Category: Cleaning

Here’s How To Clean Windows Like A True Professional

Cleaning glass can be time consuming, frustrating and the results can sometimes be hit and miss. Those who can clean glass quickly without spots or streaks left behind enjoy better productivity rates and profits. In this guide you’ll learn the essential tips to cleaning glass perfectly the first time and fast.

Cleaning windows like a professional with fast streak free results can easier than you think. You can clean windows successfully with just a basic window cleaning equipment kit.

What you need to clean windows like a pro.

1 x 35cm window washer and swivel handle

1 x 35cm window squeegee and swivel handle

1 x 1.2m 2-section extension pole

1 x Window cleaning bucket

1 x Bottle of window washing detergent

1 x Window scraper

1 x Microfiber cloth

You can start to clean windows successfully with a basic window cleaning equipment kit like the one above. As you become more experienced and your work becomes more varied and frequent, you will need to think about adding more equipment to your kit.

Expanding the basic window cleaning kit

More equipment can be added to this basic kit when you take on projects that involve cleaning different kinds of windows. The additional items could include:

• Longer extension poles

• Larger squeegees for commercial work

• Smaller squeegees for smaller windows and detailing

• Different size tools for larger or smaller jobs

Window Cleaning Buying Guide

Your restaurant needs to look good inside out and there is nothing more off-putting than grubby, rain marked window panes so make sure every area of your premises is kept meticulously clean.  If you don’t employ a window cleaner on a regular basis it’s important to have the right equipment to hand to do it yourself.  Cleaning windows is an easy job; the tricky part is reaching windows which are high up so you need a ladder to support your weight and your equipment safely.

Cleaning windows requires various products from sponges to buckets and good quality cleaning products.  A good tip is to clean your windows on a cloudy day to avoid direct sunlight which dries moisture out very quickly often leaving streaky glass.

You will need the following products:

Squeegee handle to wipe off excess water, wipe the squeegee blade clean with a cloth every now and then to avoid moving dirt around the window area.

Sponge to apply soapy water to the window.

Scourer for heavy dirt.

Lint free cloths or lambs-wool polar pack for a smooth, clear finish.

Window Cleaning Prices

Can I just do Window Cleaning myself?

This is a question many individuals ask. The answer depends on your specific circumstances. After seeing a professional window cleaner blitzing through a shop frontʼs window, a passerby may think, “surely it is not that hard?”

When it comes to commercial windows, they should always be cleaned by a professional. It will make a big difference in your presentation. The image you project may attract or repel customers. Regular cleaners often do not have the expertise to do a thorough job.

How To Get An Accurate Quote

When it comes to window cleaning prices, there is a lot of variation. Of course, you want the cheapest prices and may wish to shop around. However, this can take some time, so before calling it is good to know what to ask so that you can find the best and cheapest solution. Most services offer free quotes. Take note though, many companies will charge extra for things that you may not have considered.

Factors that we consider when pricing a window clean

The number of panes? – These are counted individually. We consider each pane a separate window.

Size of each pane? – Smaller panes can sometimes be just as time-consuming.

Type of glass? –  Some are difficult to clean types such as Viridian Comfort Plus Glass.

One or both sides? – Or just the inside or outside?

Dirtiness? – How dirty are your windows? Filthy, moderate, fingerprints, offensive?

Type of Dirtiness? – Is it just dust, dirt, grease, bird poo. Or harder stains?

Frequency? – Do you want a one-off clean? Or a regularly scheduled cleaning service? How often? Once a week, month, year?

Timescale? – When are the windows available to be cleaned? Does it have to be after hours? Night work, weekend work or emergency call outs? Do they need to be done today?

Last Clean? – Time elapsed since last window clean. The windows will be much dirtier

Height? – How high are the windows? More height requires more skill. Do we need to use a water fed pole system?

Window Coverings? – Do you have fly-screens, safety screens, grills, curtains, blinds- anything that may interfere with the cleaning process? Do these objects need to move to access the windows? Will you do this, or do you want them to do this?

Flyscreens? – Extra work but highly recommended, as dirt from the fly screens often is transferred to the windows.

Window Surrounds? – The inclusion of flyscreens, tracks, sills, frames or other surfaces.

Direct sunlight? – This makes it harder as it shows up every blemish and surface defects.

Other Services? – Gutter cleaning, carpet cleaning, general cleaning and pressure cleaning. Discounts are usually offered for combining services.

Post-Construction? – These are a whole different animal. Exotic building residues require special techniques and chemicals in order to be removed.

Other? –  Factors related to the difficulty of the job.

How to Spring Clean Your Windows

Spring is just around the corner, which means that it will soon be time for spring cleaning. Removing the accumulated pollution, dirt, grime, bird droppings and salty snow stains from the windows may seem like a tedious and time-consuming task. But spring cleaning doesn’t have to be stressful, so here are a few helpful tricks the experts shared with us that will give your windows that professional and streakless finish.

When is the Best Time to Clean Your Windows?

Spring remains the best time to clean dirty windows. Keep a watch on the weather forecast for a cloudy day. If you choose to wash your windows on a sunny day, you risk your window washing solution to evaporate quickly because your windows have gathered too much sunlight. The sunshine also hides dirty spots and causes additional streaking, so you may have to waste your time and repeat the cleaning process.

This is another frequently encountered problem. If you have no other option and you must clean your windows on a sunny day, you can start from the windows that are facing the shadows. Alternatively, you can wash your windows early in the morning, before the sun has reached its peak.

EXTRA TIP: When cleaning windows from both sides, you can use vertical motions for the interior of your windows and horizontal motions for the exterior, or vice versa. This way if you see any imperfections or smudges, you will know which side needs a second wash.

What is the Best Window Cleaning Mixture?

There are different cleaning liquid formulas. However, the best ones use natural and eco-friendly materials, such as vinegar and lemon juice. Natural materials can help you spot streaks while cleaning your windows. If you have never used vinegar and water to clean windows and frames but you want to make your own homemade window cleaning solution

How to Clean Windows

We’re diving into the details of window cleaning. From the best homemade window cleaning solution to the proper way to clean your window screens and frames, we’ll help you get those windows looking beautiful.

How to Clean Every Part of Your Window

While it’s not a glamorous job, window cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. If you’ve been wondering how to clean windows quickly and efficiently, we’ve got you covered with our favorite tips and tricks to help you keep your windows looking great for years.

Best Window Cleaning Solution

You can clean your windows with an ammonia-free glass cleaner, like a premixed vinegar-based cleaning solution, or you could make your own. Avoid using window glass cleaners that are ammonia- or alcohol-based as they may leave streaks or produce a film that attracts moisture or dust. If you choose to make your own cleaner

here’s an easy homemade window cleaning solution you’ll want to keep bookmarked:

Mix one cup white vinegar with 10 cups of water. Fill a spray bottle with the mixture, and store leftover cleaner in a jug for future use.

Apply your cleaning solution to a soft, clean, lint-free microfiber cloth or paper towel. Feel free to be generous with the amount of cleaner you apply to the cloth or paper towel, but avoid getting any cleaning solution on the wood, fiberglass or vinyl frames, as it may discolor the finish.

Essential Window Cleaning Supplies

We recommend cleaning windows at least twice a year for optimal quality, but you can clean them as often as once a month if you like. Before you get started, you’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary materials. A soft, lint-free towel, such as an old kitchen towel, linen napkins or a made-for-glass microfiber cloth, is the best thing to clean windows. You’ll also need a vinegar-based cleaning solution (like the recipe listed above), non-abrasive cleaner, soap, water and a vacuum with a soft brush and drapery attachments for interior and exterior window cleaning.

Top Office Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Your business keeps you busy. High among the list of things you don’t have time for office cleaning. These easy cleaning tips are sure to give you back at least a little time in your schedule every week!

Professional Cleaning Tips for Your Office Equipment

Among the best cleaning tips and tricks were ideal for keeping office equipment clean and in top working order. Spray canned air on keyboards, telephones, and any equipment control panels with buttons, to dislodge any particles. Use a soft cloth, preferably microfiber or other lint-free substance, and an anti-static type cleaner to gently wipe off all plastic surfaces of office equipment. Finally, clean monitors and display pads using distilled water on a chamois or microfiber cloth.

Commercial Carpet Cleaning and Care Tips

Office carpet takes a beating, but you can help extend its life and keep it looking sharp using these quick tips. Even if you have daily janitorial service, someone is bound to send the contents of the 3-hole punch raining down on the copy room floor like a ticker-tape parade. Keep a little rolling push sweeper in the office, to make quick work of the confetti. Spray anti-static spray (like Static Guard, or make your own in a spray bottle using 2 tablespoons liquid fabric softener to 1 cup of distilled water) on office carpets every few days (daily during the winter and other particularly dry weather). This will help the sweeper or vacuum do its job, cut down on static electricity shocks, and even extend the life of the commercial carpet.

Office Kitchen Cleaning Tricks

Now for the room that probably needs the most help. Any commercial office cleaning company will tell you that the office kitchen is the biggest challenge. Just a few quick cleaning tips and tricks though, and that challenge becomes manageable. Rather than scrubbing that coffee carafe to remove the brown coffee scale, pop two Alka Seltzer tabs and some water in and let it sit for 20 minutes. The scale should wipe out easily. This will also work for water pitchers, vases, or other glassware with mineral build-up.

Forget the baking soda in the fridge, and use activated charcoal tablets to control odors. Use the baking soda in the sink drain instead, chased by white vinegar, at least once a week. This mixture will also do an effective job of cleaning appliances, countertops, and the inside of the refrigerator as well.

How To Speed Your Property Sale With House Cleaning?

Giving your property a professional deep clean before you let potential buyers in can work wonders. Genuine house buyers are looking for a nice clean home, a place to live happily, have children etc. Dirty and… neglected houses will not show their full potential and most likely will be underestimated. In other words buyers will be “running away scared”. That is not what you want, is it?

If you don’t have the time or if you are lazy, just call a reputable cleaning company to carry out a full house deep clean. You are looking at a price higher than your average weekly cleaner’s job but the results are impressive. They will sweep, dust, wipe, vacuum, wash, polish and sanitise all surfaces in your house. If you have carpets – carpet cleaning is a must. Put some nicely smelling fresh flowers all over the place, take out bulky sofas and junk lying arround in corners, free space. If it is cold outside put the heating on and make some freshly ground coffee just before the potential buyer arrives.

Spending on a good and thorough deep house cleaning (a.k.a. end of tenancy cleaning) sometimes can add thousands to the value of your property. How? If a buyer falls in love with a clean freshly smelling house that suits his needs he won’t be putting offers on the house but he’ll try to acquire it ASAP. Even if he does put an offer it will be a sensible one.

TIPS FOR SPEEDING UP COMMERCIAL CLEANING JOBS

“In the carpet cleaning industry, time is money. Charges are based on the amount of area cleaned, so the faster a job can be completed, the more profitable it is. This is especially true in commercial carpet cleaning,” the company says in the release.

seven things to consider before beginning a commercial job in order to improve efficiency are:

Work order: Prepare a work order listing all areas to be cleaned, when to start/end work, emergency contact information as well as all of the items listed below.

Parking: If using a truckmount, locate a parking space where the vehicle can stay parked or, at the very least, moved less often.

Hookups and hoses: Locate water hookups inside and outside the facility, as well as the safest areas to run hoses both into and within the building.

Fill and dump: Filling and dumping tanks are usually the biggest time wasters with conventional portable extractors; along with water outlets, know where soiled water can be dumped.  If using a recycling carpet extractor, this will be less of a concern.

Carpet mapping: Map out the entire carpeted area to be cleaned; note partitions and furniture that cannot be moved, as well as trouble spots where there are spots, stains or excessive wear on the carpet; if possible, place a piece of tape on trouble spots for quick identification.

Corner guards: Installing corner guards around cubicles, wall corners, posts, etc., ensures the hose does not get snagged, which can slow down cleaning.

Ever-working wand: In most commercial cleaning jobs, there will be two technicians using one portable machine; if one technician must take a break, make sure the second tech is ready to take over.  Always keep the wand working.

Effective Commercial Cleaning Tips to Keep your Office Clean

Office is where you spend a major chunk of your day. It ought to be clean and hygienic, just like your home. This would ensure that you stay protected against bacteria, germs, and infections of all kinds. Besides your health, which of course is the prime driving factor, a clean office definitely speaks lots about your image. Your visiting clients are sure to get impressed and it’s a win-win situation, after all.

Now commercial office cleaning is slightly different from the cleaning techniques followed at home. And the best part is, you don’t always need to hire the services (which can be pretty costly) of professional cleaners. But in case you needed to hire one

Yes, they do the job really well so your office looks sparkling clean. However, you can go in for slightly more affordable choices by employing the help of professional cleaning products. This way you can end up having a clean and hygienic office space while taking care of your pocket too.

Here are some of the best office cleaning techniques to follow by using professional cleaning products and solutions. They are fairly simple to use, effective in results, low on cost, and work for all kinds of commercial office areas. Take a look.

Thorough clean your carpets

Offices are germs’ best friends. Lots of people walking in and out the door all day long, wiping off shoes on the carpet – it definitely needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. Do it preferably over the weekend so work and client movement doesn’t get affected. Vacuum them for sure and also try Water Extraction Carpet Cleaner solution for deeper cleaning.

Practical Safety Tips for Janitorial Workers

No matter what job your employees are performing, an accident can happen. Safety in the workplace should be a concern for everyone. Lost time can mean lost wages for employees and higher insurance costs for the employer. Following a few safety guidelines can help keep your employees on the job and your costs down.

Lifting can be a common cause of back injuries. Lifting should be done by bending the knees and not twisting or turning the back. Lift belts should be worn when moving heavy equipment or furniture. Slide materials to the back of a truck before attempting to lift them. Items should not be lifted over truck walls or tailgates.

Avoiding slips and falls. Employees should wear rubber soled shoes that have good traction. Look for obstructions, boxes, furniture, etc. that may be in the way before starting to work. Never leave cleaning tools, supplies or trash bags in walkways. Spills should be cleaned up immediately. Place hazard signs out in areas before cleaning floors or stairs with chemicals or damp mops. The edges of floor mats should lie flat on the floor.

Safety on stairs. When using stairs employees should use hand rails. Employees should not carry anything on stairs unless they can see over the object they are carrying. Avoid running up or down the stairs. Broken hand rails should be reported to a supervisor.