Setting expectations

I recently held the 5th annual Midwest Cleaning Conference and got the chance to talk to cleaners from different industries. The nice thing it that it allows me to get a different perspective on a variety of things. Sometimes it's as simple as what is clean when it comes to windows. Of course the obvious answer might be removing the dirt but in talking to pressure cleaners it's not the same as it is for window cleaners and it all boils down to expectations. Not ours or other cleaners but those of your potential clients. I did this video to explain how to use those expectations to your benefit no matter the industry.

For more educational topics go to Window Cleaning Institute

Why would a window cleaner...

become a member of the UAMCC (United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners), especially if they were already a member of a window cleaning industry association?
I asked myself that very question when I was asked to join. Having been a member of many associations in my time in the industry I had mixed feelings as to what it would do for me. For instance would my customers know about it or even care that I was a member? Would I get other benefits from the association that would bring me huge profits?
I took a moment and asked myself why anyone joins an association. I came up with a few reasons and most had nothing to do with padding my pocket. First, I entered this industry with little or no knowledge on what being a professional window cleaner means so the advice and networking I got from members of the association I joined at that time (MWCoA or Master Window Cleaners of America) helped me with the newbie questions that guys on other forums gave me a hard time over asking. Second, there were networking events that these associations sponsored where I could get out from behind the keyboard and see firsthand what these guys were telling me. And third, I was able to use the fact that I belonged to a group dedicated to making me a better cleaner as a selling point with clients. I mean doctors, lawyers, and other professionals all do ongoing education (many times through their own associations) to build confidence in their clients so why shouldn't I?
With those reasons in mind I weighed my decision of joining the UAMCC. I looked at an even bigger picture now than a window cleaning association. Here was a group that is working to get all mobile cleaners to pool their resources and knowledge. Some of the services of these other industries are a great fit for me and I would have access to others who are just as dedicated to improving their service as I am. As I thought about it I realized this would be the perfect fit for me and it was in mo way a conflict with any window cleaning association I might join again. In fact I found that many of the members were also in associations specific to their industry or service.
So if you are a window cleaner who has seen the value in associations for that industry I urge you to look at a bigger picture and enjoy the benefits offered by the UAMCC.
Take a moment to look at the website and please feel free to ask me any questions you have on my experience in the organization so far.
http://www.uamcc.org/

PS don't let the description fool you there are more than just pressure washers there.

For more educational topics go to A New View Exterior Cleaning

Do You Have a MSDS Binder?

            Imagine the scene – red flashing lights on the car behind you make you pull over. Why? You weren't speeding. What’s the problem? At closer inspection you realize it’s not the police, sheriff, or even a state trooper. It’s the DOT (Department of Transportation). What do they want? They may be double checking your ladders, seeing if interior loads are properly secured, and not obscuring the driver’s vision. Certainly they will be checking on the chemicals you have in your vehicle and at this point four letters will be vital - MSDS.

MSDS

            Material data safety sheets are a system for cataloging information like reactivity with fire, water, other chemicals, chemical compounds, or chemical mixtures. They also provide information on the products safe use and potential health hazards associated with the product you are using. Proper clean up procedures in case of spills are also part of these sheets. They should be present wherever these chemicals are being used. OSHA requires MSDS sheets be made available to employees for potentially harmful substances handled on the job.

Are You Ready?

            As professional window cleaners we deal with a wide variety of chemicals. For instance, besides whatever soaps we use for cleaning windows we may have various acidic cleaners for hard water stains; glide additives for our cleaning solution; and agents for removing cement, sealers, or heavy grease deposits. Maybe we offer other services like gutter whitening, roof cleaning or power washing. Now there are chemicals like bleach, gutter whitening cleaners, muriatic acid, and a plethora of other agents too numerous to list. If we use them or carry them on our work vehicles by law we need to have a MSDS for each product. So depending on the services we offer there could be a small novel in MSDS sheets we need to keep track of. How do we do it efficiently?

The MSDS Binder

            The most efficient way to keep track of our MSDS sheets is to organize them into a binder and have a binder for each work vehicle and one for the shop where we store extra chemicals. So once we know how many binders we need the next step is to make them.

Let’s take some time now and go through the steps needed to make your own MSDS binder –

Step 1 – to get a MSDS sheet we have a couple options. If we are purchasing our chemical from Window Cleaning Resource they have a downloadable MSDS on the product page of their online store. Otherwise a simple Google search under the heading “MSDS for “and then the name of the product we are using. Once you’ve downloaded the MSDS for each product I recommend making a folder on your computer to hold them all. Then it’s simply a matter of printing out a copy of each product’s MSDS for each work vehicle and one for the shop.

Step 2 – You’ll need a 3 ring binder and 3 ring sheet protectors (we use Avery #75530). Put each products MSDS in a sheet protector and then put that in the 3 ring binder. We label the binder MSDS on its spine and then Material Safety Data Sheets on the front cover.

Step 3 – Repeat step 2 until you have a filled binder for each work vehicle and shop area where products are stored.

Better Safe Than Sorry

            Once we have our binders made and in place make sure we and all employees understand how to use them and where they are located. Granted some of the products we use are fairly common and safe to use. However, there are some that if used improperly can be deadly. That’s why you should include a discussion of MSDS part of your company’s safety meeting schedule. While we hope we never have to need the information in a MSDS it’s simply a case of “better safe than sorry”.


For more educational topics go to Window Cleaning Institute