New Industry Magazine

If you've been in the mobile cleaning industry for any length of time you've no doubt seen and read a few trade magazines. I personally have read at least 4 different window cleaning related magazines and 3 pressure cleaning magazines. While a couple were educational most fell victim to the overabundance of ads versus content which so many magazines do. So why am I telling you what you already know? Because something different in out there. A new mobile cleaning industry magazine is debuting. Clean Matters Magazine will shortly release it's premier issue highlighting the hugely successful United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners National Convention in Charlotte, NC this past September.

Why Another Magazine? 

With other industry publications they target the contractor in that industry and while that seems logical let's think about what any industry publication should be about - education. Not just the education of the contractor but more so, the education of our clients. After all, wouldn't you prefer to do business with property owners who understand the value of what you bring to the job. Property owners who understand that a quality job comes from educated contractors and carries an inherent value? This has been the driving force behind the UAMCC's newsletter for years and is the same driving force it's successor, Clean Matters Magazine, will push even further. 

How Do I Get It?

This magazine will be in a limited print and full digital edition. Both of which are free! The print edition is available to all new members of the UAMCC as well as at newstands located at participating UAMCC vendors. The digital copy is available by subscription at Cleanmattersmagazine.com 

Can I Get a Partial Cleaning?

The short answer is, yes. The better answer is, that depends. While it's always possible to clean select windows or one wall of a property in reality a partial cleaning isn't in your best interest in most cases. Why?

The Cost
In every cleaning there are expenses incurred by the contractor that are factored into the price. Among those are equipment wear and tear, vehicle maintenance, insurance, labor, etc. Most of these are the same no matter how many sides of your home are washed, windows cleaned, or sidewalks cleaned. This means there is already a minimum you are going to pay up front. Because of this many companies have a minimum charge on their services. So you may end up paying more on the smaller jobs when you figure the cost per square foot. That's why it's almost always more economical for you to have the whole property cleaned.

It Looks Clean
Many times you may think that it's only a few windows that are dirty or only one side of the building needs cleaned because it's green. This is where the old axiom "looks are deceiving" comes into play. While we often gauge how dirty something is by it's appearance it can leave unseen soils behind. In the case of algaes or molds this can lead to rapid resoiling of the cleaned surface rendering the cleaning short lived or often useless.

Hidden Damage
While we often clean our property because of what's seen the best reasons to have it cleaned are not immediately visible. For instance a window that is left uncleaned for years will be damaged by hard water staining so that cleaning will no longer be effective and require restoration, a far more costly alternative. Some sidings left uncleaned will eventually oxidize badly and again require a restoration at a much higher cost. Others will stain badly requiring multiples cleanings at a more regular rate to get them out.

The Solution?
Realizing that our building surfaces are among the largest investments we will make in our lifetime helps us to see the real value in full, regular cleaning of those surfaces. But how regularly should this be done? In the case of sidings it can depend greatly on our location. At the very least every 2 years up to as often as every 6 months. In the case of flat concrete areas it can be as often as every 2 weeks to every 3 months depending on traffic and type of business or the area we live in. What about windows? While it can be more ascetic because we see our world through them having them cleaned at least once a year should be on our schedule. More frequently is recommended though.

That's A Lot of Work!
Certainly the amount of work on a property can be overwhelming. However, the alternative to ignoring the consequences of partial cleanings can be just as overwhelming. To make this easier search out a competent company to handle this task. They can get you scheduled and take the worry on their shoulders for you. To find a top level company in your area I recommend hiring a certified contractor from the United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners. Find one here!

For an idea of the many services we can perform on your property our website

 

Tony Evans Biography

    Along with my wife of nearly 30 years I own and operate A New View Exterior Cleaning. We started the company in 2004 making this our 12th year in business. I have been in the cleaning industry in one form or another for over 15 years and was a general contractor for 10 years before that.

    The first thing I realized when we started this business was that education was paramount to success. To that end I got involved with several online forums to glean as much information as possible in an effort to shorten my learning curve and decrease the potential pitfalls of the business. I so appreciated the help I was given that I have made a concerted effort to give back as much as possible by helping educate any who have asked, even those in my own area, thru forums, phone calls, and networking events.

    About 3 years ago I joined the United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners as  felt it was a group that felt the same way I did about educating other contractors for the betterment of the industry as a whole. I've enjoyed learning a great deal about being a businessman, teacher, and servant to the industry from it's leadership over the last few years. Because of that and my desire to continue to give back, I'm running for a At Large position on the Board of Directors in the upcoming election. 

   I've enjoyed the privilege of forming and chairing the Window Cleaning Certification Committee, writing several articles for the newsletter, and doing presentations and training at several UAMCC events. I've also hosted the Midwest Cleaning Event in Iowa for 7 years before joining forces with the Power Wash Store event this last year. 

   I hope to be able to give back even more to the industry as a member of the UAMCC Board of Directors should I be elected so I can continue the path so clearly set by the previous Board.