Window "Washing" or Window "Cleaning"?

Is Washing Less or More Thorough Than Cleaning?

It may be that some view the difference between washing and cleaning as significant enough to choose one or the other as framed by a professional company. Many others don't see it as any more than the choice of words. Do you as a customer feel one or the other term is a caveat? Maybe one way is less thorough or one way is far more expensive. Perhaps one sounds more professional than the other. Interestingly, whether you use the phrase "window cleaning" or "window washing" in a Google search for a local company, you'll get the same results. I'll give my observations and mention those of others. 

What Some Professionals Say

There are some professional companies who believe there is a definite difference in window cleaning and window washing. I even noticed another term used- "window detailing". This term was used to place that company on a higher plane than its local competitors, namely one that removes the tough stuff off of glass, frames, and sills, such as bugs and paint specks. Some feel that cleaning is more akin to spot cleaning and not as thorough as washing, which would be all foreign matter on the glass. From what I've read on professional forums and Facebook groups, most, but not all in the business choose 'window cleaning'. 

What Customers Say

Here is where a professional company needs to pay attention: what term does a prospective customer prefer? Obviously, this may differ geographically. Upon doing a search on Google Trends, the term that is used in searches, especially over longer spans of time, is far more often 'window cleaning' than 'window washing'. It could well be that this indicates a more popular way to phrase it nowadays and not too much the perception that there is a real difference. What I've found locally, over many years of being, called, texted, or emailed by consumers, most use 'cleaning'. I could be imagining it, but I'm pretty sure that if  'washing' is used, it almost always will be by senior citizens. 

 

My Take

I feel that for my company name and the description of what I do, I prefer 'window cleaning'. I think it sounds classier and more professionalized. At the same time, I view what I do as any of the three terms mentioned in the opening paragraph. My opinion is that if you are a professional and would like to create raving fans and repeat business, you need to do as thorough a job as possible. There are both low and high thresholds in your service, that is, the very minimum that would be considered acceptable without having to specify what you are leaving out, and the point where you go from normal cleaning to specialized cleaning. The bare minimum I would consider professional is all dirt and grime off the glass as well as the frames, sills, and screens (if any). When the sills have foreign matter that may not budge with normal window scrubbing tools or rags or the glass has paint or wood stain left on by careless contractors that came before you, this requires specialized service. Another issue that requires specialized attention is 'screen burn'. This is the layman's term for that white haze that is extremely hard to get off glass windows with outside aluminum screens. Here is a nice explanation why that can happen. Regular water, pure water, soapy water, ammonia, rubbing alcohol- none of these touch screen burn. Thus, to remove this calls for specialized attention. 

I feel it is important to communicate to a customer what will be included in standard window cleaning and what constitutes 'restoration'. The choice of terms that window cleaning companies use can be to make them appear better than their competition. "While other companies only do X, we do X, Y, and Z, because we care about you." Something similar to that. I'm not a fan of implying that my competition is inferior or doesn't care about their customers. I simply endeavor to leave glass , sills, and screens extremely clean. There are many other practices that will make you the go-to for those that know you, more than what terms you use. 

At Dan Wagner Window Cleaning  we have been washing, cleaning, detailing, or all of the above in northeastern Pennsylvania since 1986 and we are not going away! 

Serving Honesdale, Hawley, Scranton, Lake Ariel, Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Mount Pocono and many other towns. 

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Should You Go With Nationally Known Service Providers or Stick With Local?

Do the Big Names Guarantee Better Service?

The home service industry in the United States is large and growing larger. Well over 2 million businesses in the US provide various services to homeowners, generating revenue well over half a trillion dollars annually. Many more do so for commercial properties or both residential and commercial. Likely all of us are familiar with some big names that advertise heavily as home service providers. A common way to generate a very high volume of participants is by being a matchmaker of sorts. In other words, find a vast number of local companies that are available to provide services to customers in a specified area, be the go-between, and ideally make a profit on volume while trusting that the customer and provider are both happy in the end. Clearly, there is a high level of marketing and logistics to make this work and be sustainable. There is no denying that some have figured it out. 

I'm approaching this from the standpoint of what benefits or advantages there may be to seeking the numerous choices presented by some of the big names as opposed to looking for local businesses that are already known in the community. Granted, when you as a homeowner agree to have a company render services, you'll almost surely be getting a local company anyway. Is there a difference? 

Pros and Cons of National Companies Which Provide or Locate Home Services

Offhand, I can see some pros to trusting the well-known names. They are well-known because of their vast marketing success and enormous number of service companies that are willing to pay for leads or in some other way share some of the revenue. I have no criticism of that in itself. They consequently may have a long list of hopefully qualified and solid local companies waiting to help you out. There may be many helpful, well-researched articles that pertain to your interests that they publish as well. They may have a satisfaction guarantee and background check that, if genuine, will put one at ease. And some may influence participating contractors to give deep discounts for a certain volume of jobs. This could be very good for price shoppers. 

There are potential cons as well. One that may be manifest after some time is based on the cost of acquisition for contractors. When the arrangement to team up with large go-betweens costs something, contractors may eventually feel the need to increase prices to recoup the expense. Or perhaps contractors may compare other avenues of marketing and feel they will provide more bang for the buck in the long run. This potentially creates a bit of a revolving-door situation for the national companies who endeavor to increase their stable of participants, only to lose some of the best ones. There are only so many local companies available to provide home services before distance becomes an issue. For the property owner, the full scope of reviews for service companies may not be evident on the national provider's platform. One may see a few reviews on these platforms for let's say, a window cleaner, while a straight-up Google search might reveal 20, 50, even 100 or more from not just price-shoppers, but new and long-time customers alike. In a low-population area, the 'top 10' for many service categories may include only a few truly local companies, while Google may return more truly localized results. Certainly no guarantee, though. 

You Choose By What Means You Get Similar Results

Ultimately, whether you decide to search for a company to provide a service for your home or business through a large online site that acts as a go-between or by going straight to Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or similar, you'll probably end up having a local company do the work. And in the long haul, you'll either pay the agreed price for a service you come to trust or keep looking for new options and possibly find special deals each time. It is my opinion that you'll find more viable options by using the more currently traditional method of Google or their competitors. 

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Is There An Easy Way to Clean My Gutters?

Rain Gutters- Love Them and Hate Them!

In a perfect world, gutters would only fill up in the fall if you live in the northern hemisphere. We know painfully well that it is not a perfect world. Gutters can become a concern after a heavy wind or rainstorm, or if some unexpected object takes up residence in your gutter that is large or dense enough to create a backup. This can happen any time of year and will give property owners fits if they are not familiar with resolving this or equipped to do so. Water buildup will spill onto the ground and mess up landscaping. Sustained weight due to sitting water will cause stress on gutter supports, eventually ruining the proper pitch of the gutter run. If the water becomes ice, the body of the gutter may be forced to expand and alter the proper flow. Excess water can run down the side of the wall below and potentially undermine the foundation. 

Easiest Way to Clean a Gutter Clog

So, how does one remedy a problem gutter? Unless you can actually see what is in a gutter from a distance (large twig, tree branch, plant growing etc) you will need to safely set up a ladder to get a close look. If you have 2 or 3 floors in your house, you may be able to look out a window to a lower gutter and see what the culprit is. Or you may own a drone with a camera that can reveal where your problem is as well. A note about ladders- stepladders need to be opened up fully and have all four feet planted on the ground or pavement. If you can't make it sit level, beware. When you put your weight on each successive rung, there is going to be a slight shift in the concentration of your weight. Even a slight shift can turn into a ladder fall if the ground is soft or the user does not have a great sense of balance. Extension ladders have 2 feet, but the same idea applies. Soft or uneven ground, a dangerous climbing angle, or an improper end ladder height can be a serious danger.                                                                 All that aside, if you can safely see what the issue is, it will likely be a simple fix by pulling out what is causing the clog. Herein will lie another caveat- if it's a stubborn branch that's stuck under a brace or you have to lean more than a foot or two away from the ladder, you may very well lose your balance. So please be careful!

Other Viable Ways to Clean Gutters

There are special ladders and ladder accessories that can make cleaning gutters safer. Also, some professionals use gutter vacuums to do it all with feet firmly planted. A homeowner can rig up something similar that may or may not work with a shop vac, extensions, and a gooseneck end. Some roofs may be safe enough to walk and be either sprayed out or cleared with a leaf blower. Pressure washing can get results by force, but there are obviously inherent cautions with this method. They would be whether the user is in control of the process, firmly balanced, and very deliberate. While blowing the leaves out can cause an initial mess, imagine the mess that high-pressure water forcing gutter debris in every direction causes! A lot to consider!

 In Northeastern Pennsylvania, 'gutter cleaning season' is generally speaking, anywhere from late October to mid-late November. This is the time of year, of course, when most or all of the leaves have fallen off the deciduous trees in the area. As a result, nearby leaves fall onto or into gutters. It is a very good idea to have them cleaned at least once a year. Earlier in this post, potential issues were brought up that may create an immediate need for attention. When those fluffy, almost waterproof leaves are left to lay in a gutter, they will eventually break down into soil. I know this from experience, having cleaned gutters as an added service to window cleaning. I have literally pulled tiny maple trees from gutters many times! Clearly, this is not a place where you want to be with your own gutters. Also, beware that while there are a few gutter guard systems that work properly as advertised, there are countless installed covers that have failed. This could be due to a poor-quality product or poor installation. When guards become ineffective, the proper cleaning of your gutters will take even more time and effort. Some or all of the guards will have to be removed to clean what debris got inside and then replaced. More time translates to more cost. 

Hopefully, this short article has shed light on gutter cleaning. If you'd like to take care of your gutter cleaning, feel free to inquire on our website or call or text us at 5706300326. We serve many areas in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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Are Microfiber Rags Really the Best Way to Clean Windows?

 Microfibers- The Cure-all End-all in Cleaning?

Since microfiber technology for cleaning became all the rage maybe 20 years ago, Mystic Maid, and other brands have made a real splash with consumers. I was introduced to Mystic Maid by one of my window cleaning customers. She told me it was a modern miracle! I bought one rag for around $10. Amazon sells a large version of the original right now for $31.99. I can't say it was great as a window cleaning tool, nor was it particularly bad. Certainly, for me as someone whose company cleans thousands of windows a week, microfibers would need to be both cost-effective and as good or better than what we would normally use to clean windows. That was not the case at all. Of course, we clean windows larger and higher than your average homeowner, for sure! I must say that we do use microfiber rags EXTENSIVELY for surface cleaning and sopping up dirty window sills and so forth. They have wonderful absorption and scrubbing abilities by their design and have been a boon to our efficiency and effectiveness. 

What About For the Professional Window Cleaner?

I would venture to say it is likely that most professional window cleaners use microfibers for one reason or another. When I'm on forums and FB groups, I don't see too many say they are using them as the best detailing method and none at all say they use them for a complete large clean. Some do use them for small panes, but that is a different scenario for sure. When one is required to choose between using a ladder or a pole to reach absolutely every bit of glass beyond standing reach, time and expenditure of energy surely come into play. A professional can do a stellar job cleaning glass by other means such as the old 'stand-by'- a scrubber and a squeegee. I find that for mass usage, huck towels, also known as surgical towels, are among the best detailers I've found. They last a very long time when properly cared for and are cost-effective. In my experience, huck towels are far less likely to leave lint on glass than all but an elite few brands of microfiber rags. 

Here's an example of a 'run of the mill' microfiber rag and one of my well-used huck towels. You can buy both items here  Only under the most extreme conditions such as very hot glass will surgical towels leave any lint. When I first started, the only thing I knew to use was paper towels. Back in the late 80's and some of the 90's I found Scott Towels was the best for me. I was told to try newspaper. I did and it really made the glass shine! But after a few windows my hands were black with ink and the paper was getting pulpy and useless. Surgical towels are hearty and can be laundered many times. If want to try them, don't launder them with bleach or fabric softener. They can be put in a drier or air-dried. Either way is fine. As time has gone by, of course, many professional window cleaners have other tools in their box that are just as viable for doing great work with a reasonable amount of speed. Well, that's my take on this part of window cleaning!   

    

If you live in northeastern Pennsylvania and just want to have somebody clean your window for you, feel free to get in touch with us. We've been serving the area since 1986. Here are some, but not all, of the areas we work in:  Honesdale, Waymart, Hawley, Carbondale, Forest City, Pleasant Mount, Scranton, Dunmore, Moosic, Damascus, Mount Pocono, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Beach Lake, Lake Ariel, Greenfield Township, Jefferson Township, Moscow

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How Long Should You Have to Wait to Get Your Residential Windows Cleaned?

Today or Tomorrow May Not be Reasonable

The Best Service Options May Take a Little Time

In most countries, people now have more information at their fingertips within seconds than ever before. Perhaps we have become accustomed to, or at least have the expectation, that personal services can be delivered to us at the snap of a finger. Barring supply issues, that privilege, if you will, is more likely to be the case with goods as opposed to services. When it comes to service requests, the length of wait is often largely congruent with how well-established and recommended the service company is. In fairness, some large companies that offer a variety of home services use a network of subcontractors to fulfill requests and may be able to get you scheduled sooner than a company that you would deal with directly can. One other factor that comes to mind is that the relative scarcity or abundance of companies providing your sought-after service will determine how quickly you can get what you're looking for. 

Timing is Everything

There are categories of services that have busy and slow seasons. Some are related to customer demand. Some are related to climate, such as window cleaning,  power washing, and roof cleaning. The colder the weather, the more difficult it is to perform these outdoor services. That said, you likely would have far less of a wait for these home services if you can manage to find a company that never 'closes' and is willing to do what it takes to get it done. I happen to own and manage a residential window cleaning company in a colder climate and was recently able to provide a full service for a customer living at the foot of a ski mountain as shown in the photo below. The air temperature upon arrival was 18F, but by the time I started working outside it was very close to 32. I was able to schedule it and do it with less than a week's notice. As I read comments from colleagues in industry groups online, the wait time is similar, very short, when there is little demand. When the demand is high, such as in the warmer months and in conjunction with special events at homes which normally are also planned for warmer months, the wait time may be a month or even significantly more. 

Plan Ahead If You Can

The point is, it is probably not reasonable to expect a reputable and experienced service company such as one that provides residential window cleaning, to be there 'tomorrow' during the busy season. You may be fortunate and find such a one that will deliver quality service and is in the early stages of growth. Chances are, if they continue on the right path business-wise, you will not be able to get that type of 'immediate' service as time goes by. Some companies hire seasonal workers for just this situation, that is to optimize the opportunity for a large share of the demand. The wait for you as a homeowner may be less than when using a company that keeps the same core staff year-round. But you may get less experienced technicians as well.            

Clearly, there are several things to consider when building up an expectation for how soon you can get someone to your house for your required service.

My suggestion, based on decades of experience, is if you can commit to scheduling your next service while your window cleaners or whoever else it may be are still on the premises, you will instantly be at an advantage. I'm personally happy as a service provider to schedule months or even a year in advance. It's a win-win. You as a homeowner don't have to scramble at the last minute in desperate hopes of getting a good company to clean your windows and I, the contractor, can start to fill what will become a jam-packed schedule with priority customers. 

If you live in northeastern Pennsylvania and want great quality residential window cleaning from a company with over 30 years of continuous experience, consider us. We are Dan Wagner Window Cleaning, established in 1986. Call or text us at 5706300326.

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Affordable Window Cleaners- They Do Exist!

 What Does Affordable Mean to You?

Paying for professional window cleaning can be viewed with joy or it can be viewed as a somewhat painful but necessary expenditure. On the far ends of the opinion spectrum, it can also be no big deal or out of the question due to the 'outrageous' prices professionals ask for. 

As with most anything, of course, the idea of affordable varies among those who are paying. Residential window cleaning costs are considered by some to be no real financial strain and a reasonable part of a maintenance program. Many others view it as an occasional treat to themselves or an 'expensive' yet important outlay of money to have a pleasing experience viewing the beautiful outdoors of northeastern Pennsylvania. Whatever the case, paying for a professional window cleaner should yield positive results.

Consider the Value, Not Just the Cost!

I can't define value for you and you can't define value for me. Still, something to consider is what you will gain when hiring a professional window cleaner- that is if realistically, you cannot handle the task safely or effectively on your own. You will gain significant time to focus on something else you need to do or are more confident you can do. Let's say you are having some friends and family over to your home for a once-in-a-lifetime weekend. They are important to you and you may want to impress them or, better yet, make everything about their stay pleasant. A clean house, clean and pretty surroundings, and of course clean windows, are likely going to be high on your to-do list. You are already a bit stressed trying to make everything just right in the finite time left. Tackling the potentially time-consuming and tricky task of getting all your windows cleaned, and cleaned well, may be overwhelming and a cause of stress. The cost to hire a professional may easily be worth it when considering the value of cutting out the stress and large chunk of time. Almost everything in life is a trade-off and your choice can be your win. 

Another thought on value: You may like to go to your favorite restaurant as often as you can. It's not a cheap outing, but the enjoyment of the meal and the company, and also the fact that you can talk about it regularly with friends is of high value- a value that outweighs the cost. If you love clean windows, you may rank this as a treat you are more than happy to spend some money for. 

In fairness, going with a more frugal choice may be good enough for many homeowners. Many use store-bought products that promise professional results with little effort. An earlier article I wrote touches on this option. Some professional window cleaners promote their service based on price and are willing to beat the competition. Is it a risk to go with price alone? You truly won't know unless you make that choice. 

Think Long-term as well

Your property, whether you own or rent it, is where you spend quality time. The difference between looking out dirty windows or clean windows is not to be minimized. And I am not even close to one of those companies that focuses on ringing alarms in your head about how your windows and your life will be ruined if you don't hire us, and hire us today. It is true, though, that over time uncleaned or poorly cleaned windows will literally suffer and not look quite perfect anymore, even with a good cleaning. So yes, maintenance is a really good idea. Many of my customers simply add yearly window cleaning or several window cleanings each year into their budget. This plan should truly reveal if professional window cleaning is affordable. 

If you live in northeastern Pennsylvania and want to see how great it is to have clean windows without breaking the bank and maybe your back, reach out to us!

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Cleaning Windows With a Pole, Ladder, or Garden Hose?

What Do the Professionals Use?

There are all types of ways to attempt to clean windows, and not surprisingly they yield a wide variety of results. While some may be satisfied with the general removal of dirt and grime, others are very keen on having spotless, sparkling windows. This post will focus on cleaning hard-to-reach windows, inside or out. Professional window cleaners also do not automatically agree on the best tools or methods for complicated window cleaning. I have been cleaning windows professionally for a very long time and have been active on forums and social networks as well as at industry events. Let me tell you there are many valid ways to clean difficult-to-reach windows. 

Extension Poles

There are many brands of extension poles and also many professional window cleaners who utilize them as their go-to tool for tough windows. The popularity of high-quality material, such as carbon fiber, has made it even easier to attain good results without being 'nose to glass' as many pros would say. Accessories are also available to give them an added advantage in getting to the bottom of deep ledges and navigating obstacles directly in the way of a straight shot at the glass. I have quite a bit of experience using extension poles and use them often when I feel this is feasible and expedient. Sometimes the conditions dictate using another means. Those conditions necessitating other methods include windows with residue or staining that can't be removed easily or at all by using a scrubbing device attached to a pole; also windows that have obstacles in front of them that can't be navigated with a pole. Still, under ideal or very good conditions, it is fairly simple to attain good results with the use of a pole from the safety of the ground. 

Water Fed Poles

Water-fed poles have gained enormous popularity around the world in the last decade or two. I started using one as a regular thing in 2009 and haven't looked back. While they are not the answer for every single window cleaning circumstance, they are truly a boon to many thousands of professional window washers. When used properly in conjunction with a water purification system, water-fed poles provide extremely good cleaning results, often better than with traditional hand tools and virtually always better than a homeowner spraying apparatus. They are a very safe alternative to being on a ladder and walking on roofs, some of which are pretty steep. 

With the homeowner's permission, I took this picture from inside on the second floor. I've applied my cleaning solution to the inside of the glass and my employee is way down below, clear of rough terrain perfectly cleaning a window about 9' above me and about 25' from the ground with a water-fed pole using pure water. I could go on extolling the value of using a water-fed pole for delivering perfectly pure water to clean glass, but that can be for another post. 

Ladders

Would I be correct to say that most people dread getting on ladders? Probably! Some enjoy ladders, including me. It's still not my first choice, but I'm fine as long as the setup is safe. One obvious benefit of laddering up to a window you need to clean is that you can clearly see what you're doing and can carry many necessary items on a tool belt. This will remove the guesswork of whether there are smears or spots that you left on the glass. You also have a fair range of area that you can clean safely; up, down, right, and left. 

On the other hand, working at heights is not for everyone. If you are really scared to work at heights it is best to avoid it if at all possible, as it can mess with your focus. Additionally, setting up a ladder safely is a discipline in itself and not to be ignored by any means. There is the issue of solid footing, lateral stability, safe angle for working, and possibly pedestrian and traffic safety. Ladder usage is a tried and true way to clean windows well, but certainly a serious responsibility for the user. 

Garden Hose

How about spraying dirty windows with a garden hose? Many feel this is adequate to make windows look cleaner and get the dirt and grime off the glass. While spraying gravity-fed, well, or municipal water on windows with loose dust or dirt can help in getting them clearer, it is unlikely that the windows will look as good as they can look. There will almost surely be water spots left on the glass.  The water pressure coming out of a garden hose won't really help remove greasy spots or baked-on contaminants. Even high-pressure water from a power washer is no substitute for a good cleaning agent to break up oily deposits or using some type of accessory to agitate tough contaminants. Excessive high pressure will just do damage to a window. Also, spider webs are not easily removed with merely a spray of water. There are some products on the market that claim to turn your garden hose into a window cleaning powerhouse for first and second-floor applications. These products, which connect to an incoming and outgoing garden hose, contain a formula that promises to thoroughly clean glass and perhaps even siding, leaving them sparkling and spot-free. Specific directions are given on how to use it and at what temperatures it will be effective, as well as a few disclaimers. Full disclosure, I have never tried this type of product; partly because I have my tried and true methods and partly because I don't believe it will consistently live up to its claim. It would be good to simply read plenty of reviews about such products. It can't be denied that if this works it would be a game-changer due to its ease of use and money and time-saving factors over scheduling a professional to clean your windows. But that is for each individual to decide.

How Much is it Worth to Have Really Clean Windows?

To conclude, getting your windows amazingly clean is going to cost you something. It will cost you at the least a modest amount of money for suitable products and tools, some of your time depending on the size and difficulty of the job, and an expenditure of energy, possibly labor-intensive.

There is also an option that would cost money, but no significant personal time or energy, to get yourself some beautifully clean windows. That would be having a professional take care of it for you. 

Dan Wagner Window Cleaning serves homes and businesses in the Scranton, Carbondale, and Honesdale areas, and has for 36 years. If you'd like to save time and energy, we are the affordable window cleaning company to call. 

You can call or text us at 5706300326. 

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