Imagine a product that can be applied to windows BEFORE the construction begins. The glass is first cleaned, then the liquid product is brushed, rolled, or sprayed on. In a short time it dries to a film. Now concrete, silicone caulk, stucco, paint, stain, etc. can get on the window. When it comes time to clean the window all you simply do is peal off the film in one sheet taking with it all construction debris. The window is now totally clean. No need to reclean it because it is clean. Well this product already exists. And it is called WindOCoat.
If you are interested in trying out a sample just use this contact information below and always use the code GlassSmart618 to get a free sample. Although there will be a small charge for shipping. General Chemical 12336 Emerson Drive Brighton, MI 48116 855-475-5600 sales@generalchem.com Code for Free Samples GlassSmart618
Once you have tested this Flagship Product I just ask that you write about it on every social media platform for the window cleaning industry and draw attention to my blog where there will be more useful info published on a regular basis about this product and many others. Along with a great deal of information regarding Glass Surface Maintenance And Restoration Technology. To receive these posts in your inbox just type your email address in the box to the upper right here, "Follow by Email". Also if you would like to sign up to be a beta tester just send your full name, business name, shipping address, email, and phone number to my email. Written by Henry Grover Jr. henrygroverjr@gmail.com
Micro-Fiber Cloths are made from a blend of 100% polyester or polyester and polyamide (nylon). The highest quality products are woven. The very highest quality fabrics used for cleaning have a split fiber as depicted here. It is split during manufacturing resulting in multi-stranded fibers. The split fibers actually grab the dirt and absorb liquids. There is no lint left behind like what happens with paper towels. Again the split fiber is critical to the efficacy of the product. Those micro-fiber products that do not have split fibers might be very inexpensive but they will not be anywhere near as effective.
Most manufacturers will not mention that their product uses a split fiber. To know whether it is or not just run it across the bottom of your hand. If it is a high quality product it will catch your skin. Another way is to wet a surface with a little puddle of water and try to push it with the cloth. If it is micro-fiber the water will be absorbed. If not you will simply move the water. How the E-Cloth Works This is a video link
This is another video
The ECloth Micro-Fiber is a high quality product with a dual polymer split fiber for cleaning glass. It uses both polyester and polyamide. Imagine micro-fiber on steroids. Very smooth so as to maintain total flatness. This is necessary for glass. Not so much other surfaces. The glass cleaning cloth is a killer for mirrors and car glass. I think it even sucks up water better than cotton towels. Also for inside WFP work it should be a wonder product. But you will want to buy one to try it out. Just click on the link here in this post. The company has an entire range of different products that can be used on other surfaces. You can purchase the glass cleaning cloths in bulk at a reduced cost and actually make a profit off your advertising. Just load them in ziplock bags. Then put your business contact info on the outside. The contact link is ECloth for Glass Cleaning Always remember your customers have customers. And your customers will talk. This is a great product for storefront accounts. They will be able to use it to touch up their front doors, cooler doors, display cases, glass countertops, mirrors, and anything else made of glass. The ziplock bag will be your business card that will be on display to everyone that uses the ECloth. Whether it be a commercial account or a residential customer. As for the product you should resell it since it will actually save your customers money. They won't have to buy any more window cleaner. It is totally green. And will help to keep the glass perfectly streak free in between your visits.
There are so many myths surrounding this subject. It seams like every sealant/glass coating manufacturer claims their product resists scratches. Well guys;....I have just done it with Dawn! So maybe they are right. Time will tell. It is an easy test. I will tell you the story. All you need to do for the test is take a simple plate of glass vertical or horizontal. It doesn't matter. Then polish it with a three to five micron compound. I used my product SKRUB. My Betas are quite familiar with this product. I use a two by two foot mirror that I set flat. Then I use a random oscillating sander with a felt pad. Here let me show you a video.
This procedure shows how to convert hydrophobic glass to hydrophylic. That was its intent. But it also shows how easy it is to convert a glass surface to one that is VERY prone to scratches. Since my affiliation with the IWCA Glass Committee I learned that all scratches begin with a PIF. That is a Point Indent Fracture. Also that rough glass is much more prone to scratches than smooth. And that glass which is exposed to high heat/humid conditions, is also much more likely to scratch. The simple solution is to just coat the glass. Even if it is with only a one molecule thick film. But the right one. Chemistry IS important. The IWCA has also shown this with help from the Penn State Materials Lab. And one that will last. I mean just Dawn will work. Spray a soapy solution in a small circle and buff it in with a paper towel. That is all you have to do. But when you soap it hard with an applicator, and squeegee off all the residue, you go right back to a surface that is prone to scratches. It really is quite fascinating. If you use a compound with the machine such that the glass sheets water perfectly as shown in the video here, then lightly run a dry fingertip across the surface, you can easily feel the roughness. It looks crystal clear. And it is. But it is really rough. All that is needed is a spot of soapy water. I also applied a nano-coat product from another country that creates a hydrophobic surface. It works really well. And is supposed to last for two years. Much longer than any other hydrophobic treatment that I have yet heard of. This also works very good at protecting against scratches. If applied correctly of course. To test these surfaces for scratches I used the point of a small three by three inch glass square. Glass scratches glass much easier than rocks, or metal. Do you want to know what this product is so you can use it in your own business? Than become a Beta Tester! Just send me by email your full name, business name, email address, shipping address, and phone number. I only ask that you write all about the results on Social Media. There are benefits to being a Beta Tester you know. You get the inside edge on many flagship products that no one else even knows about. This gives your company the competitive edge over your local competition. You also will have the opportunity for extra streams of income. Written by Henry Grover Jr. henrygroverjr@gmail.com To receive these posts directly in your inbox just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".
Hard Water Spots begin invisibly. You just simply cannot see them. However you can bring them into view when you fog the clean glass with your breath. Fogging the glass will also tell you if you have completely removed all of the mineral deposits by polishing with a superabrasive. The fog will not reveal anything.
Now as time passes the spots will become heavier. Then they will become visible in the direct sunlight. As more time passes they will become much easier to see. Even on cloudy days. Then they will become heavier and heavier until they are like braille. If they were removed when they first showed up, and the glass was sealed with a quality sealant, the windows could be effectively maintained at a reasonable cost. But if allowed to get really thick extreme measures will be needed to "restore" the windows to original clarity.
Each new spot usually forms directly on top of the previous spot. This is because dry spots catch water drops. Which drops will dry in the sunlight. As water drops dry/evaporate the minerals become more concentrated. All drops dry from the middle out. Such that the outer edge becomes loaded with mineral deposits. The outermost region of each spot has the most minerals. This is also the part of the drop that attains the highest pH just before all of the water evaporates. It is the area where a dynamic stage two etch is most likely to happen. Owing to the very high pH. This can actually be seen sometimes as a clear distortion of the glass when it has been polished. The clear distortions will take on the exact shape of each spot. This is not theory. I have proven it on a piece of dark glass. Dark tinted glass is more easily etched by hard water. It is also the most difficult to restore. Transparent glass is easier to clear. Then low e windows that have been coated on the first surface/weather surface are the easiest to restore. Low e coatings can be damaged also by hard water spots. These coatings are very thin. So the mineral deposits can literally eat right through them.
The bottom line here is to only hire a window cleaning company that is Glass Smart. They must be spot wise. Hard water spots can come from the garden hose, sprinkler systems, concrete, brickwork, exterior stucco, and more. Once they begin your window cleaner should recognize them. They should be immediately removed and the glass sealed. Then the windows should be cleaned again in six months. The sealant should be checked and any new spots should be removed. At this point it will be much easier to remove new spots and rejuvenate the sealant. Hard Water Spots can be quite destructive. If allowed to build up to a thick scale the cost to renew or restore the glass to the original clarity can cost as much as one quarter the cost of replacement. Not to mention the cost of restoring any anodized aluminum frames. Written by Henry Grover Jr. henrygroverjr@gmail.com To receive these posts directly to your inbox just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".
If you charge someone tens of thousands of dollars to remove hard water spots/stains from their windows you better be able to guarantee your work. Because no one is going to want to spend even close to that kind of money every six months just to have clean windows. We on the other hand don't want to spend a great amount of time just to keep them clean. The best way to do this is to seal the glass surface. But seal it with a product that will stand up to the ravages of the high pH of hard water drops. We want the absolute best. But how do we know which product IS the best! pH resistance is not determined by whether the sealant is hydrophobic or hydrophylic. It is true however that a water drop will attain its highest pH during the last few seconds before it completely evaporates. This is because the water in the drop attains the greatest concentration of mineral salts around the outer edge of the water drop. Just before the drop poofs away it becomes a water ring. This is the reason the water spot is more of a spot ring. If you study these pictures of different water spots you will see clearly what I mean. The middle is a dry basin with very little mineral deposits. When polishing the windows the most difficult part of the spot to remove is where the greatest concentration of minerals are. That being the outer edge of the spot rings. So a hydrophobic surface will encourage the formation of water spots. Whereas a hydrophylic sealant will not. It will cause the minerals to spread out evenly making it more easy to remove. However if the hydrophobic sealant is much more resistant to pH attack then that would be the better sealant to use. But if the hydrophylic sealant is even just close to being as resistant to pH attack, then that would be the better choice.
The best way to find the best sealant/product whether it be hydrophobic or hydrophylic is to put several of them to the test on the same plate of glass over the same amount of time. So clear the window with a polishing system. The bare glass should sheet over. Glass is naturally hydrophylic. It is only hydrophobic if it is contaminated with hydrocarbon or other hydrophobic residue. Next tape off a number of squares. Then apply the different products, one per square. Wait six months and try to remove the newly formed mineral deposits/spots. First with an applicator and squeegee. Then with more aggressive methods such as 0000 steel wool. Another way to test for the best sealant is to polish a brand new plate of glass. This will make the glass totally hydrophylic. It takes about 30 seconds per square foot.
Then seal the entire plate with a hydrophobic sealant. After this apply a few splotches of fresh concrete. It only takes a couple days for the concrete to harden. During this time the pH of the concrete reaches 9 to 9.5. Which is very high. It will literally eat right through most sealants. Next push off the concrete then run tap water over the glass. If the concrete has eaten through the sealant you will see the water sheet over the glass only where the concrete was. If not you will have discovered a high quality sealant that is resistant to alkali attack. Test out the other sealants in the same way. When you find the best hydrophobic sealant all you need to do is test it against whatever hydrophylic sealant you might have. To do this just follow the instructions given for the first experiment. Give it a good six months. The maintenance cycle will depend on how big the building is. Also how intense the stains are. These tests will give you the ability to offer a guarantee. You will know exactly how much time it will take to remove the stains, and how much time it will take to keep them off. The tests will also tell you exactly which sealant you want to use. Although it still must be factored in I wouldn't care too much about the expense of the polishing compound or the sealant. The greatest expense will be in the time. Time is everything to us. The time will determine the cost. Written by Henry Grover Jr. To have these posts come directly to your inbox just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".
Window Cleaning Companies can now get into the technology of applying self cleaning coatings to window glass. This is fast becoming a specialty line of work that only the Window Cleaner is truly qualified to take on. It is another service that can substantially increase your bottom line. The chemistry and technology exists right now. If you chose to not get involved you will miss out. Lets check out the technology of making glass dirt resistant and hence "self cleaning". We will also look at some eye opening videos that demontrate what is now being done. Self cleaning glass is either hydrophylic or even hydrophobic. Most of us are familiar with the former which is coated in the factory with a titanium dioxide chemistry. This type of coating is water loving. Pure water drops should spread out and not bead up. The idea is that first there should be no spots if there are no drops. The rain should hit the glass, spread out, and "drain off". TiO2 is supposed to also be photocatalytic. Which means the energy of the Suns UVC transfers to the dirt by means of the TiO2 surface causing the particles to break up and dissolve in the rain. Then as the rain drains off the glass it carries the dissolved dirt with it. Self cleaning coatings based on TiO2 are usually applied in the factory by a vacuum sputtering process. We could not duplicate such a process in the field on old glass. However there are now DIY products that can be applied in the field. Check out some of these educational videos.
This product comes from Denmark and is obviously also based on a TiO2 chemistry. If I were to apply it for testing I would first polish the glass with a cerium or optical silica compound so as to remove all hydrocarbon residue. Which tend to make glass hydrophobic. Then I would apply Shine On and wait to see if it really does photocatalytically remove all dirt and hydrocarbons that would cause the surface to become hydrophobic. This would be a very effective test to see if these coatings really do work. I would also do a side by side test on the same plate of glass. The other selfcleaning coating is water hating. It is designed to purposely cause water to bead up. This effect is intended to cause the water drops to "roll off" the window when rain hits it. The more hydrophobic it is the better it works. The best example in nature of a hydrophobic surface is the lotus leaf. This is actually a superhydrophobic surface. The water drops hardly make any contact with the surface. So much so that a superhydrophobic surface is considered a totally different animal, although the effect is very similar to a hydrophobic surface. This type of surface is self cleaning in that the water drops actually pick up dirt as they roll down the window. This acitivity can be easily demonstrated. I have included a link to a couple videos showing that here.
Although again I should interject the question, does it really work in the field. I have done things on glass in my basement that I could not duplicate in the field. So I am always in question of what people create. Even when a product does work in the field I always ask questions. Like how well does it work? Or does it really work better than another product that I can buy off the shelf? I get it that education is necessary before someone can correctly apply products. I would never put a squeegee in the hands of a homeowner expecting even adequate results. But why make out like your product is better than everyone else's and demand a premium price just to get in? You know pay to pay. So lets put these different products and coatings to the test. Then when we know the results we can speak confidently from experience to our customers and they will believe us. We will believe us. So lets start by setting up the first experiment. Because our work as Window Cleaners is absolutely changing my friends. We are cleaning surfaces that are not glass surfaces anymore. We also are being given the ability to alter glass surfaces ourselves. Products are coming onto the market that allow us to transform window glass. We can make it selfcleaning by adding a tatanium dioxide hydrophylic coating. Or make it selfcleaning by adding a superhydrophobic coating. Keep up with this technology by staying in touch through this blog. To receive every post as it is written just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email". Written by Henry Grover Jr. If you would like a photolink on the right side of this blog just send me an email with your website address. henrygroverjr@gmail.com
As I have said before, all glass sealants are definitely NOT created equal. Some are more resistant to UVC, some will resist scratches, some will last much longer than others, some will resist the high pH of curing concrete, some will stand up to hard water drops so you can just wipe off hard water spots with a dry towel. So what of Aquapel? Well as some of you might know this product was developed for auto glass. As many of the different sealants were. Lets take a close look at this product.
In the photo above you can see the applicator that contains a long glass tube which is air tight and holds the liquid chemical. When the two plastic wings are squeezed together the glass tube is broken letting the liquid sealant leak through the felt bottom. The felt is not very easy to see in this photo. The product is applied to the glass as shown by wiping it on. I suggest first cleaning the glass really well with some 0000 steel wool or even a cerium oxide or optical silica compound such as my SKRUB. You will know that the glass is really clean if pure water sheets over every square inch. Make sure the glass is totally clean then apply the Aquapel. Once applied buff it in with a dry paper towel. Then apply a second coat. You can scrub with soapy water and squeegee dry as a last clean if you want like you would with Rain X, but you really don't have to. You will find that Aquapel does not leave a filmy residue like Rain X does. It kind of pings clear. Sorry that's the best way I can explain it. You will have to do it to know what I am talking about. My guess is that the chemistry is indeed quite different. This would explain the ping effect and the greater longevity. Yes Aquapel definitely lasts much longer than Rain X, is more resistant to abrasion, and definitely stands up to the harsh UVC of the sun much better than Rain X. I have found it on EBay for around two bux per applicator if bought in bulk. https://www.ebay.com/i/351809325432?chn=ps&dispItem=1 A single applicator will cover about 25 square feet. I can usually get a full windshield and two side windows done with one applicator. Now for the initial effect there is no difference between Aquapel and Rain X. But as the weeks and months wear on you will definitely notice the difference.
The sealants out there are based on siloxanes, silanes, organics, teflon, functionalized nanoparticles, even diamond like coatings. They can be purely topical coatings that just set on top. Or they can react directly with certain molecular groups on the glass. This type of product will last a much longer time. Check out this site for information on the chemistry. http://hydrophobicsam.blogspot.com/2012/03/
Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com
Member of the IWCA Glass Committee
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First off,... we all need to know that all of our work is surface level. That stands to reason right? Well not entirely. Because what we do on the surface of window glass can dramatically affect the structural strength and integrity of the entire plate and ultimately the entire building. That is what everyone has been missing. And that is what the IWCA Glass Committee has just now brought to the table for all of us to see. So where do we go from here? We should recognize that we are in fact Glass Surface Maintenance And Restoration Technicians. As such we should be paying attention to the science that Penn State is bringing to us. The first step involves recognizing that once the chemistry of the surface has been seriously altered the overall strength of that surface has been diminished. By altered I mean the sodium atoms have been leached from the surface by water. Also by diminished I mean now the surface is much more prone to PIFs. A PIF is a Point Indent Fracture. Which most every scratch begins with. This is serious because that is how glass plates are cut when they come off the glass line, and in the shop. They are scoured or scratched with a diamond stylus. Then bent;.... and broken in half! So the first step in our work should be to check out the surface of the windows we are cleaning. How rough are they? Do they already have scratches? Do they have hard water spotting? Do they have inclusions? Have they been sealed? If so by what? Have they been sealed by a product that is in general resistant to scratches? Not all sealants are! The application of a sealant should be the first step on a brand new building. Especially in a high pollution environment. Or on a building that we just know is going to promote hard water spots. Either from the minerals leaching from the exterior facade, or sprinkler heads positioned several feet from the glass. Remember both we and our customers existing or potential must stop thinking of the service we render as just "window cleaning". We are Glass Surface Maintenance And Restoration Technicians. We are G-S.M.A.R.T. Lets follow the science. Include it in our educational materials. And use it in our marketing campaigns. If possible we should support our industry. One way to do this is to join with the IWCA and work with the Glass Committee by going out into the field and bringing back to the GC the information they need to do their job. Written by Henry Grover Jr. Member of the IWCA Glass Committee If you would like to receive these posts directly in your inbox just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".
Commercial products can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over several or many years. Patents are absolutely needed for mechanical products. But chemical products are different. It is my opinion that secrecy is more effective at keeping this type of product proprietary. This is usually possible only if the manufacturer is not required by law to list every chemical ingredient on the Safety Data Sheet. Manufacturers also include less than one percent of certain chems that really don't matter, and call them "proprietary". Ingredients that are less than one percent do not have to be identified by law. Hence there is no need to list a CAS number for any ingredients that are less than one percent! Either way steps should be taken to keep the identity of the formula of the product proprietary. In discussing certain products that I have developed with manufacturers I have been told these cannot be public knowledge. Manufacturers will not get involved with any product that is public knowledge. This is another reason why people will not get patents on chemical products. Anyone can look up patents and find out what the chemical identity and formula is. I do it all the time. The secret and hence ownership is lost at that point because anyone can change it a little bit, then market the product as their own. Products can make window cleaners a lot of money too. After all they are tools. Even soaps are tools. You can clean a window with any number of different soaps and chemicals. But we all have our favorites. Although I can make the same money with a different window cleaning soap/chem. However what about a chemical/compound for removing hard water spots? Or a chemical product for removing some deposit from a window surface that scratches real easy? If razors cannot be used than it becomes necessary to use a product that will remove the deposit well, and do this as fast as possible. Simply because time is money. So yes certain products have a high value even in Window Cleaning. Whether we are a manufacturer of products or use them in our work, chemical products have a high value. It is for this reason that I am still working on developing different products for us to use in our work. The difference is that most of these products cannot be converted to commercial products. They cannot be sold through a distribution network. Either because of their cost, ease of acquisition at a reasonable cost, or they have a very limited shelf life. Although these products can on occasion be superior to similar commercial products. They can also be inferior. As I continue to develop these products I will include videos to show how they work. Here is a new one I have developed called Wet & Seal. Just one ingredient that is added to water. Wet the window and squeegee off. Done. This video looks quite appealing. But I needed to polish the glass first to get a good coating. Which is an extra step. Done the first time only. Then when I tested it in the field I discovered the coating/sealant came off when I cleaned the window a second time with an ordinary cleaning solution of Dawn. So this would not be a product that could be converted to a commercial product. When it comes to sealers as a friend brought to my attention over the WCR Forum, preperation of the surface is many times required. This is an additional step that of course requires extra time. Even if it only needs to be done once it is still one more step. Which must be added into the total cost of the job.
Written by Henry Grover Jr. henrygroverjr@gmail.com To receive these posts directly in your inbox just type your emil address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".
Since my induction into the Glass Committee of the IWCA I have been pouring over many "white papers" sent my way by Paul West the current committee chair. These are scientific research papers that discus glass surface test results. However if someone didn't understand the terminology used they might as well have been written in another language. So that we all can have a much better understanding of the details of the research Penn State has been working on for the IWCA Glass Committee I have decided to write a series of artcles/posts in the Glass Smart Blog called Glass Committee Terminology. INDENTATION:
This is a deep notch or depression on a surface. Some words that define it are hollow, dip, dent, cavity, or pit. Here is a link to an excellent very technical article on nanoindentation technology. Which is the kind employed by Penn State. http://szft.elte.hu/oktat/www/mikronano/Nano_indentation.pdf It also discusses microindentation. Indentation is the means by which certain mechanical properties of solid surfaces are measured, in particular hardness. Which is what the GC was interested in using to learn about how the hardness of glass surfaces might change when subjected to different conditions of Relative Humidity (RH). Also they wanted to learn what glass surface hardness might be when the sodium atoms in particular have been selectively removed. This is important information since every scratch begins with a point of indentation. Written by Henry Grover Jr.
This is for everyone. If you would like to join with the Glass Committee in our research with the scratched glass issue then here is your chance. This is the questionnaire. Please send all information by email to the Chair of the GC, Paul West. His contact info is at the bottom of the questionnaire.
Scratched glass questionnaire:
What is the address/location of the property?
Who is the manufacturer of the scratched glass?
How many levels/floors on the property?
What levels did the scratching occur?
Did the scratching occur on interior or exterior or both?
Describe the interior surroundings near any scratched glass.
Describe the exterior facade and surroundings near any scratched glass.
Was there any accumulation of debris and sand/soil on glass?
How was the debris removed?
Was the scratched glass annealed, heat strengthened, or tempered?
Is the glass coated or uncoated? Where is the coating located; surface #1, #2, #3 or #4?
Is there an insurance claim, lawsuit, or loss of money involved?
Is it the tin side or airside of glass that is scratched?
Was this a post-construction cleaning incident or a normal maintenance project?
What was the approximate size of the units involved?
Did you observe that some glass units exhibited scratches while others in the same environment did not?
Send your email for a copy of the Glass Smart Insider to henrygroverjr@gmail.com Most everyone within the Window Cleaning Industry knows about the intense research that the IWCA Glass Committee has been pioneering over many years. What the industry has virtually no understanding of however is the tremendous monetary potential of the conclusive evidence that will soon be brought to light at the 2017 IWCA Convention in Arizona. This potential is in fact multifaceted and will open up new streams of income for every Window Cleaner around the world. If you think I have lost my mind just read on.
First of all we know how bad glass is getting. It is beyond anything we might have imagined years ago. Razor blades are not the sought after bandits any more. I have heard of scratches being caused by cotton towels. We are all too familiar with this problem. But the public is not. What we have been lacking is an accurate understanding of the depth of the true nature of this problem so we can bring that knowledge to the public. When we do we will be able to demand more money for our expertise. Not just for cleaning the windows. But in doing so with a full knowledge so as to not risk creating scratches. Every time I show one of my customers the difference between a good surface and a bad one I get the most quizzical look. That expression can be converted into cold cash! So with a much more accurate understanding and explanation of this problem we can ask greater compensation for our labor. Especially on brand new buildings with brand new glass. And most especially on bad glass that is coated with a concrete silane sealant, or paint, or wood stain.
This will require that we prioritize education. Employees must be put through a class so they understand the problem. Printed information and online video presentations must be created for employees to show customers from their cell phones. Educational Forums must get smarter for the overall benefit of our entire industry. This will result in a dramatic limit in the number of lawsuits being filed against us. It will also result in an increase in our profits because we will be able to ask more for each window we clean. Especially if it has bad glass.
Profits will be earned too by the manufacturers that are sage enough to take the lead in developing highly innovative smart products to deal with this killer problem of bad surfaces. Bad to us that is. Glass manufacturers are perfectly content with bad glass.. As long as people can see through the windows they are OK with selling it. So this is our problem (we own it). It will not go away. It will likely get worse. You will understand better in time but these innovative smart products will ONLY come to us if we understand the true nature of bad surfaces. I am being very careful in this post NOT to use any of the old terminology we have become so accustomed to over the last 25 years. This is a new science. It is a new view. The old way of thinking doesn’t cut it anymore. Our industry is about to experience a quantum leap. Come go with me friends!
Please pay close attention to the research that the Glass Committee is involved with. They deserve our full support. At the IWCA Convention this year we will be having a seminar lead by Paul West of the IWCA Glass Committee on problem glass surfaces. It will discuss some very innovative and scientific research which has been going on at Penn State University. Which research I will be writing about in depth shortly after the presentation.
The International Window Cleaning Association 2017 Annual Convention
February 8-10, 2017
WeKoPa Resort & Conference Center
10438 N Fort McDowell Rd
Scottsdale, Arizona 85264
United States
Contact:Lori Landry
llandry@offinger.com
800-875-4922
Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com Just send me an email request for a copy of the Glass Smart Insider.
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Surface active agents, synthetic detergents, or just plain soaps are chemically manufactured cleaning compounds. They never existed before in nature. People have created thousands of these ever since we learned how to manipulate atoms into unique molecular structures. Ever since we learned that the benzene molecule has a cyclic structure. Of course the saponification of animal fatty acids with lye has been going on for thousands of years. The consequences of making new chemicals that never existed before and heaving them out into the environment, is that we have absolutely no idea in advance the kind of evil they might cause. But that never stopped people from doing it. One of the consequences of this kind of behavior is our bodies have become loaded with all kinds of chemicals. Molecules that it has no use for which it must filter out in some way. How do they get inside? Well;...we eat them, breath them, and they actually move right through our skin straight to our blood. Not to mention they get inside by catching a ride on the backs of or inside the bellies of bacteria as these invade our bodies by crawling inside through every orifice. Also if such toxic chemicals happen to make it past the protective city walls (cellular membranes) they cause all kinds of havoc. This is because our cells are highly complex active organizations of molecules. In other words 'molecular machines'. Once we mess with this molecular machinery the cell dies. Kill enough cells and the result is tissue necrosis. Kill enough tissue in a particular organ and we take out that organ. Knock out the right organ like a heart and WE die. Check out this animated video of the kind of molecular activity that goes on all the time inside of everyone of our trillions of cells.
If you think this video is fascinating I have more. Check out my other blog www.molecularhealthmedia.com So yeah. We now have teflon in our blood, methyl groups that shouldn't be there, and even some hard hitters like 1, 4 dioxane that are left over from the manufacture of the main surfactants in Dawn and many other dish soaps. So certain dish soaps have 1, 4 dioxane in them? Yep! Look at the MSDS for this chemical. https://www.nwmissouri.edu/naturalsciences/sds/0-9/1%204-Dioxane.pdf Now if I haven't made my point at this point that petrochemical surfactants should be demonized (not to mention those based on fluorine chemistry) then check out this fantastic article written by a young woman named Faye. She went on a safari to locate a few dish soaps that were eco and human friendly. http://fromfaye.com/2013/05/04/the-best-eco-friendly-dish-soaps/ Also as most of you know I have a Facebook Group called Glass Smart Products. The link for it is at the top of this blog. Just click on the Glass Smart logo. I would like to include a recent post from that FB Group by a man named Ewing Sharp. He is both a Window Cleaner and a sales rep for a company called Young Living that sells essential oils. Some of these naturally occurring oils (from plants) are actually capable of moving through the cell membrane where they remove toxins, thereby saving our cells from certain death. Ewing was concerned about the toxic potential of various cleaning products that Window Cleaners use. Products like Dawn. So he posted this;...
HenryI stopped using Dawn dish soap for window cleaning this year. The reason is health related, but here's some background on me.
I have worked as a window cleaner for 10 years during college and then for some time after spending a decade teaching science and math to Middle Schoolers. Recently, I found that supporting my own health using essential oils has been a big win. I also started looking at petrochemicals found in common household products to see if there were things I could replace and reduce risks to my health.
I downloaded an App called Think Dirty, which rated Dawn dish soap as a 9 out of 10 on a scale of dirty ingredients. I have some skepticism about this app, but honestly if you research the ingredients in most cleaners they're not without risk. Now I know risk is a part of window cleaning, but my thought was, "if I'm having this on my skin for most of the day and my skin is the bodies biggest organ, why wouldn't I use a product with less risk? But is Dawn or a similar product really a greater health risk? Are petrochemicals being demonized for no good reason?
I know that chemicals are all around us and are frankly found commonly in nature. Are soaps like Dawn being unfairly characterized as unhealthy because they're petrochemically based? I think they likely are to some degree. My hope is to find and use the products that make me feel better when I'm using them. I'll describe what I use and differences I've noticed.
First off I have done mostly residential window cleaning and some large commercial projects using these products. I add a cleaner from Young Living with the following ingredients:
Here's what I've found. The soap and cleaner smell great. I know that the essential oil ingredients are natures immune system for the plants they come from. The oils have many health benefits which I'm personally sold on. The soap does not have great "sudsing action" or glide. On residential work I've learned a few things about getting a polished finish from Joe Hiryak and Jesse Dauzat. I now keep a wad of 4 or 5 pieces of steel wool in my soapy water to scrub glass before squeegeeing. It is great to polish out dirt from exteriors and on interiors I like that I can feel resistance from say, stuck on food on a kitchen window or even smoke from interior glass. Additionally, it gets into corners much better than a mop. I used to use a Triumph 6 in razor on pretty much all residential glass. The steel wool is definitely safer for and hasn't had a downside that I'm aware of yet. So what about the glide and sudsing issue?
I cannot say the plant based soap and cleaner would work for a novice cleaner. Making a squeegee go where you want it to is something an experienced cleaner can do without soap at all. I enjoy the experience of the essential oil enhanced cleaning products such that I don't mind less glide. I keep a spray bottle loaded up with a soap and cleaner mix when I want to control how much water is in play. It is really a good solution.
So that's my take for now. I like it, the customers love the smell, (the Clove and Cinnamon oil make for a Thanksgiving sort of smell) and I enjoy the experience a great deal more than using Dawn dish soap.
The cost breakdown for the cleaner is less than 50 cents for my spray bottle. I'd estimate I'm using probably $1-$3 a day for solution between my bucket and spray bottles. For me, its an easy expense to justify. Clearer thinking and improved mood are a few of the things that I experience.
Henry I'd love to know what you're take on petrochemical risks in conventional detergents. Thanks for your time reading all this.
Ewing
If you want to contact Ewing for more information on Essential Oils his email is;...
