PLAN No. 702B. WINDOW-WASHING AND HOUSE-CLEANING
When he came to city he “was down and out.” He was a capable fellow, but owing to domestic trouble he worried and drank a good deal. He was in this shape when I first met him. He got a job washing windows and kept at it. His employer knew nothing about window-washing or house-cleaning—he was a business-getter instead—and finally as he was unable to pay this man for his labor, he turned the business over to him in payment for his services.
He quit drinking when the state went dry. He then saw great possibilities in the window-washing and house-cleaning business. He could do the work himself, and if those he hired did not do their work properly he was quick to see it and let them go.
He would contract for the year to wash windows for an entire building at something like 15 to 20 cents a window. He would go over all the windows once every month. His arrangement was cheaper than having the janitor do it. He also contracted to wash the halls and elevator shaft. He got business where others could not. He and the men he hired knew how to work.
When he had an unusually dirty job he used the following combinations with great success: Citrus powder, three-fourths part; Wyandott powder, one-fourth part; softsoap about the size of a hen’s egg in a bucket of water. This solution was allowed to stand over night. When a place was real dirty he went over it at least three times, washing with the grain of the wood. He was especially careful to see that no streaky work was done in the washing of walls, etc. He washed a square place at a time and was particular to see that the sides and corners were as clean as the center, then when the next square was done there was no overlapping of several inches. He was also careful to see that the base-boards of the room were clean, especially the corners and bottom, which if neglected always remain unclean in appearance.
It is true that his work is not regarded as a high calling, but he believed that if his work did not reflect credit on him, he would reflect credit on it by performing his services well. He also cleaned houses, using a vacuum cleaner.
His business is very profitable and produces for him a very good living.