Skyscraper window washers have been risking their lives for years. However, the job is still done with a water bucket and squeegee hanging over the side of a building. It takes two people six weeks to clean the average skyscraper and they make an average of $200/day. That’s $12,000 in labour costs per cleaning and most buildings get cleaned three times per year.
There’s a huge opportunity here for someone with some engineering skill. If you could design a simple system that could clean a window without someone hanging off the side of the building you could have a goldmine. Think of all the buildings in the world… Every one of them needs to be cleaned. What they need is something that can be set up and automatically clean windows, even someone guiding it from a remote would be preferable and safer.
I have no idea how to clean windows, or how to design robots. But I know that if someone could create one that cleaned quickly, cheaply and could deal with high speed winds, they would have a gold mine.
-Craig Sharkton
9 responses so far ↓
1 Cranky Media Guy // Jun 30, 2008 at 12:17 am
There is one little detail you’ve overlooked. Robot window washing machines would mean that just that many more people would be out of jobs that pay a living wage. There’s enough of that in America as it is, thank you.
2 Johnny Apple // Jul 23, 2008 at 11:15 am
Cranky media guy needs to get with the new ages. If ‘enough of America’ was a little more creative and not so lazy, maybe robots wouldn’t replace them. Heck, General Motors wouldn’t have the pension, union or other issues if it could just replace most of its line workers with robots. Maybe GM would even put some smiles on shareholders’ faces……
3 CHANCEvb // Nov 10, 2008 at 12:06 pm
A window cleaning business can easily make you $1000/day.
Why am I not a window cleaner making a $1000/day.
I went on a shoe drop with Toms Shoes (http://sufac.com/2008/08/toms-shoes-philanthropy-as-a-business-model/) this past April and have committed to creating a business model based on Blake and Alejo’s idea.
I am working on a one-for-one model, but would love to share my knowledge of how to create a window cleaning business that charges $80-100 per hour.
Contact me if you’re interested in how to operate a successful window cleaning business. I’ve studied the industry for three years now and have the answers to create an operation that will knock your socks off. Cash your check at the bank, and have them give you another check in return for the streak free shine.
4 MR DAVID LEE // Dec 29, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Dear Sir,
I am planning to open a high rise window cleaning business could you please kindley advise me on the set up etc. Meanwhile i will
need help from where i can get a high rise robot
window cleaner.
thanks
Mr D. lee
email-takethat20048@hotmail.com
5 Craig // Jan 4, 2009 at 10:10 am
David Lee,
The first step is to call up someone in your city (or any city for that matter) that’s done it before and just start asking questions. How did they get into the business? Do they enjoy the work? etc.
Also if you can work for someone who is already doing it you’ll learn a lot. See if there’s a company hiring for any job in their office. Learn the ins and outs. Who are their clients, how do they price their service, what’s the competition like in the city.
If you can get an inside view of the industry you’ll be one step ahead.
And of course come back to the site, leave comments, ask questions and we’ll all try to help you through your new venture.
Craig Sharkton
6 David G // Jun 30, 2009 at 2:13 am
Why cant we just make any windows over five storys pivot,so they can be cleaned from the inside. WHAT THE HELLS WRONG WITH THAT!
7 Craig // Jul 15, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Well, for one cost and second safety. But I like the gusto.
8 dino // Oct 23, 2009 at 4:48 am
do you know of any manufacturer of skyscraper window cleaning robot?
9 Craig // Nov 15, 2009 at 11:59 am
I’ve never seen one cleaning so I think it may be a novel invention if you can create one. Check out Google patent search though, if there’s one you’ll be able to find it there. Good luck.
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