Cleaning windows in the GTA

Window cleaning in Markham

2012-02-01T18:20:00.001-05:00

I wanted to say that I am a proud resident of Markham and have been since 1999. I enjoy working in my own community of Cornell but also in the various other areas that we have served. Greensborough, legacy, the conservancy area, Unionville, and so many others. We have sponsored teams in the Markham Soccer league, donated gift certificates to the Markham Stouffville Hospital and fund raisers at our local school and paid for ponies to be brought into the Cornell community picnic.I care about our town and enjoy doing my part in keeping it clean. If you happen to see me or any of my family at some town event, please say hello.
It goes without saying that if you need window cleaning or any other services we offer, please give us a call! rileyswindowcleaning.com/services
John Riley February 2012.

Pure water

2011-08-16T18:10:00.000-04:00

I was told today that when I speak about pure water window cleaning, I get a really passionate look in my eye. I guess that's true...
Today I helped my local supplier introduce the concept and tools required to a few new companies. Some of them had barely a passing knowledge of this new evolution in the industry, others just needed some hand holding to move forward with their investment. I felt that I had possibly brought a couple of new people into the fold of safer, more environmentally conscious window cleaners today. We shared stories of near calamities on ladders, slipping off roofs and even inadvertent glimpses into people's homes at, shall we say, inopportune moments. I was able to say that using a pure water system would have mostly avoided all those circumstances.
I AM passionate about this stuff. There. I said it and I mean it. I love my industry and was able to look at this new group of friends and feel like I was keeping them safe.

The end of an era

2010-11-04T17:18:00.000-04:00

Its the people side of the business I like the best. There are some clients that have just always been there in my experience.
Well, It happened. The last of our long term clients (ones served by my father before me) has left. When I came to Mr and Mrs Green's home yesterday to do the regular Fall cleaning, I found a for sale sign on their lawn. As my employee worked, I had a chance to catch up with the Greens and to reminisce a bit - my company had been cleaning the windows at their home for the last 45 years. We talked about my father, my kids and theirs, the neighbourhood, ...I was saddened by how much Mr Green had failed over the years. I remember him kibbitzing with my father and then with me every time we met, but now in his late 80's its not the same.
Anyway, with them goes the last concrete ties to the company that my father gave to me. I'm not sure how I should feel. A little wistful, perhaps. It certainly got me thinking about others that have gone before this. I've seen marriages start, kids born, marriages dissolve and new ones happen again. I've been called in to help prepare a house for a wake, and many more times, thankfully for marriages or the arrival of babies.
Clients come and eventually go. But not too soon.
Enough. Let the new era begin, or rather, continue.

At the End of a Perfect Spring.

2010-07-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are in what should be the middle of the Summer doldrums and we are still humming along nicely. I am taking advantage of a fairly rare rain day to look back on what was a fairly spectacular Spring. I had expanded my workforce slightly with some trepidation in May but it worked out very well, allowing me to serve more residential clients without sacrificing the time needed to properly serve our year round commercial base.

We worked for Captains of industry, political leaders (at least one...), stay at home moms, and television personalities just this year so far. We did two homes in preparation for television shows being taped. We’ve done churches and bars. Bungalows and 6 storey condo buildings. We have helped prepare for the birth of babies in homes and grieved over the loss of loved ones, prepared homes for wedding festivities and sale due to marriage break up. I sometimes feel like I am part window cleaner, part counsellor and house stager all in one.

When I get home at night and the kids ask what I have done during the day, I have a hard time answering such a simple question.

This has been pretty rambling, but my main thought right now is to say thanks to everyone that has allowed us to serve them so far and to those that choose to trust us with their window cleaning needs in the future (whatever the reason for needing them).

John Riley, July 2010.

We're not big, but we're small.

2010-06-03T20:01:00.000-04:00

This is a phrase used by a Toronto writer / humourist, Stuart McLean. It describes a vinyl record shop where many of his stories take place. The idea is that being (or using) a big company is not the only goal, as there are advantages to being small as well. To the business owner, being small means less overhead and sometimes fewer headaches. To the client, hiring a small business means that you often get the owner or one of very few employees. Sure there are disadvantages. I finally carved out some time in my schedule to supply a couple of quotes for some rather large projects today. Clients may have to wait a bit for service, but they might also be squeezed in if their story touches the owner (who answers every phone call and email) in just the right way :-).
I do everything I can to be of service to everyone that needs me. I just hope that those that are waiting can wait long enough...

Window Cleaning and the sale of your home.

2010-01-29T15:58:00.001-05:00

"Should I clean my windows before selling my home?"
I have heard this questions many times and my answer is always yes.
You know how having your windows cleaned makes you feel about your home. It feels bigger. It feels brighter. It feels and looks cleaner. These are exactly the same feelings that you are trying to get out of your potential buyer, except that they will say your house is Big, Bright and Clean. The fact that you just made it that way for the sale is just between us.
We have many real estate agents that we have worked with over the years and consider many of them my personal friends. They know what they are doing. Listen to them, follow their instructions and things will turn out well.
Good luck with the sale. Breathe. It will be over soon.

We're now on Twitter!

2010-01-11T23:37:00.001-05:00

As if there weren't enough ways to be in touch, we are now on Twitter as well.
Find us at twitter.com/rileyswc

We're now on facebook!

2010-01-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

In our ongoing attempt to be everywhere... We are also on Facebook now.
You can find us at facebook.com/rileyswindowcleaning. Friend us up!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T15:01:00.000-05:00

As I sat in the pizza place, watching my daughter eat her lunch I was looking past her, thinking about doing the same thing with MY dad. This is Christmas Eve and I needed to get a few things completed at work. She asked if she could come with me and I was glad for the company - as a dad of 4, I don't get as much one on one time with them as I would like. It cost me lunch and she insisted on listening to the Disney channel on Satellite radio all morning.
Its funny what brings back memories, isn't it? As her toes thawed out, I was smiling because I remember having the same complaints almost 40 years ago.
Anyway, that's all. No big announcement from the company. No boasting about an acheivement. Just sharing a little Christmas present I got today from my daughter Hannah.
Merry Christmas to all.

Reaching new heights

2009-12-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

I had some fun this week. I was asked to help a friend in the industry solve a problem. You see, he works for a large, predominantly high rise company and was on a fairly big project that came up late in the season. His high rise guys were doing this seven storey condominium complex but, due to poor installation of the roof anchors, they couldn't access some areas of the building.
I went in, planning to clean what I could for him, but not knowing what we could get at. I called my supplier (Waterfed Canada) and they dropped off a couple of extra sections for my Gardiner Super Lite water fed pole. I set it up, and kept adding sections. Eventually, we made it all the way up to the full 7 storeys!
As well as reaching the height we did, we used our back pack delivery system, essentially a mini resevoir and pump, to gain access about 500' from the accessible hose bib.
Here's where I hope you'll allow me to gloat. There was NO other way to get these windows cleaned. Lifts couldn't get to the back of the building and the roof anchors were unsafe. It felt pretty good getting this done for my friend. It also felt really good pushing the limits of my equipment.

New Service Offering

2009-11-24T19:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I am excited.
I have wanted to expand on what we offer our clients but have never found anything that I can wrap my mind around. You see, I am a career window cleaner and business owner. It took me a while to think of something that would suit me. I have heard clients ask me for the name of someone to help with some small repair or oddball cleaning project many times over the years. As I am also an avid do-it-yourself'er I thought of offering our services as handymen. I am not looking to renovate a basement - let someone else do that. I want to paint a room, replace a faucet, hang a door, etc., etc., etc. Do you have a project or two that just isn't getting done that you'd like us to do?
Don't get me wrong. We are not master painters, master electricians, or master carpenters. We ARE, however, capable, careful, service oriented guys that want to help you with some of life's little annoyances.
We are offering these services from December to March while the demand for our window cleaning services is low and expect our schedule to fill up quickly. Give us a call to talk about your needs.

Cleaning with Pure Water

2009-09-23T16:47:00.000-04:00

By far the most exciting new tool in our industry is Pure Water. Ok, it isn't a technology but a product. If it is coupled with a Water Fed Pole, it IS the most exciting thing to happen in our industry in a very long time.
If you think about the final rinse that a GOOD car wash gives you and couple that with a quality brush and pole, you've got the makings of Pure Water Window cleaning.
I am typically asked a couple of standard questions when I introduce the concept to clients.
1. How can you lift a pole that long and how do you control it? The older poles were pretty challenging to say the least. I still have a couple of friends that are dedicated users of them, although I am not, I suppose, man enough for that. My new poles are both made from Carbon Fibre, giving a surprising combination of strength and ease of use.
2. Do you use a squeegee? No. After the window is scrubbed and rinsed correctly, the water is left to dry on the glass. No squeegee or towels are needed. This is just as revolutionary as when the squeegee was introduced decades ago when clients were accustomed to seeing their window cleaner using a chamois (cowhide) and cloth (or 'scrim', irish linen).
3. Why use this instead of the squeegee? The finish is remarkable. We can clean the entire frame as well as the glass- removing cobwebs, etc. There is never an issue of dirty water being used too long as fresh water is constantly being sent through the system and onto the glass. The glass stays clean longer. The glass is cleaned without the use of chemicals or detergents. This means that there won't be anything left behind on the glass that will grab airborne dust and dirt. If you're interested in hearing about glass being made of sand, making it a rough surface at a microscopic level, blah blah blah, just ask me and I will regale you with all of it.
The other part of this new tool that excites me is the opportunity to take on taller work. I think nothing now of saying 'yes' to commercial or residential clients that have 4th or even 5th storey windows. In fact, we did some the other day that were a low 6th storey! In the past, we were hemmed in by the length of our ladders and strength of our character. In all the years we have been in business, it was very rare to reach the 4th floor to clean windows, let alone the heights we get to now!
Thanks for reading this. I hope it helped explain what we do a little bit. Visit our Pure Water page on our website for more information.
BTW don't get the impression that this is all we use. We have been cleaning windows for quite some time and have picked up a few things along the way. We can hand polish when necessary, squeegee others, but try to use our new toys / tools whenever feasible.

Good Day

2009-09-16T22:48:00.000-04:00

Today was a good day. It made me happy to be a window cleaner, or rather, a window cleaning company owner operator.
I was spurred to reliving some memories that made me momentarily forget all the annoyances of business ownership these days - too many bills/ too few receipts - mind numbingly, bone jarringly stupid decisions made by management (ok, me).
I went to a home today and was having a really pleasant conversation with the home owner, a gentleman that I had never met before. We shared a hobby interest and our conversation sprang from there. I asked him what he did before he retired. Well, he played pro football for at least 2 teams, administered a well known boxer's career and then had a successful career himself at HBO. This wasn't someone that was living in a posh part of town, just a normal place where anyone would have lived happily.
I have been in the home of the Captain of the local hockey team. I have been in our Premier's home. I have been in the studio of a well known children's book illustrator. I have ridden on top of an elevator to clean the interior of a glass elevator shaft. I have leaned over the side of a building, using a tucker pole upside down to reach what was unreachable from the ground (Hmm have I ever told my wife about that one? It was never repeated).
The thing that topped them all was entering a home to find that this was the home of the man that created, wrote, directed and voiced my all time favourite tv show from when I was a kid. Hammy Hamster.
I love talking to my clients. They are captains of industry and soccer moms. Teachers and car mechanics. Brand new parents and experienced grand parents. Every one of them has a story. most are pretty cool to hear.
Tomorrow, I will make more of those ridiculously foolish decisions that have become my hallmark. Today they didn't matter in the least.

Introductions

2009-09-05T19:12:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my brand new blog. I am going to try to write about window cleaning related topics over the coming months and maybe throw in some personal observations along the way.
I am the president of Rileys' Cleaning Services, Inc., a primarily window cleaning business with an openness to other cleaning endeavours... our website tells about some of our history and current activities.
My father, Thomas Riley, owned and operated Rileys window cleaning since he bought Ed's window cleaning from a gentleman named Ed Thompson in 1956. When I took over, I registered the name "Rileys' Window Cleaning" to denote my feeling that I wasn't in this alone - there was more than one Riley in the company, not just me.
We work throughout the GTA - Leaside, Forest Hill, Rosedale, Downtown, The Beach, East York, Riverdale, North York, Scarborough, Thornhill, Markham, Stouffville - Just hopefully not everywhere in one day :-).
We use what you might think of as traditional window cleaning equipment as well as the newest technology in the industry to take on many varied types of projects in the safest way possible.
That's it for now in this inaugural post. I hope I didn't bore you overly much.
I hope that if you are in need (or want) of window cleaning for either your home or business in the Greater Toronto Area, you will give us the opportunity to supply you with a quote.

John Riley,
Rileys' Window Cleaning
http://www.rileyswindowcleaning.com/
416 421 5758