added our window washing truck!

Just got our window washing truck all set up. So far so good its out kicking ass, no marketing for it yet but randomly 2 customers in one week during carpet cleaning asked if we do windows... also we took down 2 commercial jobs!

We got a nice ladder rack on toyota tundra, 1 28ft ladder, 1 16ft ladder, 1 8ft plus water poles and all the hand tools. My good friend has been out of work for the last few years but spent a long time working for a company doing high rises downtown seattle plus lots of residential.. so decided to put him on and see how it goes.


Went and did a whole house carpet job with him doing all windows at the same time the other day, went great. Gotta say, other than being up high Im jealous of the laid back work it is lol much less labor intensive then doing carpets.


anyone else offering window washing?

ACy, You are the add on service King. I get asked about windows too but I just cant do heights.

Im surprised you're not doing house cleaning. You would be a one stop shop for all your cleaning needs. Sounds like a slogan doesn't it?

Does the ladder guy have a fall harness? Someone holding the ladder?

I've been holding accident investigations far too long that I can't help but see danger at every turn. A guy falls off a ladder higher than 6 feet without fall protection can end in a huge OSHA fine and badly injured employee.

I know, we all do it, but when a business does it, it becomes an issue. I can't dispose of an ounce of asbestos tile as a business, but the homeowner can throw out a house full and nobody cares.

Being a business, you can get creamed by the legal beagles for not making the job site safe for even the village idiot.

That being said, I think window cleaning is a great idea. Might be limited to early Spring and late Fall, but why the heck not since you are already there.

Is the window cleaning ever done without carpet cleaning or is it a package deal?

milspec6 wrote:Does the ladder guy have a fall harness?  Someone holding the ladder?

I've been holding accident investigations far too long that I can't help but see danger at every turn.  A guy falls off a ladder higher than 6 feet without fall protection can end in a huge OSHA fine and badly injured employee.

I know, we all do it, but when a business does it, it becomes an issue.  I can't dispose of an ounce of asbestos tile as a business, but the homeowner can throw out a house full and nobody cares.

Being a business, you can get creamed by the legal beagles for not making the job site safe for even the village idiot.

That being said, I think window cleaning is a great idea.  Might be limited to early Spring and late Fall, but why the heck not since you are already there.

Is the window cleaning ever done without carpet cleaning or is it a package deal?

I agree, especially here in California, way too risky for me to add that.
Out of curiosity what's your price structure on that ?

its a great ticket and not a risky service...   thats like saying painting houses is too risky

just have to have common sense and be aware,      no where near as risky as something like tree work

everything has risk,   even carpet cleaning you could get furniture wet and ruin it


gotta use high quality ladders no cheap home depot aluminum and nice leveling legs, plus wall stabilizers


these ladders were expensive but feel so solid, no side to side or flex in the middle on the 28ft, most homes your not even up that high

I agree that there is risk in everything that we do, just wanted to make sure people are thinking safety and not just money.....a big failing in this industry.

I like the idea of window cleanings as it is a task most homeowners want done, but don't want to actually do themselves. I actually strung Christmas lights for customers one year as a promo and it was very popular.

Have you considered going even deeper? Power wash siding, cleaning gutters, etc.?

If you are ever starving, clean windows!...I have always been asked here too....I pass unless we just need the work.

definitely aiming at exterior cleaning, siding, controlled pressure washing with recovery like ive talked about before.

This is the main reason why we named the company Hydra Clean NW, and not "something" carpet cleaning

I would probably stay away from gutter cleaning, or sub contract it


mostly want to stick with the services that require special equipment, but window washing was just a no brainer the start up costs were very low.

We did another house the other day, 372.00 for all the panes.. they just had their house painted and the painters wiped the windows with some sort of solvent and left a haze on all of them.



Oh, Dp to answer your question about the pricing.. we are charging $5-8 per pane. If they are hammered and need razoring then usually $8 or extra large windows

We have a guy here who cleans every window in town (commercial) and just walks it....when he is done with his route he starts over again and keeps going....he cleaned one of my friends shop and charges $10 everytime he does them.....he was there 2 minutes!

Have you looked at "Sky Vac" systems? There is some unique equipment that could be of benefit to you.

ya ive seen those, there have been many inventions made to try and make it easier but none really do a good job.. to be professional u still have to get up there and make sure they are clean, plus clean the debris filters at the top of the down spouts.


one guy invented a really dumb little robot/remote control car that drives through the gutters and cleans them, but its worthless.. u can see videos online making fun of it.


gutters are just more of a roof cleaning type job, ill prob stay away from roof cleaning and gutters..



but patios, walkways, siding, windows, carpets, tile, uph, all fair game

Yes I saw that remote control.

When I cleaned the tower house the couldn't find any one that would clean the windows

What do you think about this kit to clean skylights AC. Its supposed to make the easier to clean Skylights

Hey don't forget to look at the windows. A lot of newer homes have double hung windows that tilt in no ladder needed.

ACE Services wrote:Hey don't forget to look at the windows. A lot of newer homes have double hung windows that tilt in no ladder needed.

I was thinking that too after looking at my house....the questions then are does it make it easier for you or does that take away the need for the service?

I cleaned windows for 25 years and carpet for 25 years and being that I am only 54 I obviously cleaned both at the same time for many years. If you think window cleaning is less labor than carpet cleaning you're coo-coo. On some jobs sure but not all and not after that many year when your shoulder, knees and wrists are wiped out.

As an add on it isn't near the wear and tear as doing it every day. Not to mention the risk of life and limb. I have the scars to prove it. I would not go back to window cleaning and would not add it on except for one story store fronts.

Mo wrote:What do you think about this kit to clean skylights AC. Its supposed to make the easier to clean Skylights

yes we use a pole system just like that with several attachments, its just there in case you run into something out of reach

Agree with ya Ken! some of the younger guys have the means to pull it off though...AC is a beast! Back in my hay day I bought anything I could make a buck with.....I once bid a painting job in a building because it was empty and didnt need to tape off anything at all, I purchased a Binks airless sprayer and made $3500 above that and started a small painting company with a local painter....he still paints and ironically I will be hiring him to paint my house.

expanding past carpets and tile is very important if you want to get off the wand scrubbing some day


its all cleaning, all of these services can be mastered.. its not like carpentry

and when you have a good list of services it makes it much easier to keep the schedules booked!

I'm torn on this topic AC. I don't want to hijack anything, but I am always torn on whether it is better to diversify services or specialize?

Every year I wrestle with that one. Which is really better for a business?