Work Safe

In the province of British Columbia, the government agency that regulates work place safety is known as "WorkSafe B.C. Does your contractor have WorkSafe coverage? Here are a few things to consider.

Any contractor you hire to perform work at your business or at your home must cover their employees with WorkSafe B.C. insurance. If the contractor you hire does not have employees, but instead performs all work personally, WorkSafe B.C. does not require them to have WorkSafe insurance. However, if the contractor does not have WorkSafe insurance, it is up to the business owner or the homeowner to cover the contractor with WorkSafe B.C. insurance while they are performing work on your property. If you do not insure them and they do not have their own insurance, than you can be fined. So the question is, does the contractor I want to hire already have WorkSafe insurance? How can you know?

Before you hire a contractor it is always a good idea to go to the WorkSafe B.C. website. Once there, look for the heading "Get a clearance letter". By going into this section and following the prompts, you can easily find out in minutes if the contractor you wish to hire is insured with WorkSafe B.C. and if they are in good standing. If they do not have insurance or if they do not have a good safety record, it might be wise to look for a different contractor. 

Now does T.&M. Window Cleaning have WorkSafe B.C. insurance? In short, Yes. Since our being established in early 2001 up to the date of this article being published, we have maintained a spotless safety record with WorkSafe B.C.  But don't take our word for it. Please take a few minutes and request a safety letter for yourself today.

KEEPING YOUR HANDS WARM WHILE WORKING

When cleaning windows during winter months, it is very important that you stay warm. Keeping your head, feet and hands warm are vital to you staying warm. Of course working with water, the most challenging is to keep your hands warm. Or so one might think. Over many years one learns how to do this effectively. And the most effective way to keep your hands warm when cleaning windows is the same as keeping the body warm; layers. Adjust the type of gloves and the layers of gloves accordingly to the weather of the day.

Living in Kamloops B.C., we don't get allot of extreme cold, but when we do, having the right gloves makes all the difference. For extreme cold weather a good quality neoprene glove with built in plastic layers will give you dry hands and the dexterity required for working. For warmth, it is good to wear a good quality long knitted glove inside of the neoprene glove. If your hands still are not warm, you can insert into your gloves hand warmers, which are small packets easily found in various outdoor sports type stores. If you are unable to locate a good quality neoprene glove with built in plastic layers you can add a plastic glove between a simple neoprene glove and your knitted glove.

For most of the winter here in Kamloops, a less bulky glove is more than enough. A heavy duty PVC glove with textured grip is more than enough to keep ones fingers toasty while giving good dexterity for working. Try it out to make sure you have good movement in the fingers and allow room for a knitted glove inside, and you will have the warmest hands in town and still be able to work effectively.

"Did you miss this window; it has spots?"

What is a common cause of spots on a window that has been properly cleaned? This often is mineral deposits. When your water source contains minerals such as calcium and lime, it tends to leave mineral deposits on the glass as the water drops evaporate. If the water contains a lot of TDS or Total Dissolved Solids you can have spotty windows even after only one exposure to such water. However, even if your water has low TDS,  you will develop spotty windows over the course of time.

When Kamloops built it's new water treatment plant just a few years ago, the TDS coming through our pipes has been quite low. Having said that I still see windows that have minerals deposited on windows from repeated spraying of the windows.

This problem may be unavoidable from sprinklers, however quite often this is the result of the home owner washing the dust from the windows with the garden hose. In the last few months I have cleaned quite a few windows that have been hosed off in this fashion, causing the windows to be spotty. Whether you have a nice view or not, your windows are one of the most important things to consider when it comes time to resell your house. Please take care of your windows. Clean them properly or hire somebody to clean them properly for you. Please stop spraying the dust off your windows with the garden hose.

Winter Time Window Cleaning

At this time of year, being well into the fall season, I am often asked: "How late into the season do you still clean windows?" This is a misconception that window cleaning is a seasonal job. If that was the case window cleaners would move on to a different line of work as soon as the "season" ends. As it is we have been cleaning windows in the Kamloops area since 2001, all 12 months of the year. How?

With every season, one must adapt to the weather. Wardrobe is important. One must wear appropriate attire for warmer or colder temperatures. This holds true for drier or damper climate. When people say to me, "Isn't it to cold for you?" the answer is that the person asking the question is not dressed appropriate for the weather. I am usually quite toasty warm.

Next is the question "Doesn't your water freeze?" In short, No. Just as you clean your muddy car windshield in the winter time, so a professional window cleaner is capable of cleaning your house or business windows in cold weather. The colder the weather the more antifreeze we add to the water. And because we are working with a solution that does not freeze, we are not creating hazardous patches of ice outside of a business when cleaning commercial windows.

In short, a "Professional Window Cleaning Business" operates all year round just like every other business. 

What is your "secret solution"?

As a professional window cleaner I care for many commercial businesses. For this reason I am able to interact with many people throughout the work day. The most common question I am asked is "What is your secret solution?" I can honestly tell you that over the years I have tried many different products in my window washing water; from dish soap to professional soaps designed specifically for the window cleaning industry. In each case I was able to leave the same high quality clean. Even a professional window cleaner can leave streaks on glass if he neglects the real secret to cleaning a window.

The secret to providing a high quality clean is not in your solution. The secret lies in the quality of the tools you are using and the skill you have with these tools. The best advice I can offer anybody who desires clean windows is to hire a professional who has honed these skills. If you cannot afford to do this, invest in some good window cleaning equipment including a quality squeegee, and then learn how to use it. You will be amazed at the difference this will make.