You may be a homeowner whose house has hard-to-reach windows or a building manager whose building property has a glass façade in need of washing. In either case, you may require the services of a professional window cleaner.
In many countries, there would be an industry association setting the industry SOPs and guidelines as well as the certification of window cleaning professionals. These SOPs are essential for the proper execution of cleaning services as well as ensuring the safety of window cleaners in the delivery of their service. The latter is critical as it is often the case that professional cleaners are hired for cleaning windows located in hard-to-access or elevated areas which could be physically risky to access.
When prospecting the services of a professional window cleaner, you can expect the following standard procedures to happen:
Getting Price Quotes
A professional window cleaner can normally accept phone inquiries. Expect to be asked the following details: number and size of windows to be cleaned, the kinds and condition of the windows, and their location/accessibility.
If the windows are standard in size, made of standard materials familiar to the cleaner, requiring no special cleaning, and located in very easy-to-access areas, the professional cleaner may be able to provide a firm quote over the phone. For more complex jobs, professional cleaners would prefer giving price estimates only over the phone and providing a firm quotation on the actual delivery of the service or when the cleaner has done an ocular inspection of the windows. The cleaner needs to confirm if any special cleaning solutions are required or special equipment will be needed to access windows.
How Professional Window Cleaners Price
Professional high rise window cleaning rarely price their service based on the number of windows to be cleaned. Typically, they set a minimum basic service fee and add charges based on size of windows, difficulty of cleaning (e.g., some windows may already have extreme dirt build-up or hard water stains) and accessibility. They will also charge extra for cleaning window accessories like screens, storm windows, etc.
Prepare Area for Window Cleaners
On the day of service delivery, the homeowner should make sure to clear windows of objects that could obstruct access to window cleaners. Some window cleaners would be okay with doing this clearing but some would not be. At the same time, this activity eats up into the time of the cleaner, time better spent on the actual cleaning of the windows. In certain cases, this may require the homeowner to cut branches from obstructing trees/plants, move heavy furniture, remove curtains/blinds from windows, etc.
On the part of professional cleaners, they are required to provide temporary covering on property floors to protect them against spills from the cleaning process.
Time Required to Complete Window Cleaning
Professional Window Cleaners will normally tell home owners to just set aside a whole day for completion of cleaning. It is difficult to put an exact number on the hours they will need to complete the job as there are many variables which could prolong the cleaning process and all of these are hard to foresee from the start.
On Window Cleaning Supplies
The professional window cleaner will have their standard cleaning solutions. However, if the homeowner may have a preference for certain brands, he may request the cleaner to use those instead. This could happen in cases where the homeowner may prefer using more eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
Hire Licensed Cleaners Only
When hiring professional window cleaners, hire only licensed and bonded professional companies so you can make an insurance claim in case of botched up jobs as well as avoid the risk of hiring fly-by-night cleaners. Window cleaning companies that are members of nationally recognized industry organizations would be most preferred.
Window Cleaning Tips and Tools From a Window Cleaner - Number 20
A good tip for window cleaning is to use a strip washer and squeegee. A good tool to use is also a water fed pole and De-ionized water system of tank.When cleaning dirty windows, sometimes after you are finished or you have removed the surface dirt, you can still see water spots. This often happens when professional window cleaners are using a water fed pole, which is a very good cleaning tool used with a de-ionized water tank for spot free cleaning. There can be several reasons for this. Sometimes, when the glass is real dirty because it has not been maintained well, the glass will need to be cleaned twice. The second time, most likely you will need to clean the windows with a strip washer and squeegee instead of the water fed pole.
A good tip is to learn if the windows you are cleaning have water spots by doing a little cleaning test. This will help you know how to clean the window. For example, if the window is real dirty, the answer could be to clean the surface twice and by testing a little area, you will quickly see if that will be your remedy. If after cleaning, doing the cleaning test, and cleaning the window a second time, it still has water spots, then the window likely has hard water spots. These spots are considered to be hard water damage or hard water stain.
If the window is damaged by hard water, then you can do another test to see if the hard water damage or hard water spots are 1st or 2nd stage corrosion. If the glass is not heavily pitted or in 2nd stage corrosion, it can be cleaned by several different biodegradable cleaners and also an acid cleaner. The acid cleaner would have to be tested on each different window to see if it tests clear.
For example, if a little of this cleaner is applied to the window surface and it comes back cloudy, then this cleaner cannot be used properly without damaging the window. When the cleaner test cleans clear, then it can be used, but still needs to be tested on each individual window.
Here is another tip. Do not think that when you test a window with the cleaning test that you will get the same results since you are testing the same type of window. The window can be turned a different way when manufactured and it will not test or clean the same way as the others in the same home. So, if you are cleaning with any kind of acid cleaner, the windows all must be tested first or you can damage the windows.
Another good tip if you are professional window cleaner or window washer and you are using de-ionized water or a water cart, is if you have the wrong jets on you brush even though the brush is a excellent tool, water can come out too fast or spray out to much. This can be a very common cause for water spots.