A Closer Look At Professional Window Cleaning Tools

We have talked ad nauseum about just how difficult it can be to clean windows yourself and why hiring a professional is a much better choice both for financial and time related reasons. In these conversations we have noted several times that a professional Orange County window cleaners tools are one of the thing that sets him/her apart from you, the layperson. In this post we are going to take a closer look at some of the industrial grade tools professionals utilize in window care and restoration.

Squeegee - Sure squeegees are readily available at virtually any retail or home improvement store but these squeegees are anything but special. Being inexpensive, they are made on the cheap and aren't built to last let alone properly clean/dry windows and glass. Conversely speaking, professional glass and window cleaners utilize stainless steel and reinforced squeegees. While a retail bought squeegee might cost you $2.00 - $5.00, a single professional grade squeegee can run you anywhere from $26.00 to $30.00 per unit. This cost of course does not include replacement blades which being of a higher quality also cost a great deal more than do their common retail counterparts. Professional grade squeegees are not only much more durable than retail units but last a great deal longer as well. While you might be holding onto your squeegee or worse yet, laying it on the ground, while you clean your windows, professionals often utilize squeegee holsters. These holsters start at about $40.00 and keep squeegees clean and dry in between windows.

Extension Poles - While you might climb up on a rickety ladder in order to reach second story windows, professionals will make use of extension poles. These poles feature detachable heads so that a profession can add brushes, squeegees, and cloths to them which in turn enables them to clean out of reach windows efficiently. A single extension pole will run you roughly $20.00 or more depending on the brand name associated with the product. There are cheaper retail alternatives that cost 75% less but these don't always extend far enough and are constructed from cheap and fragile plastic.

Window Washing Sleeves - While all professionals use brushes and soft cloths in their window cleaning endeavors, the best will also employ window washing sleeves in their work. These sleeves look similar to thick mop heads but are actually soft scrubbing cleaning utensils that are made to remove hard water stains, repair scratches, and eliminate debris. While there are very affordable retails sleeves available, they are thin and fall apart rather quickly. Industrial grade sleeves on the other hand are machine washable and built to last for months and even years at a time. A professional window washing sleeve will set you back about $20.00 while the retail alternatives are much easier on the wallet at about $5.00.

Window Washing Kits - Built for professionals and the very zealous, there are window washing kits. These kits feature everyone one will need to clean their windows quickly, safely, and will help inexperienced persons get superb results. Sounds great doesn't it? Well before you get too excited you'll want to keep in mind that the cheapest of these kits runs about $275.00 while the most expensive can break the thousand dollar mark. Window cleaning firms buy a number of these at a time but also have the money to do so. Regular folks don't always have this type of scratch lying around.

Cleaning Solutions - The window washing solutions you find at retail stores might do a nominal job on your mirrors and smaller glass fixtures but they lack the power to restore lost luster nor do they protect against future debris and damage. While you might spend $5.00 - $10.00 on the aforementioned types of cleaning solutions, professional will pay upwards of $50.00 or more for specialized cleaning solutions that are not only vastly more effective but eco-friendly and non toxic as well. These specialized concoctions are often sold exclusively to licensed professionals so buying them as a layperson is quite difficult...and expensive.

In Conclusion

Considering all of the aforementioned it is, again, not difficult why ascertain why hiring a professional window cleaner is a much more enticing options when the time to clean your windows comes about. Even if you don't mind spending an entire weekend working towards average results at best, the costs associated with tackling the job on your own is quite expensive even at the retail level.

Clean And Functional Solar Panels

No one gives much thought to the cleanliness of their solar panels. In fact they are often quickly forgotten just as soon as installation has been completed. Unfortunately, the efficacy of solar panels decreases greatly as they become dirty. Some individuals will also spend time trying to figure out what costs less, a professional cleaning of their panels slowly decreasing efficiency. Allowing solar panels to collect dirt and debris for too long a period of time will result in a noticeable efficiency and more expensive cleaning measures.

Why It Matters - Solar panels are made to collect and then convert sunlight into usable energy for homes and businesses. As panels become sullied by dirt, hard water deposits, falling debris, and pests the result is less energy. Solar technology has not yet reached a point where the aforementioned don't retard their work so they must be cleaned on a regular basis. After spending a considerable sum on their installation it stands to reason that individuals would want their solar panels to perform optimally right?

Common Problems - "Dirty" is a general term used to describe things or areas that are or have fallen into a state of disrepair. There are some very specific things that cause solar panels to become noticeably ineffective. At the top of this list is dirt. Dirt from neighboring trees, that left behind from precipitation, wind, and even pollution. Combined with water or moisture in the atmosphere, dirt becomes mud or sludge. Mud and sludge then dry out and become caked onto solar panels which in turn blocks out a significant portion of sunlight.

Get To It! - So now that you understand why solar panels need to be cleaned regularly, it's important to know how to clean them. The do-it-yourself method is quite popular among home and business owners though this isn't necessarily the most efficient way to clean them. Tools and solutions made for panels are available via retail stores though these aren't always as effective or safe as individuals would like. Doing the job yourself also means using ladders or lifts, both of which can be dangerous. There's then the issue of waste disposal which can be costly if done properly. The option of hiring a professional window cleaner is always there and is in fact the best one available. They are also surprisingly inexpensive and work quickly as well. Professionals will visit your home or office on a bi-weekly basis to ensure your solar panels operate at maximum efficiency. The vast majority of professionals offer obligation free quotes as well so if you're feeling frustrated with your panels or the work give one a call!

Help With Tile And Grout

Tile and grout can illuminate and give character to a room/home. From the very simple to complex and elaborate marbled tiles, there's something special about tile and grout. That said, tile and grout can be extremely difficult to clean and tough to care for. It is for this reason alone that you will so often see neglected tile and grout in both homes and places of business. There is hope however and the following tips will help you keep your tile and grout looking its best.

Why Bother? - Many home and business owners operate under the false assumption that their tile and grout looks great whether they've cleaned it or not. More often than not the simple sweeping and mopping these people do is believed to be enough to keep their floors looking sharp. Tile and grout soak up punishment easily, see a ton of foot traffic, and absorb spills rather quickly. Even the dirt and miscellaneous debris left behind from shoes sets into grout at a rapid rate and becomes difficult to remove. The beauty of tile and grout belie it's fragility in this regard.

Let's Check It Out! - Tile and grout are dirty before it actually begins to show signs of needing a cleaning so it's important to remember to visually inspect your floors at least once a week and even more frequently for tile and grout in heavy traffic areas. Look for grout that begins to look dull or off-white. This is a sure fire sign that it's time for some TLC. Tile may begin to lose it's luster as it becomes dirty as well but gritty looking grout is much easier to spot.

Be Proactive - A common mistake people make is strictly adhering to their tile and grout cleaning schedule. While routine cleanings are a good thing, it's foolhardy to ignore spills, stains, and pet messes as they happen. Clean these things as soon as they happen. Always keep a scrub brush, cleaning solution, and soft dry cloth handy...your floor will thank you for it and it will keep it looking healthier in between normal cleanings.

Mold And Mildew - When mold and mildew begin to grow on grout it can be extremely arduous to remove and eradicate. You can try and may have some success with retail grade cleaning solutions but you may need to take things to another level when this occurs. In some instances bleach is useful and will kill both mold and mildew but more often than not, mildew and mold run deep into grout and you'll need to hire a professional to help you out.

Good Tools - In order to properly clean tile and grout you'll either want to purchase industrial grade tools, which are expensive, or you'll need to hire a professional floor cleaner. Both are viable options though the experience the pros bring with them will almost always yield greater results than will good tools in inexperienced hands. Should you opt to go it alone do some research online to determine which tools are highly regarded and which ones are not. Additionally, you'll want to carefully select cleaning solutions that are both effective and eco-friendly/non toxic.

When In Doubt - Cleaning grout and tile, especially on a regular basis can be back breaking and tedious work. It can also become expensive when you factor in tools and cleaning solutions. Hiring a professional on the other hand is much more affordable than you might believe and doing so also allows you to spend your time doing something more important, be that work or recreation. Most professional floor cleaners charge by the square foot with the majority of homes costing $200-$400 a visit.

For A Free Long Beach Tile and Grout Cleaning Quote Call (714) 296-7645

The Pressure Washing Umbrella

Pressure washing services work wonders for home and commercial buildings. They remove not only dirt and debris but things like mold and mildew as well. Home and business owners find pressure washing services an invaluable part of keeping their dwellings and offices looking warm, clean, and professional. Where some customers become confused is in generalizing or even marginalizing pressure washing services. Not all services are the same, cost the same, nor do they address the same needs or surfaces. In actuality, there are many different types and grades of pressure washing services.

Walls, Walkways, And Driveways - When people think of pressure washing services this is what they generally think of. Walls, walkways, and driveways are high traffic areas that must be kept clean in order to maintain a clean living space, respectable curb appeal, and a high level of professionalism. Pressure washing can remove the buildup left behind by leaky cars and the multitudes of debris left by foot traffic.

Parking Structures And Garages - Parking structures and Garages don't often receive much love when home and business owners begin cleaning. Perhaps this is because it's an "out of sight, out of mind" type of scenario or perhaps the work just seems insurmountable. Either way, these areas need to be cleaned regularly lest they feature oils, grease, foot debris, and tire marks. Garages that function as a workshop may be dirtier still. Professional pressure washing services remove all of these things, including the odors associated with them leaving individuals with classy and clean places to park, work, and store things.

Taggers Beware - Graffiti is thought by many to completely ruin whatever surface it becomes attached to. Malicious taggers with little regard for personal property love boasting and utilize a variety of different paints to do so. Fortunately graffiti can be remove with a professional grade pressure washing unit and can restore a window, stucco wall, brick wall, or concrete to its original state. Never rush to replace something that's been tagged. Instead call a professional pressure washer and save yourself both money and hassle.

Roofs - Being one of the most difficult aspects of a building to clean, roofs require a great deal of both care and effort in their cleaning. This means that most people ignore their roofs allowing them to not only become dirty but rot away as a result. Sure the process takes years but repairing or replacing a roof is one of the costliest endeavors a home or business owner must contend with. Hiring a professional pressure washer to periodically give your roof a good scrubbing will actually save you quite a bit of money in the long run.

Shopping Carts - Shopping carts endure a lot of abuse and remain in service for a great number of years. Human oils, dirty, calcium deposits, spills, child messes, etc. all gather on shopping carts and can render them unusable in worst case scenarios. Unkempt carts can turn customers off and sully their shopping experience. Replacing carts is expensive may not always be feasible. Professional pressure washing services however cost a fraction of what it costs to buy new carts and can restore shopping carts to a new-like state. Now if someone could do something about those wheels...

Patios And Decks - Patios and decks are multi functional areas that dirty quickly and easily, especially if they are utilized frequently. Foot traffic, cooking messes, pet accidentally, spills, calcium deposits, and falling debris from trees and bushes can make decks and patios looks shoddy and neglected. Pressure washing services will clear all of the aforementioned debris away and will also help protect these areas against future debris and damage.

Carpet Cleaning: Professionals vs The Do It Yourselfer

There are some very common misconceptions about carpet cleaning. Chief among these is that it's either simple work or requires little more than some vacuuming every so often. It's also not uncommon for the do-it-yourselfer to believe that professional carpet cleaning services are expensive. In this article we'll explore both of these erroneous beliefs as well as a few others that illustrate the differences between professional carpet cleaning results and those produced by laypersons.

Easy Does It

Do-it-yourselfers often believe that cleaning carpets is a simple task and that professional services are overkill. While an informed and properly tooled layperson can do a wonderful job on their carpets, their results will still pale in comparison to those of a professional carpet cleaner. The reasons for this are many but one of the most prevalent tends to be the tools utilized by both parties. Orange County carpet cleaning isn't a simple chore and requires a great deal more than vacuuming once a week. Do-it-yourselfers will often overlook or are unaware of the need for spot cleaning, high powered steam and shampooing, among other things. Those clued in will still fail to produce professional results simply because they lack experience and the tools needed to achieve them.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Is More Expensive...Or Is It?

Believing professional carpet cleaning services to be overly expensive isn't uncommon amongst home and business owners. In fact believing such services to be something only the wealthy can make use of is ridiculously untrue. This is especially true when you factor in all the additional time it normally takes a do-it-yourselfer to do the work, the money a layperson will spend on tools, and the eventual hiring of a professional to correct mistakes or finish a botched job. Professional carpet cleaners normally charge by the square foot and in some cases may offer flat rates for large scale jobs. Homeowners can expect to pay $200-$300 for a small and mid-sized home to be cleaned while owners of large commercial structures should expect those costs to double. Even the most expensive of professional carpet cleaning services however is more affordable than doing it yourself.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock

Do you hear that? That's the sound of hours and even days being counted away on the clocks of do-it-yourself carpet cleaners. Not only will laypersons spend hours or days cleaning their carpets but considerable time running back and forth to retail stores. Picking up and returning rental units, buying more cleaning solution, and taking breaks from backbreaking work eats up time and does so quickly. Professional carpet cleaners on the other hand can finish even the largest of dwellings in a matter of hours. Do-it-yourselfers can spend their free time doing something much more interesting when they hire a professional to clean their carpets, which in of itself, makes hiring one the sensible thing to do.

Quality Of Carpet Cleaning Tools

While there are certainly a great number of different carpet cleaning units available for both rent and purchase, these units are highly ineffective at steaming, scrubbing, and removing debris from carpets. The cleaning solutions sold at retail outlets are also disappointing when compared to those utilized by pros. Not only will the tools of laypersons result in longer periods of work but the results they produce often leave home and business owners frustrated and disappointed. Professional carpet cleaners on the other hand utilize Rotovac units that produce noticeable and impressive results after just one pass. They also work with non toxic and eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for children and pets. All of the tools pros make use of are made from higher quality materials are and designed to clean rigorously and furiously the first time.