“Membership in the ICWA shows that a company takes its business seriously,” says David Hurwitz, owner of Glass with Class. “Also, look for firms that are trained and certified by the Master Window Cleaners Association of America. It’s an uncommon designation, so a lack of membership isn’t a strike against a company, but it’s certainly a plus.”
Most people don’t realize that window cleaning is a skilled profession. “A lot of people try to get into the business because they think it’s easy to do,” says Mr. Hurwitz. “But cleaning glass properly is something you must learn, and there are important safety concerns as well.”
Hiring a window cleaner who carries insurance, both liability and workers’ compensation, is vital. Window cleaning can be dangerous work, and if the company isn’t insured, you can be held liable for any injuries. “I’ve known people who’ve lost their homes because a cleaner fell and was seriously injured,” says Mr. Hurwitz. “I can’t stress the importance of insurance enough.”
When evaluating a cleaning firm, ask whether its employees are regulars and how long they’ve been with the firm. Also, hiring a company that conducts employee drug testing is often a wise precaution. Some cleaning services hire day laborers who aren’t skilled at working safely at heights. “Some even hire homeless people who have drug or alcohol problems,” says Mr. Hurwitz. “That can be disastrous.”
People who own commercial properties should consider ongoing window cleaning service contracts, says Mr. Hurwitz, particularly if they have storefronts or other customer-facing windows. An ongoing contract makes scheduling cleanings easy and takes the guesswork out of hiring a cleaner every month.
