4 people you need to impress at your hotel or resort

Maybe your resort offers first class customer service, dozens of amenities, and delicious food for your guests… Unfortunately, your guests will not have a chance to experience these benefits if your hotel does not land their booking. The cleanliness and sleek appearance of your facility will define the first impression of your visitors, and details such as dirty windows can drive away clients who may otherwise have been blown away by your services. These are just four people your hotel needs to impress to continue attracting new clients and repeat business: Brides Weddings offer a huge revenue opportunity for hotels and resorts, as every bride is searching for a beautiful venue which will set the perfect scene for all of her photos and memories. And when it comes time for the honeymoon, she is looking for a luxurious resort where she can relax with her new lifelong love. Windows serve many functions in wedding photos, not only as lighting sources, but also as decorative elements which can frame an image. Conference Planners Whether they are planning an educational conference for a particular industry or an annual corporate reunion, the organizers of these giant events are always on the lookout for impressive venues. Conferences offer multiple growing revenue streams not only from reservation fees, but also through catering and other add-on services. Due to the growth of this industry, hotels and resorts have become increasingly more competitive in their offerings and appearance to attract corporate event planners. High End Vacationers Chicago is one of the most exciting […]

Why your medical facility needs clean windows

Why your medical facility needs clean windows Medical facilities such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, outpatient practices, overnight and extended stay facilities, and even mental health offices often feature large windows which reach from the floor to ceiling. While your health facility probably institutes strict cleaning procedures for the inside of your building to promote patient health, you may be unintentionally neglecting the exterior side of your windows. Here are just a few reasons to pay attention to the cleanliness of the windows on the outside of your building: Patients will associate the cleanliness of all surfaces with their health and safety. Any built up dirt and grime on your windows will send a message to your visitors about the overall cleanliness and safety standards of your health center. Although particles stuck on the outside of your windows may not accurately represent your sanitation practices, this dirt contributes to the overall impression patients gather about your office. You need to be sure patients and visitors walk away from their appointment feeling confident that they will receive high quality services the next time they need to come back to your office. Dirty windows can further aggravate illness. If your windows are covered in pollen, mold, and other dirt which has built up over time, your windows may actually cause further irritation of your patients’ symptoms. Allergens could also cause new symptoms to appear, creating confusion about which symptoms are associated with the illness and which are allergic reactions. Health professionals and organizations recommend regularly cleaning windows to prevent […]

What you should know about tempered glass

Does your office building, school campus, sports arena, or other commercial facility have tempered glass windows? Tempered glass is commonly used for windows in commercial buildings because it is stronger than standard annealed glass, and because it is relatively shatterproof. Despite the benefits offered by tempered glass, property managers and building owners may notice some challenges posed by their window, door, and other glass panes if their facilities contain poor quality tempered glass. To make tempered glass, manufacturers first cut the glass to size, and then examine it for imperfections which could cause the surface to break during the tempering process. Generally, irregularities in the glass can be sanded down and washed off before the glass is heated in the tempering oven. However, some manufacturers do not properly clean off the glass surface before tempering, and fabrication debris left behind creates a risk for scratches and breaks during regular maintenance of the glass. For example, a professional window cleaner may begin cleaning a defective tempered glass pane without knowing about the presence of fabrication debris. The debris will often dislodge and scrape across the surface as the window cleaner wipes and polishes the window pane. When building a new commercial structure, builders should properly vet all materials manufacturers before selecting which products are used in their projects. Once a structure has been completed, property managers and owners should only allow experienced and licensed window cleaners to wash their glass surfaces, as these professionals are trained to properly remove debris left behind by construction crews on these […]

Chicago’s #1 Best Window Cleaning for Fast Food and Fine Dining Restaurants

What windows say about your restaurant What are your restaurant’s windows, doors, and glass paneling telling your customers about your business? When you are running a thriving cafe, coffeehouse, fast food restaurant, or fine dining establishment, you may not have a ton of time to pay attention to the smallest details. After all, during the lunch hour rush in downtown Chicago’s financial district or a Saturday night in a Chicagoland suburb, you are probably most focused on ensuring your kitchen is running efficiently and your servers are friendly and professional. Over time, however, ignoring details such as the glass facades of your restaurant can cost your business thousands of lost customers each year. Here are three things your windows are saying about your restaurant: This is how clean my kitchen is. Even though the smudges on the glass doors of your cafe do not actually reflect the quality of your food or cleanliness of your kitchen, these first impressions matter! Subconsciously, passersby and potential patrons draw conclusions about your sanitation habits based on the outer appearance of your facility. Think about it this way—you would never seat guests at a table covered in crumbs or sauce, right? You should think about your glass panels and doors in the same way. This is how much you can trust me. When customers can’t trust your eatery to pay attention to the small details of your facility, how can they trust you with the big things like the quality of your food and service? One pet peeve shared among […]

Window Cleaning Careers – How to Become A Window Cleaner Today

Many of the best window cleaners in the business entered this career path because of the excitement offered in the job. Window washers enjoy the rush of adrenaline from working high above the ground, the ever changing atmosphere when working in different landscapes and job sites, and the uncertainty of working in various weather conditions. But many people who want to become window cleaners are not sure how to get started on this new career path, or even what requirements they will face in their new job. If you want to become a window cleaner, you should first understand the qualifications you need to have. There are some skills that cannot be trained. For example: Window washers must enjoy the thrill of heights. If you are afraid of heights, you will not be able to think clearly and make quick decisions when cleaning windows on a high rise building. Window cleaners need to have a high level of respect for safety standards. Risk taking is not permitted on window cleaning job sites, because one miscalculated risk could lead to serious injuries. Window cleaners must have a natural ability to pay attention to detail. Every job will require you to use different equipment, and each piece of equipment needs to be inspected carefully before use to avoid accidents and safety hazards. Window washers also need to enjoy problem solving and facing challenges. In many job scenarios, unexpected challenges will come up that you have not anticipated. For example, the weather may change suddenly, there may be trees […]

6 reasons to start a career with Innovative Window Cleaning

window cleaning careers

Many of our team members joke about the bystanders who watch them as they work, with a look on their face that can be described as a mixture of awe and fear. A common comment we hear from people is, “You could not pay me enough to do what you do!” Usually this statement follows the person watching our crew dangle hundreds of feet off the ground while cleaning the glass of a downtown Chicago high rise. But there are plenty of benefits to working for Innovative Window Cleaning. The Pay: For one thing, our employees do make a good living, especially considering that we do not require a GED, high school diploma, or further education as a job prerequisite. Although many people believe window washing is an easy and effortless task, we appreciate the challenging work and required skills our staff members develop over years of experience. The Future: Because of the skills required, window cleaners enjoy long term job security. Window washing is challenging work, as you have to know which tools are appropriate on diverse building types, how to set up and use each piece of equipment properly, how to work in various weather conditions, and how to keep your team safe throughout each job. Many individuals are not cut out to be window cleaners, so there will always be a demand for great employees.  The Work Environment: Our team loves getting to work outside every day. The Chicagoland region is one of the few parts of the country where we experience all […]

4 reasons your residential complex needs a window cleaning service

Although many property managers and owners believe regular window cleaning is mainly needed for commercial properties, there are several reasons to hire a regular window cleaner for residential properties as well. Here are some of the most common reasons we are asked to professionally clean windows for HOA’s, apartment complexes, condominium buildings, and other residential facilities: You want your property to appeal to future tenants. Think about the last time you purchased or leased a home—what was the first thing you noticed about the property? Most of the time, curb appeal factors such as balanced landscaping and clean windows serve as a first indicator about how well the property manager has kept up with more important factors such as safe electrical wiring and plumbing concerns. When potential tenants first pull into your complex’s parking lot, you want them to be immediately impressed. A professional window cleaning service can ensure your windows remain bright, clear, and streak free at all times. You want each unit to look uniform and clean. In upscale neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations, you will find requirements dictating how tall the grass can grow, what features can be placed in the front yard, and what renovations can be made to the houses. Many apartment and condo complexes will even go so far as to require residents only hang up window curtains and drapes that are white on the back side. All of these restrictions are placed with the intention of keeping a look of uniformity and cleanliness to the complex. Why should the […]

3 Ways Windows Can Boost Employee Performance

3 ways windows can boost employee performance When you work in an industry which requires staff to work indoors all day, you may start to notice your employees trying to leave work earlier as Chicago’s weather finally starts to warm up. This becomes especially true for companies which need their team to stay behind computers and desks for hours at a time. Fortunately, there are easy ways you can make your workplace feel less constricting, just by taking advantage of windows! Here are three ways you can use windows to boost morale and productivity in your office space: #1: Make crowded space feel more open. Where do your employees tend to congregate and take up the most space in your building? Generally areas such as break rooms, lunch cafeterias, board and meeting rooms, and front lobbies attract a higher density of staff and clients than other areas of your office. Adding windows to the walls of these spaces can instantly make them feel larger and more airy. Windows can also make the occupants of these rooms feel like they have more elbow room and personal space. If you have a board room or break area which is located in the center of a building where you can’t add windows to the outside, consider adding windows which open them up to adjoining rooms. You can even use mirrors to create an illusion of more space if traditional windows aren’t appropriate. #2: Let the outdoors come in. During the spring, fall, and even cooler summer days, you may want […]

How to choose a maintenance or cleaning vendor

When you’re getting ready to hire a new maintenance or cleaning vendor, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of businesses you can choose from. Although the greater Chicagoland region offers local chapters of several professional associations of maintenance and cleaning vendors, their websites can be difficult to search for qualified contractors. Even the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s member directory contains over 1100 companies to browse through! Here are some tips for choosing your next facility management vendor: Look at vendors located in close proximity to your business. Although distance is not the most important factor in the search for a qualified contractor, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your HVAC repair person could make it out to your office in fifteen minutes if the air conditioning goes out? As simple as it may sound, performing a quick Google Maps search centered on your geographic region can prove an easy list to kick-start your vendor research. With Google Maps, you can even specify the minimum Google+ star rating you want to include in the search. Thoroughly search through reviews and testimonials. It’s important to keep in mind that reviews don’t share the full story of a company’s qualifications. One disgruntled former employee or hotheaded customer can tank a star rating with just a few keystrokes. However, a contractor who truly cares about forming long lasting relationships with their clients will shine in their reviews. Relationship minded vendors will also take the time to ask each of their clients to consider writing a testimonial story for […]

The Innovative Advantage – Chicago’s #1 Choice for Professional Window Cleaning

The Basics of Building Maintenance Whether you are a new property manager, aspire to become a Chief Operations Officer, or simply enjoy cross training in new areas of business, you may be interested in learning the basics of maintaining and inspecting an office building. Although many areas of building maintenance should be handled by certified professionals, we believe every business leader should have a general idea of the upkeep checklist of a commercial building. Here are the primary elements which maintenance staff should regularly inspect and manage: Basic health and safety standards Although OSHA provides a list of thousands of laws and best practices your office should follow to ensure a healthy workplace, most employees do not need to become familiar with all of them. However, there are some obvious areas you should check whenever you walk around or through your building. Clear pathways — Does equipment, furniture, boxes, or clutter block the walkways in and around your building? Are there any other tripping hazards, such as uneven surfaces which are not properly marked? Adequate lighting — Are all areas in and around the building well lit, or will employees experience eye strain by the end of the day due to dim lighting? If employees leave during a rainstorm or after the sun has started setting, are there enough lights available in the parking area? Air quality — Are air filters changed when needed? Are any hazardous materials stored safely so employees will not breathe in fumes? Structural gaps and cracks — Does the parking lot […]

Window Cleaning at Conference Centers

How to land more reservations at your conference center With over 250 conference spaces, convention centers, and meeting venues in the Greater Chicago area, you may feel overwhelmed by trying to make your conference center stand out from the crowd. However, we believe you should invest in your meeting spaces because they offer some of the largest revenue opportunities for your venue. When you host a convention, you not only earn revenue on the booking fee—you also have the potential to process thousands of payments from the guests who need to purchase meals, book hotel rooms, plan vacations, and use transportation to see major nearby attractions. Here are some of our top tips to consider while you work to improve your conference center: Be ready to host a diverse array of events. In 2017, the International Association of Venue Managers published some trends which have been changing the landscape of convention centers. One of the most important trends they identified was the shift from events which only need one projection screen and meeting room to conferences requiring dozens of rooms for breakout meetings, vendor exhibition halls, interactive displays and demo areas, cooking demonstrations, live music and art presentations, and more. Event planners are trying to keep up with the growing challenges of keeping attendees engaged, so it is important for your venue to offer diverse engagement opportunities. You can anticipate these conference needs by building appropriate accommodations into your venue. If your venue lacks smaller rooms which could be used for breakout sessions, consider adding some […]

How to make your sports venue look even more impressive

Sports venues like stadiums and arenas are no longer just for sports events—a great facilities manager knows you are not making the most of your venue if you fail to fill in the gaps between games with concerts, festivals, charity events, and other community gatherings. However, there is a lot of competition in the event venue space! Here are four ways you can ensure your sports facility stands out above conference centers, hotels, and trendy downtown skyscrapers in the Greater Chicago area: Update your technology. One of the first checklist items for every event planner is Wi-Fi…and they do not just want to know if you offer Wi-Fi—they want to know that the Wi-Fi will have a great signal if everyone in the stadium is trying to connect at the same time. You may need to bring in a technician from your chosen internet provider to get their opinion on how many hubs you need in your facility to keep the internet working properly for everyone. The biggest sports venues are also offering free apps which guests can download to improve their experience. Charlotte Jensen-Murphy, the Senior Vice President of Sports & Entertainment for ABM Industries, says that many of her facilities have apps which allow guests to reserve and pay for parking ahead of time, and then provide directions for the guests to find their parking space before and after the game. Guests can even access turn by turn directions to get from their parking spot to their stadium seats so they don’t have to […]

What business owners look for in an office space

When you own or manage an office building, you want to make sure your space is attractive to a wide variety of business owners so you can attract and retain renters. In the Greater Chicago area, the office building space is very competitive because there are hundreds of available facilities for companies to lease. Here are some of the most common factors entrepreneurs consider when choosing their office space. Convenience The first element an entrepreneur will notice about your office building is its location, especially if he or she is a small business owner. Most corporate executives prefer to minimize their travel time because commuting takes time away from their work. Potential renters will want to know: Is this office near my home? Is the office convenient for my employees and clients to reach? What are the traffic patterns surrounding the building? Are there convenient coffee shops, restaurants, and office supply stores I can reach if I am in a hurry? Is there a gym, recreation center, or shopping center I can easily visit while after work while I wait for rush hour traffic to die down? Be sure to emphasize the convenience of your office building in your marketing materials, and especially on your website. You can even create a custom Google Map to embed on your website with ‘pins’ on nearby businesses which may be beneficial to your renters. Functional Space Business owners also need to know your office space will work well for their daily operations. Some of the questions they will ask […]

How to improve the exterior appearance of your office building

At Innovative Window Cleaning, our priority is ensuring the aesthetics of your building look incredible. While we specialize in providing a streak free shine to your windows, there are plenty of other factors to consider as you create an impressive look for renters and visitors of your office building. Here are some of the most important aspects to keep in mind: Window Options Although most commercial building owners primarily consider the energy efficiency and functionality of their windows, it is important to remember that windows also contribute to (or diminish) the overall appearance of your property. Some of the most common window options include: Hung sliding windows — These allow your tenants to open and close the windows so they can choose to enjoy the fresh air and sounds of the city throughout the day. Tilt turn — These windows also open, and may be more practical for your business, as they are easier to clean and reduce the risk of breaking and entering after hours. Horizontal ribbon — These windows create a blended, cohesive feel for the outside of your building. Even if each office is separately rented by different organizations, your building can look like it holds just one or only a few large companies. Other non operating windows — These do not open, and they come in several designs to suit the personality of your building. Outdoor Lighting Similarly to window treatments, many property managers and owners simply consider the functionality of outdoor lighting without thinking about the appearance. The housing and design […]

Commercial Window Cleaning Equipment 101

Many of our new clients have questions about how we are actually going to clean their windows, especially if they’re located in a traffic-congested area of downtown or have a building surrounded by trees. Every facility is unique, so we employ several different window cleaning methods to make sure our employees (and your property!) stay safe while delivering a high quality clean. Here are some of the most common tools we use to keep your glass squeaky clean: Water Fed Poles These innovative poles feed purified water from a supply (like our vehicle or a backpack) through a lightweight pole to powerfully spray and wash your windows. No squeegees or chemicals are required with this tool, and it can reach high enough to clean glass on the sixth or seventh floor of your building. Sometimes clients ask how we can get a streak-free clean this way, since windows are left to air dry, but our clean water doesn’t contain the impurities that creates the streaky look. The pure water acts like a magnet to dirt already on the window, grabbing and holding it until it flows down to the ground. Secure Ladders Our leaning ladders securely grip the ground with non-skid rubber feet and can adjust to the height of each client’s office space with removable sections. The base section of each ladder flares apart slightly to offer even more stability. Our team members use these ladders to reach high-up windows inside rooms with extremely high ceilings, such as hotel lobbies or convention centers. The ladders […]

Add to the Beauty of Spring

Professional window cleaner hanging outside building

If you’re trying to set up a crew on your own to clean the windows of your apartment complex, church or school, think no further. The time and energy spent on cleaning products, men and time, you could have called us! Innovative Window Cleaning specializes in using the highest quality in products, cleaning team and service. We work with the highest standards to guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. Contact us today and we will have an estimator visit your facility to produce a price quote that we guarantee a low-cost window cleaning service! We have the scaffolding, ladders, squeegees, and our secret formula to get the cleanest windows in Chicago! Add to the beauty of spring with Innovative Window Cleaning. Your Best Value In The Chicago Area What makes Innovative Window Cleaning the best value and smart choice in the Chicago and suburban Illinois area? Our quality work and reputation! We clean windows for some of the largest buildings, event centers, and schools in the area. We are the go-to company for several commercial buildings across Northern Illinois, but don’t take our word for it, try us today and see for yourself! For many corporations and small business, we are the preferred choice for commercial window cleaning services in Chicago, Illinois.

Attention Property Managers in Chicago, do you have a board meeting coming up?

Commercial Window Cleaning in Chicago Skyline

Do you have a board meeting coming up with your condo association or corporate board members? We have the most efficient and economical solutions for your budget. Innovative Window Cleaning, located in Chicago, Illinois, has proven to be a strong leader and successful incorporating into the commercial window cleaning industry and providing excellent service to corporate clients in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Now you can save time and money with quality results that far exceed what you are getting from traditional window cleaning companies. Spring is quickly approaching and we all know what that means? It’s time to put out some fires. Do you have a board at one of your associations that is looking into pressure cleaning the exterior of their complex for the first time? Maybe your board has received bids prior years for the exterior cleaning services but just never pulled the trigger. Innovative Window Cleaning is available to meet and talk to your board members and answer any questions they might have about spring services. You will take comfort in knowing our window cleaners are safety trained, experienced, and available when you need them. Other companies in our service area hire off the street, we only hire those who have extensive experience and understand the importance of safety. Innovative Window Cleaning has achieved great success thanks to our dedicated, professional staff. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority and quality is job one. Window Cleaning is an art of a different nature. A job that requires fine workmanship and skill. Any window cleaning company […]

Use Clean Windows to Combat Cabin Fever

windows cleaning debris

One of the most import uses for windows in your office building isn’t the image they convey to outside observers – it’s what they can do for your employees inside. Simply put, windows allow us to see the world outside. Cooped up in the office all day long, it’s very important we realize that we aren’t literally rats trapped in a maze – it just can feel like it sometimes. That’s why you must make sure that the hallways and offices of your company that will house the most employees have windows, whenever possible. Some examples include the lunchroom; large office rooms; auditoriums; break rooms; and the reception desk area where employees enter and exit the building. Even more secluded areas definitely need windows. If you’ll be shooting a lot of videos – or taking a lot of pictures – as part of your business, make sure the room where the media is created has windows. Videographers and photographs can make excellent use of the natural light from windows to make every project look more life-like and pleasant. You can’t have windows everywhere (and you certainly may want to rethink having windows in your research or laboratory office), and it may not be appropriate to have windows in bathrooms. That’s why you should use window space strategically. You can use windows as a way to differentiate positions of power in a certain floor of the building. Everyone will know to take the digital marketing director seriously since she’s got the best office on the floor – […]

Cracking the Office Windows: Nature’s Air Conditioning

chicago illinois window cleaning

Summer is upon us in the Chicagoland area and the rest of the country. With it comes clear skies, swimming pools, and – to winter lovers’ dismay – scorching summer temperatures. Most experience the summer heat and humidity through the outside world and on vacations, but if you’re in an old building – or air conditioning is too expensive to pipe through the entire office – you’ll be affected by summer temperatures inside as well. Here are some of the rooms at your office or business that may get the hottest this summer: The lunchroom – Anytime large swaths of employees gather in one place, the collective body heat will surely affect the room’s temperature. Add to that yet another summer day flirting with 100 degree Fahrenheit weather, and workers’ microwaved TV dinners won’t be the only things that are piping hot. Laboratories – If you work at an engineering company or work for a government agency that conducts original research, it’s likely that these rooms – or even entire floors – will be hot to begin with before even considering the scorching summer sun. The top floors – Anyone who has spent time in an attic during the summer knows that heat rises in buildings, and your place of work is no exception. Luckily, you can always crack open the windows in those rooms or floors. The air flow may not completely relieve the hot internal temperatures, but the fresh, cooler air that pipes in will be a literal “breath of fresh air” for your […]

Residential Chicago Window Cleaning – Can You Really Do It Yourself?

Innovative Safe Window Cleaning

Innovative Window Cleaning focuses only on commercial window cleaning in the Chicago area. We realize this limits our reach, but we think it’s best for you and for us to be very focused and clear upfront.But we can’t deny that residential window cleaning affects every homeowner in the Chicago area, and we know we will get calls and questions on the topic.So from time to time we may blog about residential window cleaning topics as a service to our readers. Plus, we know every business owner also has a home to worry about, so this is our guidance for them as well.The main question we hear is, “Should I do my on window cleaning at home?“In most cases, our answer is yes. If you take good advice and use the proper tools, you can often do a great job at home on your own.There are always exceptions, the first and most important of which, is when you consider how many stories your home is. If you have a two-story home, or even a multilevel dwelling that requires you use a ladder to clean the windows, contracting out is something you need to seriously consider.Another variable is accessibility to windows. Do you have trees in the way? Landscaping to avoid? If so, it may be much easier to pay someone else to do it instead of trying to do it yourself.When you try to clean your own house windows yourself, give it some time. You may not do a great job the first time, leaving streaks or […]