I've started a window cleaning school

I really appreciated the education and help I received when I started in this industry and have always tried to give back whenever I could. Recently I was encouraged to start a school to help cleaners with the basics of window cleaning. After going over the inevitable questions like - who am I to teach a school, will anyone need this, and should I charge others to learn? - I decided to go ahead and start a school.

To be fair though I will answer the questions that I had to begin with.

Who am I to teach a school? I've been cleaning windows for almost 9 years as A New View and for 3 years I ran a janitorial company where we did some window cleaning (albeit with difficulty). I've spent the last several years doing educational videos for window cleaning and helping several local cleaners with everything from tool selection to technique issues.

Will anyone need this? Thankfully I'm a visual learner and have been able to pick up window cleaning through watching videos and reading on the various forums. I realized however that there are many who need hands on education to develop their skill set. Thus the need for a school where they can do just that. Added to that is the fear some have of "training their own competition". That fear can make a cleaner leery of offering any help to people in their area trying to learn how to clean windows.

Should I charge others to learn? While it would be great if I had the extra time to take off from my business and teach this class I don't have that option. So I have to charge for the time I take away from my business. That being said I have tried to keep the fee as reasonable as possible.

I have started a new blog that provides instruction on this new school at http://thewindowcleaningschool.blogspot.com/



For more educational topics go to Window Cleaning Institute

Why bother?

I hear that at times form homeowners and builders alike when it comes to cleaning windows, siding, and gutters. The reality is that if neglected you are actually loosing money. You just don't know it yet.
For instance gutters that are filled with debris can lead to several damaging conditions. In our area they lead to ice dams in the winter and in the wet spring they become so heavy they pull the fascia boards off the house leading to rot and eventual structural damage costing thousands.
Think too about siding. Many homes here have vinyl siding. Left uncleaned it becomes a breeding ground for mold and other allergens that can cause illness. Also vinyl siding will break down over time in sunlight. Regular cleaning can reduce this and extend the life of your siding.
Last but not least your windows. Improperly maintained windows eventually become horribly stained which leaves you three choices - 1) heavy chemical restoration, 2) mechanical grinding restoration, or 3) replacement. Again costing many times more that the cost of proper maintenance cleanings.
So it's up to you - how much is peace of mind and a properly maintained structure worth?

For more educational topics go to A New View Exterior Cleaning

Why use a water fed pole?

If you've been cleaning for a while and have developed the needed skills you no doubt wonder - "why should I use a water fed pole"? I mean if you are at that level where cleaning a pane of glass is approaching an art form there is a lot of satisfaction in your work already so why change?
While a water fed pole will never replace the traditional tools completely it is an invaluable asset in any companies arsenal. Besides the time saving factor (most users report time savings of up to half over traditional methods), there is the safety factor. The less time you spend on a ladder the safer you become. Add to those that as an employer it's quicker to train new employees to become proficient w/ the water fed pole than with traditional methods. This means they are making you more money quicker. Who wouldn't want a tool that could do that for their business?!

For more educational topics go to A New View Exterior Cleaning