Josh-Wash (415) 346-2601
Page Four: How to Become a Window Washer
... or Look Like One
(Copyright 1998 -2001 Joshua O'Hara)
Look at this guy! He's totally cool! He's got tools. He's securely anchored to the rope. And he's got some serious confidence in his smile!
I'll tell ya, kids. #1)Tools; #2)rockclimbing skills; and #3) smile. Those are the three most important things to be a successful window washer.
#1: Tools
They say "Tool are as good as the one who uses them." But I say "You are only as good as the tools you have." You won't get a job if you show up with a window squeegee stolen from the Chevron station. Get the real tools! We purchase our profeesional tools and equipment from J. Racenstein & Co. in New York. They have a really good on-line catalogue. Click here to see all the goodies.
We use "Ettore Super Systems Squeegees," "Ettore Porcupine Washing Wands," "Triumph 6" Scrapers," and "Titan Laboratories Glass Gleam 3 Solution." Click here to read about the chemicals we use.
And don't forget the chamois! Don't trust a window washer who doesn't have chamois! There's no substitute for genuine, natural, velvety soft chamois!
#2: Rockclimbing skills
On your normal workday, you'd be spending only 10% of your time actually washing and squeegeeing the windows. The rest of the time, you'd be clinging to the drain pipes on the wall, climbing over the parapet on the roof, or crawling up and down in the lightwell shaft. You've got to be lean, strong and flexible. So where can you hone those skills? Try some rockclimbing gyms. The City has an excellent place called "Mission Cliffs" As a matter of fact, some of my workers are staff members there. Please say hi to Chris and Brian! Here's the info: Click here to go to Mission Cliffs Home Page.
What goes up must come down. After climbing up the rock, you have to come down. Now, the rappelling skill is exactly what we use for rigging a boatswain chair on a high rise. You have to know where and how to anchor the ropes. You have to know how the friction device (We use "Sky Genie.") works. And once in the air, you have to know how to get closer to the building, how to position yourself against the gravitational pull, and how to lock the rope so that you can wash the windows...finally...
#3: Smile
Well, here's my smile....
(You can click on my picture to go to my modeling agency's web site.)
(Copyright 1998 - 2001 Joshua O'Hara)