[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Some cleaners take the storms inside and clean them on an easel and others leave them in their tracks. Which way is more efficient or better in your opinion?[/FONT][/COLOR]
I prefer the safety and less mess of cleaning them on an easel. I’ve cleaned them in place before and I always felt a bit uneasy - like I was going to have one slip and break. Plus I occasionally have those removable panel w/ blinds attached and on the easel I can tie the blind back for easy cleaning.
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]Tony,[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]I don’t think we are talking about the same style window. I leave them in place so there is less mess and they don’t slip or break.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]In New England we have storm windows that have one screen and two storms. They slide up and down in three separate tracks. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]Both storms go up and the screen comes down for the summer. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]In the winter the screen goes up and the storm closest to the inside comes down. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana]Is that what you’re talking about, Tony?[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333]PS[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#333333]I swiped this picture from Alex’s post.[/COLOR]
I have the same thing here Mike. I always take storms apart and clean them as I’m not a fan of reaching out to clean the outside of them which is what you have to do if they stay in place.
Oh I get it.
I like to clean windows from a ladder, even with storms, unless it’s quicker to do them from inside. 
On a third floor window I would do the window and the storms from inside as well.
You clean the whole storm and window from a ladder?
Yes! I like cleaning from a ladder as long as it is more practical than doing it from inside.
PS
90% of my jobs only have two stories, occasionally there is a 3rd story attic, or walk out basement making one side of the house 3 stories up to the second floor.
We don’t take any of the storms out. We usually run three man crews. When we arrive at the house two guys go in and unlock the windows and remove the screen only from the track.Both storms are moved to the upper position. If the top sash is in working order we will push that down to the bottom. Then we start on the outside. We generally have two guys on the seconds and one on the firsts. The order of cleaning with the top sash down is:
1st top sash, push back up into place
2nd bottom sash.
3rd The inner(bottom in winter position)storms is brought down and cleaned.
4th The outer storm is brought down and cleaned.
when we clean the interior it is: inner storm cleaned then move it up, outer storm cleaned then moved up. Set the storm back up in the manner the customer wants depending on the season. Replace wiped down screen. Then clean the upper and lower sash of house window. Vacuum sills.
I have cleaned them in all the different combinations as well. This is the fastest way in my experience. The downsides are that it takes some time to figure out how to move the storms around from the outside, and it can take the new guys a few weeks sometimes to get it down pat.
We still do some houses with box storms, does anyone else? If your not familiar with them it is a wooden framed storm that is usually removed in the spring and put back on in the fall/winter.
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Hey Hunterst, [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]May I ask what part of the country you’re from?[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Your method of cleaning storms in their tracks is a little bit different than other systems I have tried. I should give it a try.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I like to take the bottom storm and screen out but the top storm stays in its track. The bottom storm gets the inside surface cleaned while it is back on its track. I like this method because I can see what I’m doing with better lighting coming through the window.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Taking one storm out also makes it less confusing.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Sometimes I leave them both in their tracks, usually because the house is so incredibly nice I’m afraid to bring them inside.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]1. I usually flip the screen out onto the lawn.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]2. I drop both the storms down and rest their bottom edges on the window sill. Only the top clips are in their tracks.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]This works for me but juggling the storms up and down gets confusing, but it becomes a routine with time. I believe it is quite a bit faster than bringing them inside. Hunterst way could be even faster.
[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]What a boring thread for all the southerners![/FONT][/COLOR]
Hey Mike,
I’m from Dedham. I work for The expert and aintjemama. I started working for Lindas dad in 1999. So I have no problems with storms now, except for the ones that don’t function properly. We have in the past done the one storm in one out, but leaving them in is still faster.
[FONT=Verdana][FONT=Verdana]Thanks for your feed back. Now I will definitely give your method a try. My expectations are even higher than before now that I know you work for the expert and aintjemama. Thanks again. [/FONT][COLOR=black][/COLOR][/FONT]
It will take a little practice getting used to moving the storms around but you’ve worked with them alot so it shouldn’t be to bad. For windows where the top sash doesn’t move the order goes:Clean bottom sash, clean bottom storm, lower top storm to bottom, clean upper sash(your drips should hit the inside of bottom storm), clean upper storm. When cleaning the insides the order doesn’t matter as much. One thing to be aware of is that sometimes the upper storm will not go into its highest position with the inside storm in the track. As your aware I’m sure, each style of triple track has it own little quirks to deal with.
Unfortunately, yes. Ungodly heavy ones at that, I dread those phone calls … but a job is a job.
I’m like Tony of Iowa. I always take both storms and screens out unless for some reason they can’t be removed. When I [I][B]have[/B][/I] to I think it takes me longer. (Never timed it) We simply leave the sets oriented the exact same way (narrower storm in front of wider storm in front of screen, all with tabs facing in). We put a white towel in between them and the furniture if need be. Sometimes the tracks are loaded with organic material that insects put in them.
