Mirrors Are an Opportunity!

So many businesses have them!  Jewelry shops, restaurants, hair salons, motels and hotels, drug stores, gyms, and dance studios.  Ask anyone how much they enjoy cleaning them and you will NOT get a favorable response.  That is because they usually are large area mirrors.  Some might be in the direct sun.  Further no one knows how to clean mirrors with a squeegee.  But did you know they can be easily cleaned without a squeegee using a solution of H2O2?  The idea is to first clean them with a squeegee using a cleaner loaded with a hydrophobic organosilane.  This creates a water hating surface in no more time than it takes to simply clean with our tradition tools.  Then once the glass has been treated they can be cleaned with a solution of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and a huck towel. The cleaning takes place with a swivel applicator and the cleaning solution.  Then they are wiped dry with a huck towel on a flat tool connected to a pole with a universal joint.  In the janitorial world this is called a doodle bug.  In the paint world it is a wall sander.  In our industry Wiljer Textiles has some quality flat tools.  But of course the Reach It Pole is the best for any type of outside or inside work involving high windows, mirrors, or partition glass.

Now we can get creative.  Since this new surface will not be subject to the UVC radiation from the sun or alkali attack from concrete or hard water spots;...it should last a long time. Probably years. But you could offer to come in and "treat" the mirrors as you clean them once every three months. Then the employees could maintain them using hydrogen peroxide.  It could be all they need to do is add a bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide from the drug store in a gallon of pure distilled water.  Sell them a Swivel applicator with a Wiljer sleeve and a pole.  Then show them how to use a huck towel on a flat tool.  Or they could just wipe dry by hand using a huck towel.  This entire process could be demonstrated at no cost. Of course they won't be able to apply the organosilane themselves. Only we possess the chemical and know how to apply it.

Another opportunity might exist in first doing the demonstration.  Then offering to set up the mirrors for free once only.  In exchange for the window cleaning/maintenance contract.  If there is a need to reapply in the future then you would price the mirrors.  Another idea would be to just offer to clean the mirrors on a regular basis like you would the windows.  You might even have some mirrors already on your route.  Your customers might be waiting to have you give them a quote.

If you are creative I am sure you will come up with some other variations on this plan.  I would certainly never apply a glass treatment to the inside of window glass.  Because it would promote a filming effect.  Yet mirrors, or railing/partition glass would work fine.  The bottom line here is there is an opportunity just waiting to be explored.

If you would like to get into this sideline just send me an email.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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