Customer called and wanted their driveway and exterior of windows cleaned. I don’t offer window cleaning as a stand alone service (yet) I hit windows with my house wash mix (Elemonator/what ever SH) and rinse they come out looking okay, never had a complaint. I figured I could just sell the guy on a house wash but his house does NOT need to be washed, windows are only lightly dirty. I told him straight up it’s not going to be a spotless clean on the windows but it will look better, I set expectations real low. Told him $600 for the drive and windows he offered $550 Cash I said good deal. I want to give him the best result possible without investing in much equipment. Suggestions appreciated!
So, what’s your question?
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Cash still has to be reported, so you are down $50 so far
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Sub it to an actual window cleaning company. All you’re gonna do is move some spots around on the glass using your house-wash.
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I was looking for suggestions on how to give them a decent clean without investing in equipment. I was just gonna do it by hand with dawn, a rang and a squeegee. Its an older couple they just want us to make their windows look a little better while were there cleaning the driveway. We can do that, was just seeing if anyone had any good methods or anything that might give them a better result. They dont expect a spotless clean and theyre not paying for one.
Windex and a newspaper
Sub it out like @Infinity recommended. Window cleaning is an art all its own and to do it correctly requires at least some basic tools and knowledge. Are their windows hydrophobic or hydrophilic? Screens present? What’s the TDS of your local water? Or are you bringing your own purified water?
Trying to think, there may be an inexpensive ‘spot free’ filter that attaches to a garden hose.
There are smaller, inline units but can’t verify if they work.
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It is my understanding that many modern newspapers use a different ink than those of yesteryear and the new ink will run and smudge the glass. If your local newspaper still uses the older ink then yes it does great at not streaking. Still doesn’t do anything to actually clean the glass.
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Please tell me that’s a joke…
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Budget build lol.
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Yeah, supposedly the newspaper industry switched from petroleum based inks to soy/plant based some time ago. Apparently the petroleum inks would leave a real nice sheen on the glass; soy, not so much.
I’ve only heard this repeated by other window cleaners, so I have no clue on the veracity of it. A lot of window cleaners will still claim glass is actually a “very slow moving liquid” 
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Just onvest in the equipment. You’ll need to eventually anyway.
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Ive seen videos for Expert in Washington or Oregon that uses something like this along with a cheap water fed pole for windows. I haven’t pulled the trigger yet but considering one of these. Anyone with experience please reply THX
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One thing at a time:joy:
My company is 2 months old… only done $16,000 in revenue so far and I racked up $40k on a credit card to start it up… my wifes credit card too so I have to pay that down so she doesnt kill me before I can reinvest the way I want to… hoping for rig # 2 and window cleaning equipment in February
I’ve been ‘nose to glass’ for 26 years, but at 51 my balance isn’t what it used to be so I’ve had to cancel a few customers and limit my ladder use.
A couple years ago I bought a Xero carbon waterfed pole and 1/2 cu/ft DI tank. I mainly use it for houses done within the past year, never on really dirty windows and usually just the higher stuff I would normally use my 24’ for.
Just a note, it’s been my experience that resi window cleaning pays about 1/3 per man hour compared to pressure washing. I can bust out a $500 driveway in about 2 hours, but a $500 house with my wife and myself will take at least 5 hours.
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Dang, what did you spend that 40k on?
Ditto. The only exception I’ve found is post-power washing window clean with the wfp. The house wash does 90% of the work. The wfp provides some quick agitation and a spot free rinse. I can pull $200/hr usually doing that. But it’s still less money than power washing, at $250-$350/hr.
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Haha yes, I figured it was obvious
Y’never know around here…
