What would you recommend for real smokey windows where I clean a restuarant that allows heavy smoking, the windows are horrible. What would you advise using to cut through this…
Also, on a side note, when your guys or contract workers break something such as a storm window do you deduct the cost from their pay or simply put it down to an accident. I had this happen this week, one of them broke one then 20 minutes later another one of them broke another putting them back in, clearly not being careful. I stopped $20 each from their money because this didn’t give us the best image possible with the client, plus I can’t have my workers going around breaking things, I demand professionalism - especially given how hard we as owners work to get new clients too. I do this to teach them a lesson and to remind them to be careful in owners homes.
I use a separate set of tools and bucket and add Simple Green to a GG4 solution. I then do a final clean and squeegee will my standard set of tools and bucket and my standard GG4 solution.
I wear latex gloves because nicotine gives me a headache.
I thought most WC’ers who service storms have a waiver in place since they are so easy to break.
What was the exact behavior of the workers’ when they broke the storms?
Did you already have a section in your employee manual – that your guys have read – that expressly states that a payroll deduction will take place?
I use the same method for smoky windows that Larry does.
As for the window breakage if you have something in your employee manual about glass breakage then you should be able to deduct it from their pay. If not you might need to institute a policy and have them sign off on it. Otherwise your only recourses might be termination or eating the cost.
I dont care how careful you are with storm windows… They break really easy. I have had them break. Just walking across the room with them. Nature of the beast with storm windows. Charge your full price for the job. Apologize to customers. Then get it fixed. And return.
Over 8-9 years in biz, I’ve broken 5 windows = ALL STORMS…
Here out I refuse to do storms unless the homeowner signs a waiver exempting us from responsibility. I explain to them we aren’t going to wrecklessly handle them, but fact is they break easy. 90% understand!! Haven’t broken one under waiver yet
I rarely do smoker’s homes…about 3 total in 14 years on the job.
Last time I did one, I sprayed window cleaning foam on the panes, let it dwell about 30 seconds, then squeegee off. You’ll have brown foam at the bottom when you’re done with the window. Bring lots of towels to wipe this up. Then, reclean the window with your regular brush and solution.
I found the other times I did a smoker’s home, I had to change my water 4 or 5 times. With this method, I didn’t have to change the water at all, and my brush didn’t get nasty.
This method should work well on a restaurant too.
As for the window breakage and penalty, I’m in agreement that you can only dock their pay if you already have a written policy in place that states as such. If not, then warn them, and write such a policy for them to sign off on.
Ammonia will cut the smoke stain. I used in a really really nasty cigar bar (and other smoker places) where nothing else would work. It worked great, just be careful of not to inhale the fumes. I’ll tell you though, the end result is one of the most disgusting jobs I’ve ever done. You may want to wipe the sills with towels that you plan on just throwing away.
