Quality Window Cleaners Are Hard to Find

    I recently cleaned the windows for a new client, and she told me that they hadn’t been cleaned since they where installed. She mentioned that she had hired a window cleaner for her daughters wedding but he never showed up and she was so busy with the wedding plans that she never followed up on it. So many times I’ve heard stories like this, or cleaned windows at a house or business and find scratches on the glass from a previous window cleaner, or heard horror stories of a customers bad experience. But why does this happen? Sadly, anyone now can pick up a squeegee and say they can clean windows, but what they don’t realize is that cleaning windows is an art. It takes skill and practice. Glass is fragile, and there is a technique to cleaning it that must be learned. On larger houses windows can be hard to access, so you must have the right tools and knowledge to complete the task. I heard that there is a window cleaner here who only does one level houses, how much business is he missing out on just because of his lack of experience and equipment?

    I also recently received a call from a local window cleaner wanting to sell me his accounts as he was only doing this aside from his other job and could no longer keep up with it. All of this tells me that there are so many average Joes picking up a strip washer and squeegee and saying they can clean windows then either 1) don’t show up to the job 2) don’t have the equipment or experience to complete the job, or 3) are not committed enough to stay in business. Unfortunately the window cleaning industry is polluted with people like this and the one who suffers the consequences is, sadly, the consumer.

    So I guess the question is, how do you know the window cleaner you are about to hire is a quality, genuine, real-life, window cleaner? The short answer is - Research. How long have they been in business? Do they have insurance? Although it’s not required in the state of Oklahoma if they have insurance that means they are serious and committed. Do they show up on time to give an estimate? Do they have referrals? A lot of times I know I got the job before I even show up to the house to give an estimate because I can tell, just by talking to the person on the phone, that they’ve done their research and have already decided to hire me. Those are my best clients, and I know I’ve done a good job because they keep calling me back to re-hire me.

    In short, don’t be fooled by all these average Joe window cleaners, take the time, do the research, and know before you buy.

What to know before hiring a window cleaner

Unfortunately I hear all too often that many people hesitate to hire a window cleaner because they had a bad experience in the past. One house I did in Arcadia, Oklahoma had such dirty windows, when I asked the homeowner when the last time they where cleaned they told me it had been a few years because the last window cleaners scratched all the windows and tore up all the screens so they where nervous to hire someone again.

    Then, on the other end of the spectrum, there are these large cleaning companies that send a crew of inexperienced employees on a minimum wage salary who come in and only care about speed over quality. The end result is a frustrated homeowner who is not happy with the work and possibly broken items in there home or ruined landscaping.

    What do you need to know before hiring a window cleaner? Simply put, research. Try to learn everything about them. Do they have reviews? If so, are they all positive? It doesn’t matter if they have over 100 reviews, if they are mostly negative then odds are they are not someone worth hiring. Do they have experience cleaning windows in residential homes? It’s also good to know who will be coming to clean your windows. If they will be sending a crew, do they have experience? In my case I am the one who talks to the client and shows up to do the work so the homeowner already has an idea of who will be coming inside of their home. Also, how much are they charging you? this is important because the cheapest isn’t always the best. An inexperienced window cleaner will usually bid a house really low, so it may seem like a great deal but buyer beware, you could end up with serious problems or even damage which will cost more to repair or replace.

    I’m not trying to frighten anyone, there are a lot of good window cleaners out there. I personally know a few in the window cleaning community and I am good friends with them. And as a small local business owner I have a lot of respect for those who are just starting out. But when it comes down to your home it’s important to know what your getting into, so do your research and be sure you are hiring a skilled professional.

Video: How to clean your own windows

A lot of people may want to clean their own windows instead of paying someone else to do it. I can can show you an easy way to do it in this video. Click the link below to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pw1rBFJjPQ&feature=share

How often should I have my windows cleaned?

I usually get this question a lot, but the truth is there is no right answer. It really depends on two things. First, the house, how often do the windows get dirty? If the owner has pets or small children or if the windows are in an area that gets hit by a lot of wind and rain then they probably get dirty quite often. Second, the home owner. Some people can’t stand dirty windows, not even a little, and I do have some clients where I clean their windows once or twice a month. Then you have others who like to have clean windows but don’t want to spend a lot on window cleaning. Those clients usually just call me once or twice a year. In general, however, I recommend having your windows cleaned inside and out twice a year, and just the outside every three months, since the outside usually gets dirtier then the inside. This way the windows look great year round. Believe it or not having a regular maintenence schedule is the best because this will make your windows last longer and will prevent you from having to replace them early. Dirt and hard water stains exposed to the elements can gradually damage the glass and frames. So ask your window cleaner to put you on a regular schedule. If you live in the Oklahoma City area feel free to contact me.