Window Cleaning

Benefits of Clean Windows

Your company building's exterior is a considerable investment. Before your patrons step through the door, they've already formed an impression of your company based on your building's appearance. But something too many companies overlook is window maintenance.

If you have dingy, dirty or grimy windows, it could look as if you don't care enough to make an excellent first impression — and customers might take their business elsewhere. It's simple and cost-effective to call on professionals known for office window cleaning to manage the job and maintain your windows' appearance, efficiency and function for you.

What Are the Benefits of Commercial Window Cleaning?

Having dirty windows can impact the success of your business. Dirt on office windows creates an unappealing impression and reduces the curb appeal of your company's building. It can imply negligence or give the appearance that you, your team or your facility manager lacks awareness of the business's overall appearance. Unkept windows also reduce energy efficiency and lessen window life.

Why else is commercial window cleaning important? Here are several advantages that show the importance of office window cleaning.

1. Reducing Allergens

Take your finger and swipe it along one of your windowsills. Now, look at your fingertip. The debris and dirt particles you picked up on your skin are only a fraction of all the allergens negatively impacting the air quality inside your building. Hair, dust, pollen, skin dander, and other allergens gathering on the windowsills inside and outside your company's building can make everyone in the workplace sick, including your clients or customers. Symptoms of allergies include:

  • Itchy eyes
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Runny nose
  • Nausea

Also, windows that have not received professional cleaning or maintenance typically hold dust or mold. Mold causes a range of symptoms, including everything from typical allergic reactions to fever, shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms. 

Regular window cleaning on homes can benefit homeowners. Businesses in high-rise buildings should also seek regular cleanings because the cleaner your workplace is, the healthier your overall environment and personal health will be. This is especially vital if you have several employees working closely together in your commercial building. You can decrease the effects that allergens have on your employees and customers by having your windows cleaned professionally. The healthier your employees are, the more productive and happier they'll be.

2. Extending Your Windows’ Life Span

Built-up dirt and debris, over time, can etch themselves into a window's glass (and window tracks for sliding windows), causing permanent scratches and damage. Marks like these can weaken the window panes, possibly causing chipping, cracks and other costly damages later. A professional window cleaner can preserve your windows and ensure they last because of their extensive knowledge, experience and specialty cleaning products.

Taking care of windows is a major part of overall lot care. With a clean lot, your clients, visitors and employees can feel safe and welcomed to your establishment. Clean windows will last longer and look better, saving you money in the long run.

3. Boosting Productivity

Natural light helps improve mood and boost productivity. It can also help reduce eye strain, making it easier for your employees to stay on track during the workday. Having plants in your office spaces can also help boost productivity, but these plants need light from clean windows to thrive in buildings. In the colder months, clean windows significantly improve indoor heating efficiency and reduce energy bills.

If your staff can look out your company windows and view grass, trees or a garden, or admire plants inside the office that have plenty of access to sunlight, that's a bonus. Window washing will help improve work efficiency and foster a cheerful work environment.

4. Improving Views

The somewhat obvious but key benefit of window cleaning is visibility. If your office windows are dirty, they're not allowing as much of the natural light in as they could be. If windows have smudges on them, the dirty spots could create a glare that makes looking out your windows unappealing. 

Water stains can also hinder the view. Rain is less likely to cause stains than the water that comes from your sprinkler systems. When this type of water lands on your windows, it can leave mineral deposits behind. These deposits will appear as small dots or streaks on your window, and they can contribute to poor view quality.

You might feel tempted to mask dusty, grimy or streaky windows with curtains or blinds. But by doing this, you're taking away the natural light and beauty of the outdoors and creating a more closed-in and confined work environment.

If your team or visitors can take in a view each time they look out a clean window, you can support a lighter, more positive mood for all.

5. Increasing Building Value

Another benefit of professional window cleaning is increased building value. Clean windows contribute to a neat and put-together appearance for your building and suggest that you invest in regular maintenance. When you clean your windows, people are more likely to get a positive impression of your business. Regular cleaning also allows you to maintain your windows, giving your building more value when you sell. 

6. Taking Advantage of Other Services

Many professional window cleaners offer other services. Some may even include certain services in the package. Some types of services available from a professional office building cleaning company include these:

  • Complete interior and exterior cleaning
  • High atrium and skylight cleaning
  • Post-construction cleaning after major repairs or renovations
  • Scheduled maintenance and cleaning
  • Glass restoration and scratch removal
  • Hard water stain removal

Ask about these services when you hire a professional window cleaning service to spruce up your company building's appearance.

7. Improving Efficiency

Professionally cleaned windows operate more efficiently. Grime and dirt can build up and interfere with the natural warming of the sun during the winter months. Weathering and oxidation around window frames can damage window seals, causing fogging, air leaks and condensation. These effects can promote mold growth and increase energy bills. Clean windows that you keep up with can reduce heating costs and contribute to a healthier environment overall.

How Often Should Often Should Commercial Windows Be Cleaned?

Several factors can determine the frequency with which you schedule professional window cleaning, including the following:

  • The weather
  • The time of the year
  • Your building's location and use
  • The type of business you run
  • The landscaping
  • The style of your building
  • Your budget
  • Your company's image

Restaurants, retail stores and medical facilities have a greater stake in reassuring their patrons that they take a sterile, clean environment seriously. For instance, if the windows of your restaurant are dirty, what will your customers think about your kitchen's cleanliness? Or if the windows in your medical practice are grimy, your patients will question whether your office is sanitary. Grimy, dirty, fingerprinted windows detract from the high-quality service you provide.

If the windows of your building easily become dirty — if you live in an area with lots of pollen or have larger trees close to your building — then you'll want to hire commercial cleaning services on a regular basis. Establishing a cleaning schedule will give you peace of mind.

Taking all these factors into consideration should help you come up with a commercial window-cleaning schedule that works for your business. When you do schedule commercial window cleaning services, be sure to work with a reputable company. A cleaner that's a member of the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) is likely to be a solid choice.

What Does the Window-Cleaning Process Entail?

Commercial window washing offers many benefits. Hiring professional window-cleaning services will ensure that the job gets done quickly and accurately. When hiring a professional window cleaning service, you can feel confident your windows will be sparkling clean once finished. But the window-cleaning process entails more than just washing windows. Here's a brief look at what some professional window cleaning jobs entail.

1. Using Cleaning Supplies

Professional window cleaners use special tools and solutions to get your windows clean without damaging them:

  • They'll use a hose or spray bottle to apply the window cleaning solution to your windows.
  • They might use commercial surface cleaners or a simple solution like a mixture of cold water and dish soap, depending on how dirty your windows appear.
  • They'll use squeegee blades to wipe the solution away.
  • They'll use a microfiber cloth to dry the glass thoroughly to remove any remaining moisture or dirt.
  • They might decide to use pressure washing to clean your windows, though this method needs to be handled with great precision.

2. Identifying General Problems

Professional window cleaners can also provide you with an early warning of possible hazards. Window cleaners get close to your windows, meaning they can often spot problems you might have missed. By catching these issues early, they may prevent you from more extensive repairs later. Cleaners may also be able to recommend repairs or provide scratch removal to keep your windows functioning better for longer. They can find problems such as the following:

  • Ill-fitting window screens
  • Painted-shut sashes
  • Damaged or nonfunctional windows
  • Wood rot on windowsills
  • Accumulation of hard-water stains from misdirected sprinklers

Identifying issues early can usually save you a big expense later. It could even save lives. Clogged channels, painted sashes and other little things may spell the difference between escaping through windows in a fire or being forced to find another way out at the last minute because you can't get your windows open.

Some problems may lead to broken windows down the line. Broken windows leave an opening and create hazards like fall risks and wind blowing through the building. Shattering glass from high above can also endanger pedestrians on the sidewalks around your building. By catching small issues early, window cleaners can reduce the chances of these dangers.

3. Extending Your Windows’ Life Span

If you have old aluminum screens in place, they can slowly etch a pattern of deposits, similar to lime deposits in the shower, on the glass. The etched glass isn't just unattractive — it's also more prone to chips and cracks. Professional window washing services can help restore the glass while extending your windows' life span with muriatic acid treatment.

4. Removing Insect Infestations

Spiders build webs and nests in channels, making windows difficult to operate. Birds often make their homes on the outsides of buildings, too. When they do, they build nests and leave behind waste, making your property look unkempt. Window cleaners can remove any debris and stains and install spikes, netting or wires to discourage birds from building nests. Services like bird and spider control systems can help with these issues. After cleaning, professionals can apply pest control chemicals or implement preventive measures against birds.

5. Identifying the Reason Behind Spots on Your Windows

If you're wondering what's causing the spots you see on the windows, it could be mulch. Cheap mulch can become infested with fungus, known as artillery fungus or "shotgun fungus." When mature, this fungus shoots out black spores that glue themselves to vinyl and glass siding. They're tough to remove completely. Professional window cleaners can find the cause of this issue and replace your mulch with a greater-quality product that will help your siding and windows stay cleaner longer.

6. Protecting Employees From Injury and Wasted Time

There's a real chance your employees could end up hurting themselves if you don't hire a professional office building window cleaner with the knowledge and tools to carry out the job safely. All it takes is one quick slip and fall by an employee to end up with a liability suit or workman's compensation case on your hands.

Professional glass cleaning services are fast, efficient and professionally trained and certified in safety protocols. You should hire a professional for your window-cleaning job so you save employees' time for productive work tasks and avoid placing your employees in harmful situations.

Professional window cleaners have extensive specialized training and experience that allows them to perform this task. They also invest in quality equipment custom-made for window cleaning tasks. They know how to properly prep their tools for safety at heights. Relying on a professional team means safety for the window cleaners and for your building. They'll know how to perform the work without damaging the windows or endangering the people inside or around the building.

7. Protecting Windows From Damage

Window washing is more complex than simply filling a bucket with water and soap. Inexperienced window cleaners could end up damaging and scratching your building's windows if they do not clean them correctly. Ensure you have the highest-standard window cleaning services to protect your windows. A clear window is beneficial for your business, employee morale and visitor comfort levels.

About Our Professional Office Window Cleaning Process

Now that you know why you should clean windows, learn more about our process. Performance Services, Inc. has developed and implemented a time-tested office window cleaning process based on three decades of experience and expertise. You'll appreciate our attention to detail and sincere commitment to delivering superior results for every project, regardless of the size, scope or complexity. 

Assessment and Cost Estimate

We'll start by coming to your office building or commercial facility to conduct a comprehensive project evaluation. Our extensive service territory encompasses our home area of Harrisburg, PA, and the rest of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. We'll size up the job and get a better understanding of the equipment, manpower and resources it will take to complete the work quickly and efficiently.

Once we've gathered the essential information, we'll prepare a detailed cost estimate and present it to the property managers, building owners or other stakeholders. We believe in transparent pricing — you never have to worry about surprise charges or hidden fees. What you see is what you'll get!

Creating a Custom Cleaning Plan

Unlike many of our competitors, our window cleaning company doesn't believe in “one-size-fits-all” solutions. We'll collaborate with you to develop and implement a custom cleaning plan tailored to your building's unique needs. Depending on your requirements, we'll create a program for cleaning office windows, conducting building maintenance or installing spider and bird control systems.

Our customized process ensures you'll receive the targeted services that satisfy your specific cleaning requirements. You'll also avoid paying for work you don't need.

Following a Tried-And-True Cleaning Process

Experience has taught us what it takes to do the best job when cleaning everything from low-rise and high-rise office buildings to sprawling university campuses, hospital complexes, hotels and sports and recreation facilities. We know how to anticipate the problems that may occur and find a way to overcome them. 

Our time-tested cleaning system also ensures consistent results. Our ability to meet expectations on every job has helped Performance Services, Inc. earn lots of repeat business and referrals from satisfied customers over the years. You'll always be happy with the results when choosing us for your office building and window cleaning projects.

The Cleaning Process

Our team of professional window cleaners will use high-quality cleaning equipment to make your building sparkle. Our tools include the best glass cleaning tools, like glass squeegees from leading manufacturers, to ensure the best results without damaging your windows. Other items in our arsenal include buckets, mops, rags and detergents. 

Our process doesn't end after we clean the glass. We'll also remove dirt and debris from the window sills, frames and other components. No window cleaning company does a more thorough job than Performance Services, Inc.

Office Window Cleaning Tips and Tricks

If you want to clean your windows between visits, the following tricks and tips can optimize your results:

  • Avoid washing windows during the winter, especially during below-freezing temperatures.
  • Remove white water spots by applying an acid-based cleaning solution.
  • Don't power wash windows, as this process can damage the rubber gasket seals.
  • Use a professional squeegee to prevent streaking, and switch out the blade after each cleaning.
  • Aim to clean windows on a cloudy day to reduce evaporation of the cleaning solution.
  • Clean the frames of windows first to avoid sludge from the frame building up on the glass.
  • Use separate tools for window interiors and exteriors to prevent bringing grime inside.
  • Clear the areas around windows before you begin to limit risks and streamline the cleaning process.

Contact Performance Services, Inc. for Your Professional Window Cleaning Services

Founded in 1992, Performance Services, Inc. (PSI) has always had the goal of providing a maintenance deal with high-quality repair, cleaning, maintenance and restoration services for business owners throughout the mid-Atlantic. We believe that taking care of your building's appearance reflects a robust dedication to professionalism and integrity. This is why we're serious about the services we offer and the jobs we do.

We've been leveraging the latest, most innovative technology and techniques, a commitment to outstanding customer support and strong relationships to offer high-quality work-at-height window cleaning as well as building maintenance. Whether your business requires commercial repairs, maintenance or work-at-height window cleaning, we have you covered. We provide comprehensive solutions for any business's needs.

Allow our skilled and experienced technicians to handle your next commercial window-cleaning project. Contact us today to request your free estimate.