As window cleaners in a residential setting we often come across situations that are challenging to address. I’m going to post several pics of some situations and ask that you guys post what you would do in that scenario.
SCENARIO 1: In this one judging by how long the double hungs are, I will need a short ladder to clean those windows. I would ask the homeowner (if available) to remove any valuable items they choose first. I would lay down one of my clean movers pads I carry to protect the hardwood floor and ask my helper, along with myself to lift the desk gently initially and see if it holds together before gently bringing it over onto the movers pad. We would only move it far enough to fit a step ladder behind it safely.
SCENARIO 2: If these were not removable, I’d use a scrubber to agitate the debris vigorously then rinse heavy with the water fed pole and not worry about detailing with a rag after. Problem there could be the paint or any substance on the iron that may be washed onto the glass. In that scenario I’d just squeegee with vertical strokes between the bars.
SCENARIO 3: While this particular photo doesn’t show the type of challenge I am referring to, it nonetheless gives you an idea of what I’m talking about. Often in larger homes I run across long and high windows located above a sink that has beautiful granite counters. In my residential work I do not like to use extension poles as I like to offer the detail that the customer is paying for but sometimes I use a pole if the counter is too wide or the window is too high to get from a ladder across the counter.
SCENARIO 4: In this scenario I generally would bring in my winmate and place it over towels and then cover it will clean towels and take off the draperies one window at a time and drape them carefully over the winmate until I clean the glass entirely and then carefully put them back in place. I’ve found the risk of tearing or smearing clean white fabric is too great when confronted with this type of drapery. I’ve found customers appreciate this approach also.
Hopefully this thread will bring up scenarios you all have been confronted with and your solution to it will help the rest of us when we run into the same. The pics above are all from photobucket and I encourage all to post a pic with your scenario to enhance the vision of it.
What I have found tricky about moving couches to clean windows behind them is the feet on them. Although it is seldom, I have seen situations where the legs/feet are broken and thus lodged underneath the couch and as soon as you lift it up they fall out. No remedy for that just put them back in just as they are.
I like all your responses Tony. The only one I would not do your way is Scenario 4 with the draperies. I don’t think it professional to put draperies on the customers furniture.
I think the winmate would be better because I as a provider of services am providing a means to safely secure the drapery until my cleaning service is performed. (As I stated, the winmate is covered with drop cloths to protect the drapery)
In the end, it shouldn’t matter. But we all have ran acrossed Ms. Fussybritches that might not say anything directly but would never use you again just because. For me not so much what I’m used to as what I have come to feel is the best practice.
I’d say it’s a regional thing Dwight. My customers have me place draperies either on their bed after taking them down or on the couch. With the winmate do you have the tray on or off?
Scenario 1:
I try to move household items as little as possible, some of my clients do the moving before I get there, especially knick-knacks. I’ll usually just throw a clean blanket over computers and desks-this works well especially if the desk is covered with papers etc. For this situation I’d use a stepstool, they come in handy all the time.
Scenario 2:
I’d probably just scrub and spray.
Scenario 3: Yikes! Granite countertops! These can crack easy. I’d do it from a stepstool.
Scenario 4: The Winmate technique sounds pretty good. I’d probably fold them and lay them on the chair/footrest.
Interior work can be tricky, there are so many opportunities for damage.
6’4" Here…I don’t normally run into much that is out of reach. In some cases I will use the ettore 2-4 pole. I also follow right along with tony on this one. Some of my clients are happy if I leave the drapes in the window, some say to just put them on the floor, some are okay with the couch, some pull them down for me and clean them. My point is to ask what they would prefer instead of try and assume what they might like.
I’m not assuming at all. It’s more like what I’ve determined is “professional.” I get each scenario presents a different action. Most of my regulars would be much more relaxed and I’d put them over a chair or something. I’m more or less talking about what a newby trying to prove themselves to a customer should do.
I use the two bottom sections of my Unger Tele-plus pole one on each side of the window frame to hold the drapes back and out of the way. They are bigger and heavier than a regular pole. I am extra cautious about any water dripping. Sometimes I’ll spray and wipe with 50/50 if I have too. I never take them down.
I like using drop cloths to cover item on desks.
The 2 foot step stool is usually enough hight, because I’m 6’1"
I’m not trying to bust your chops here Dwight so please don’t take this personal but, for me as a service provider, I think professional is to make sure you’re doing what the customer wants in this case. As for the newbies I think they should also make sure they are communicating w/ the customer and checking their preference on how to deal w/ these situations. Just a thought.
For me it is easy. Nothing looks that difficult to get at. But in the case of the couch and desk. I let my Res customers know when scheduling , that i must be able to access all windows they are wanting cleaned. I’m not a furniture mover. Most of my customers move stuff out of the way for me anyways. so there isn’t any real big problems on that side. Just like Tony said communication with customers os key. Let them know your expectations and you know theirs. Everyone comes out great that way.
Maybe “assume” was the wrong word. I think that speaking with the client of the obstacles is the first thing a newbie should do. Over time we all acquire a belief of what we think is “professional”. All I was trying to point out is that what may work for me or you may not work for everyone else. Personally I think that if a client cares about silk sheers, nic-nacs, crystal, flowers, furniture, lamps, vases, kids, and anything else around the window they themselves should move it. Does this always happen? not often…I let them know that I will do my best to not mess anything up but there is that very slight chance I may get butter fingers. If they can move it they will, couches and large stuff I can normally work around. things like large glass display cases filled with crystal right in front of a window I won’t even try and do. Alot of times the sheers around here are only hung with those cheesy spring rods. So I will just pull one off and put it in the window right beside it. This way it’s not on the ground or hanging over anything else. I wasn’t trying to call you out or throw you under the bus. If I offended you…my apologies. As far as the kitchen window I will most likely use a pole. When poling inside I only pole what I need to. Meaning if I have a window 12 feet tall I will only pole to what I can reach and finish off from there by hand. Double hung windows behind a desk…I cover the desk first. I then clean the top pane either with a pole or by hand if I can reach. Once the top is done I open the bottom up so I can reach it better without having to strain bending over the desk. Most of the time I will use my scrubber to catch drips and I put a drop towel on the sill.
