Do you trust your home service provider? The cleaning crew, landscapers, painters, re-modelers, nannys... why, or why not?

When hiring an individual or team to come perform a service or task at your home... you may find yourself concerned with a number of scenarios. What if they steal something? What if they break something? How do I know they won't harm my family, pets or valuables? If they get hurt while working on my house... am I liable?

We at Window Genie completely understand the discomfort many people feel when letting strangers into their home to perform a service. There are quite a few things we do to stand out professionally to let our customers know that we're sending trained, bonded, insured, trustworthy technicians to their homes... still, we're faced with the hard truth that until a customer has you back a few more times, they're going to worry. 

We urge all customers to do their homework before hiring any service provider. Customer review sites such as Angie's List allow you to read real reviews from people in your community. It's important to know what to expect when hiring someone to do work in or around your home. Are they bonded & insured? Do they run background checks on their employees? Do they have a reputation for good or bad customer service? When it comes to hiring home service providers... you'll want to weigh the pros and cons aside from who offers the best price in your area.

Window Genie's field technicians undergo background checks, wear photo ID badges and show up in uniform while driving a distinctly wrapped Geniemobile truck to assure customers that when they answer the door... they're letting in a trained, insured Window Genie employee. Many times, your local Genie will email you photos of their team along with your appointment reminder! Our goal is to leave your home a happier, cleaner place than it was when we arrived.

This post was inspired by a recent comment left by one of our customers on a satisfaction survey. While we're extremely happy this customer enjoyed having Window Genie at his house, and we're not surprised that our service technicians are professional and honest... it did remind us that most homeowners remain wary of service providers. It's unfortunate that customers are generally surprised that a service provider such as window cleaners could come by a large amount of money in a home and leave it untouched. We do genuinely appreciate that this customer noticed and acknowledged our professionalism and reached out to his local franchise about it. We take all feedback very seriously and try to use it as best we can to improve our daily customer service. This local franchisee was able to reward his technicians and re-enforce the importance of honesty while in a customer's home... so thank you James from Indianapolis!

So we have to ask... what does it take for you to trust a "stranger" that you invite into your home? What specifically do you look for when hiring help around the house? In an industry highly dependent on reputation, customer referrals and good word of mouth, we're always doing our best to improve every aspect of the customer experience to ensure we're invited back time and time again.

You love the look of your windows after they’ve been detailed by a professional company. But you don’t have to deal with staring out dirty windows between your semi-annual window cleanings. Your home cleaning solutions won’t replace a professional cleaning service but they can keep you satisfied with the state of your windows in the meantime. Whether you want to see big city Los Angeles or small town Newmarket, windows this clean will help you be able to see clearly no matter where you are.

Keeping your windows in a shiny state isn’t as difficult as it may seem and can be made easier when you follow these five helpful hacks. Remember that these tips are only to be used for interior cleaning. Always leave any hard to reach windows that would require a ladder to the professionals. As pleasant as it is to have clean windows, it isn’t worth sacrificing your safety for.

1.    Ditch the Newspaper

It’s become a pretty common practice for people to recycle the newspaper lying around their house by using it in place of paper towels. This is a smart and environmentally friendly practice. However, the number one complaint about this practice is all the ink you usually end up with on your hands.

To avoid the ink stains covering your fingers, pick up an unused paper coffee filter and use that instead. Like newspaper, coffee filters help to keep your windows from streaking. But unlike newspaper, it won’t leave dark marks all over your hands and window pane.

2.  Learn How to Squeegee

Most people want the bright shine of a clean window but avoid cleaning it because they are afraid of creating unsightly streaks. If you still can’t avoid streaks, even with the coffee filter method, watch a few YouTube videos on proper squeegeeing techniques.

You can purchase a small squeegee for inside your home from most home improvement stores. Remember to wipe the blade between each swipe and change it when it gets dull. This will keep your windows brighter and more see through.

3.  Make Your Own Cleaner

When you hear “homemade cleaners” do you roll your eyes before you go back to your Pine Sol and Windex? Some home-brewed cleaners can be a tricky balance of water, ammonia, and other random household liquids. To clean your windows though, all you need is water, vinegar, and dish soap. Two parts water to one part soap and one part vinegar will suffice, although there are plenty of different measurements that will all yield positive results.

Spray (but don’t drench) your windows with this cleaner before wiping it away. Then rinse your window with a small amount of water to avoid any film build up from the dish soap. Be careful to avoid adding too much dish soap to your formula for this reason.

4.  Use a Blackboard Eraser

If even after following these strategies those streaks are still driving you insane, head to your local craft store and pick up a new blackboard eraser. It won’t erase all of your problems but rubbing it across your window will get rid of those pesky streaks.

A soft, static-free shirt or cloth diaper can also help to eliminate streaks on your windows. The trick is finding something that will get rid of streaks but not leave behind an additional residue of lint or dust.

5.  Take Care of the Details

When it comes to windows, the perfection is in the details. It isn’t enough to have a window that you can see out of. You want to be able to see perfect out of it from any angle, at any time of day.

To avoid water marks on the edges, wipe your cleaner or water with a soft t-shirt or even a Q-tip. If you’ve noticed some intense scratches in your windows, buff them out with a non-gel toothpaste. If you have the remains of a sticker or decal on your window, rubbing alcohol will help to get the gunk off. Look through your window at every detail to get it cleaned to perfection.

Theo Schmidt is a freelance blogger who enjoys spending time in the outdoors, and is passionate about protecting the environment. For new and improved windows, visit the Northern Comfort Windows website.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR CLEANING GLASS

Cleaning your windows, mirrors, tables or other glass surfaces seems like a breeze. A squirt of your favorite glass cleaner and a paper towel should to the trick… right? WRONG! Oh so very wrong. Glass is a delicate, porous surface that requires much more careful cleaning than most people may realize.

Why should I have my windows professionally cleaned?

If you’ve ever asked this, I have the answer! Well for one, it’s dangerous! Any kind of laborious work done on a ladder imposes a level of risk. Cleaning a whole house worth of windows is also time consuming and requires more supplies and know-how than most would expect. You can avoid wasting a whole day cleaning your windows only to have a so-so outcome by hiring professional help. At Window Genie, all technicians are fully trained, bonded, insured and have passed a background check. You can identify them by the GENIEMOBILE they’ll roll up in and by their ID badges. These guys and gals get the job done and leave your home in a new and improved state! Backed by our “Streak-Free Guarantee,” Window Genie is your leader in home services, known to clean windows and a whole lot more.

WHY window cleaning is important

Cleaning windows is not like cleaning a mirror or other glass surfaces inside your home.

WHY?

Windows are constantly exposed to the elements of rain, snow, temperature change and wind to name a few. Glass is a porous, sponge-like surface that will develop buildup of dust, dirt and various minerals over time. When these penetrate, it can cause staining and permanent damage. Replacing your windows is extremely expensive and completely avoidable. Your local Genie can help you determine your home’s specific needs and how often you should have your windows cleaned.

IN THE LONG-RUN

Maintaining your windows will add to the look and value of your home. If you are ever to sell your home, inspectors do take into account how well maintained the home is, and yes that includes the windows. Having sparkling clean windows WILL add to the curb appeal of your home. If they seem to need replacing, potential buyers will see this as a red flag. If you think of it this way, cleaning your windows is a solid investment for resale.

 Cleaning do's, don'ts and fun facts

Many of the leading brands of glass cleaner contain harmful chemicals such as ammonia. Window Genie does not; we use products that are gentle on the environment as well as you, your family and your pets

Window Genie recommends using a microfiber towel when cleaning glass over paper towels or even newspaper. Here's why: Although both paper towels and newspapers are effective, they're both wasteful. Re-using a microfiber towel is another small way you and your family can go green with Window Genie! Besides that, microfiber towels are the most absorbent fabric you can use to clean glass, or any surface. Microfiber towels won't leave behind those pesky "fuzzies" on your glass like paper towels or an old rag might. No streaks, no smears, no worries!

To purchase a can of WG-57 Glass Cleaner, click here!

Spring Cleaning: Who can we thank for this tradition?

It’s that time of year again. The days are getting longer, and it’s a good thing too! There is suddenly so much to do around the house, right? Spring cleaning is a popular but time consuming and strenuous tradition. There may be a few explanations as to why we as Americans feel the sudden urge to collectively purge, rearrange and restore our homes from top to bottom come springtime. Now who can we thank for starting this trend?

Well, it’s no myth; winter causes us to be inherently less active and motivated. That’s right; your brain creates melatonin when there is less sunlight on cold dreary days, making you sleepy! Come spring, Mother Nature provides us a natural energy boost by giving us warmer weather and extra sunlight. This is when you’ll notice the cobwebs, the ring around the tub and the dirty, streaky windows.

So now that we know why we’re willing to spend the time and effort cleaning, we can explore the ancient tradition of spring cleaning as an activity that western society has adopted. Spring cleaning was not always how we know it to be today; it began in the Jewish, Iranian and Chinese cultures many centuries ago.

The Jewish tradition came from their regular house cleaning just before Passover; the holiday marking the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Since matzah, or unleavened bread, was fed to the Jewish slaves in Egypt, it is tradition for Jews to rid their house of any leavened bread during Passover. This is to honor and remember those that had to overcome slavery and oppression by eating foods the Jews consider humble. To ensure all bread has been removed from the house, including crumbs, a full-fledged house cleaning is routinely done each year as to not offend God.

The Iranian New Year, like in most cultures, signifies new beginnings. The ritual, “khooneh takouni” which means “shaking the house” has been a customary activity performed by Iranians looking to turn over a new leaf and refresh their homes. Undergoing a complete house cleaning allows for the New Year to start off on the right foot.

The third group of contributors to the origin of spring cleaning is the Chinese. The Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in their culture. It is celebrated for weeks, welcoming spring and celebrating good fortune to come. Like Iranians, Chinese mark the coming of a new year with a thorough house cleaning. They sweep, mop and rearrange to rid their homes of any negativity seen in the previous year. They do this to symbolically welcome rebirth in all aspects of their life, hoping to bring good luck in the New Year.

Spring Cleaning: Never Fear, Help is Out There!

No matter your reason, you may become overwhelmed at the daunting task of cleaning an entire house inside and out. Many homeowners are able to tackle the tasks inside their home, but how many are able to get on a ladder and completely clean their own windows, siding and gutters? How many homeowners are comfortable doing that, and furthermore, have the tools and supplies to do so? Reaching out for help in some areas may be worth considering. Do yourself a favor and research quality local home service and landscape professionals this season. Reviews on sites like AngiesList, Google+ or Yelp will help steer you in the right direction. You could also ask a friend or neighbor who they use. Creating a game plan and sticking to it with a little help will make for a successful spring cleaning this year!

Welcome to the new Window Genie Blog. This blog will feature all of the latest news, specials, and tips for Window Genie's valued customers. Window Genie’s commitments to customer satisfaction and professionalism are what has made us America’s fastest growing home service franchise. With world class training and service standards, you will feel safe knowing your uniformed technician has completed a thorough background check and will take great pride in caring for your home or office. Every Window Genie franchise is locally owned and operated. Your local Genie carries full insurance, is bonded and uses only the best equipment and materials available in today’s market.