture that they swear is the best yet, often at risk to their own health.
Jack Nelson of the MWCoA has started his own "Green Environmental Education Section" & will show you the proper way to handle and use the chemicals to the best of their abilities.

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Reports about a new study which found that nurses are more likely to suffer from asthma than other healthcare workers, because they are in regular contact with cleaning chemicals, have featured throughout the media in recent days.
The story sounded familiar, and looking back through Cleanzine's archives I discovered that we had covered a similar story on two occasions. The first, headed: 'Link between bleach and breathing disorders', reported on a Spanish study of 550 people that found a link between breathing disorders suffered by domestic cleaners and exposure to bleach and possibly to other irritant agents.
The second, broadcast 18 months ago and headed: 'Occupational asthma', covered another Spanish study, which revealed that cleaners are 71% more likely than the rest of the population to suffer from occupational asthma. This study involved 6,837 people from 13 countries, all of whom participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, (1990 and 1995). It was found that exposure to known substances which trigger occupational asthma raises the risk of developing it by 60%. It was also found that if a person has been exposed to asthma-causing irritants during specific incidents, his or her risk of developing 'new-onset' asthma is three-times more likely than that of the general public. The act of mixing cleaning products or being involved in chemical spillages are considered asthma-causing irritants.

This particular study found that nurses were 122% more likely to suffer from asthma and cited a number of reasons for the increased risk. The researchers said: "Nurses could be exposed to sensitising substances, respiratory allergens, and irritants including sterilisers and disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde or bleach."
The latest study, which was carried out in the US and included 3,650 Texan healthcare professionals - including 941 nurses - found that nurses who are routinely exposed to disinfectants and other cleaning products are 72% more likely to develop asthma than healthcare workers in other fields, and 57% more likely to report asthma-like symptoms. Further, nurses who regularly clean medical instruments are 67% more likely to develop asthma. Nurses who used powdered latex gloves before the year 2000 were 6% more likely to have newly diagnosed asthma. "Substituting cleaning agents with environmentally friendly 'green chemicals' and using appropriate personal care protection could help minimise occupational exposures in this professional group," wrote the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's researchers.

Can you clean and still be green?

Chlorinated bleach. The chemical, which, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, is the most commonly ingested poison by small children, is virtually ubiquitous because of its whitening and disinfectant powers. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA reports that the use of bleach can cause health effects ranging from skin and lung irritation to blindness and cancer. Its byproduct is a carcinogenic substance known as dioxin.
EGBE. A common though unlisted, ingredient in products such as Pine-Sol, Simple Green and Windex, EGBE has been shown to cause reproductive disorders in lab animals, reveals Women's Voices for the Earth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving women's health. Furthermore, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that EGBE is a known carcinogen.

Phenols. These deadly compounds are found in many cleansers that exhibit a pine scent. According to the EPA, phenols can be "acutely toxic," leading to disorders ranging from irritation of the skin and lungs to kidney and liver disorders to cardiac irregularities, among many, many other symptoms.
Ammonia. Found in floor polishes, window cleaners and other cleansers, ammonia is a corrosive substance that can produce intense irritation in the eyes and the respiratory system. Sufficient exposure can result in burns severe enough to cause blindness, lung disease and even death, according to the EPA.
Formaldehyde. Like ammonia, formaldehyde is an ingredient in many cleaning agents that can cause respiratory irritation and distress. However, the EPA reports that it is also known to induce asthma attacks and may lead to cancer.
Indeed, the list of toxic chemicals found in cleaning agents is virtually endless. Other substances to avoid include: sodium hydroxide, sulfamic acid, butyl cellosolve 2-butoxyethanol, lye, petroleum distillates, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and morpholine.

The 54-year-old actor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston insisted on staying by 16-year-old Jett's side as medics battled to save him, rather than follow the ambulance in a car. However, shortly after arriving at Freeport Hospital in Grand Bahama, doctors broke the news to the couple that their son was dead. Jett, who had suffered from seizures from the age of two, was found unconscious on Friday morning in the bathroom of the family home at the Old Bahama Bay resort in the Bahamas. Travolta said he fought to revive the teenager before paramedics arrived. Travolta's lawyers – Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott – were quoted as saying that Jett suffered from grand mal, a form of epilepsy that causes convulsions and unconsciousness.
The lawyers said he had been treated for some years with a drug that stopped the fits from occurring. But after a while, the medicine became ineffective and caused liver damage. So the course was discontinued and Jett started suffering a serious seizure every few days. The film star is a follower of the Church of Scientology, and has previously said that the church's teachings were of help in detoxifying his son during earlier medical problems. Jett was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease when he was a toddler – a condition his parents ascribed to the chemicals in household cleaning products used in their home.