Window Cleaning Crew Daily Checklist

A window cleaning business is one of the more underestimated route operations. The work looks simple. The math is tight. Each crew gets paid by the job. The crew that finishes a residential at 45 minutes and the next one at 55 makes a living. The crew that takes 90 minutes per job, even doing great work, is bleeding money.

The difference is almost entirely the routine. Equipment that is ready. Process that is consistent. A clear sequence that does not change job to job.

Truck Prep, the Day Before

Most window cleaners load the truck at the end of the day for tomorrow, not in the morning. Tomorrow morning is for driving, not loading.

• Ladder check: every rung secure, no cracks, feet intact
• Squeegees and channels in three or four sizes, blade rubber in good shape
• Scrubbers and microfiber pads, clean and dry from yesterday's wash
• Detergent stock: glass cleaning solution mixed to the right concentration
• Buckets, hoses, and water-fed pole system if you use one
• Drop cloths and towels for protecting interior trim
• First aid kit, fire extinguisher, basic tools

Anything left out of the truck Sunday night is the call from a crew at 8:15am Monday asking the owner to bring it.

Morning Routing

Most crews have route software, but the discipline is in following it. The morning route plan:

• Confirm the day's jobs in order
• Check customer notes for any special instructions
• Note any access requirements (gate codes, key locations, pet warnings)
• Pull insurance certificates if commercial jobs require them
• Fuel up

The first job of the day is the make-or-break job for the schedule. A late start at 8:30 cascades into late at every stop.

At the First Stop

Each job starts the same way:

• Park on the street or driveway as appropriate; do not block the homeowner
• Walk the perimeter; do a quick survey of the work
• Confirm the scope with the customer if anyone is home
• Note any pre-existing damage to frames, sills, or screens
• Set up tools and water

The customer walkthrough is brief but matters. Confirming "we are doing the exterior windows including the second story, and the screens are getting brushed; we are not doing the interior storms today" prevents a refund conversation at the end.

The Cleaning Sequence

Different crews use different methods, but the principle is the same: work top to bottom, exterior to interior, and consistent technique on every window.

For exterior:

• Scrub the window with cleaning solution
• Squeegee in a consistent pattern, top to bottom
• Wipe the edges with a clean microfiber
• Wipe the sill if needed
• Move to the next window

For interior:

• Lay drop cloths to protect carpet and trim
• Move furniture or curtains as needed (ask permission first)
• Same scrub, squeegee, wipe sequence
• Replace anything you moved

Streaks are the number one complaint in window cleaning. They come from dirty squeegees, dirty solution, or moving too fast. A clean squeegee on every pull, fresh solution every few jobs, and a consistent stroke pattern fix 95 percent of streak issues.

Screens

Screens often come with the job. The basic screen care:

• Pop them out without bending
• Brush both sides with a soft brush
• Wash gently if heavily soiled
• Dry before reinstalling
• Reinstall in the correct window; this is the step most often messed up

Bent or torn screens get noted. The customer sees them after you leave; better to tell them now than have them call angry tomorrow.

Working at Height

Anything above a step ladder gets a different protocol. OSHA-style fall protection rules apply to a lot of commercial work and to many residential jobs higher than a single story.

• Ladders set at the correct angle (4-to-1 rule)
• Three points of contact at all times
• Use a stabilizer or stand-off when possible
• Two-person job above 12 feet, with a ground spotter
• Water-fed pole system for high glass when applicable

A fall from a ladder is one of the most common injuries in window cleaning. It is also one of the most preventable.

The Final Walk

Before leaving each job:

• Walk the windows from the customer's vantage points
• Look for streaks in the morning sun if you can
• Confirm no tools or trash left behind
• Wipe up any drips on the siding
• Confirm gates are closed, doors are locked if applicable

A customer who walks out an hour after you leave and sees a streak is a customer who feels they got bad service. A customer who finds your towel on their porch is a customer who feels you were sloppy. The two-minute final walk prevents both.

Customer Sign-Off

A residential job ends with a brief conversation if the customer is home. "All set. The exterior windows and screens are done. Do you want to take a quick look before I head out?"

Most customers do not want to inspect. The offer matters anyway. The few who do find an issue can have it corrected before you leave, which is much cheaper than a callback.

A commercial job ends with a sign-off from the building manager or contact, on paper or in the route app.

Between Jobs and End of Day

Each transition between jobs gets a 5-minute reset. Rinse equipment, top off water, check the route for the next stop. End of day, the truck gets restocked for tomorrow.

How MyTeamTasks Helps

A window cleaning company running multiple crews and 50 to 100 jobs a week needs a service app that captures what happened at each stop. A digital job checklist gives the crew the scope, the notes, and the customer information at the start. Before-and-after photos attach to the job. Customer sign-off captured in the app. The owner can see at noon whether the morning route is on time and at 6pm whether the day's invoicing is ready to send.