My Biz: Artist in winter, window cleaner the rest of the year

An unseasonably warm September meant a few adjustments to Tim Gallenbeck’s work.

“On sunny days, in direct sunlight, I have to use a lot more water on the glass and break the windows into little sections,” Gallenbeck said. “You’ve got to be a lot more mindful, and you’ve got to be a lot faster. You need to be quick, efficient and know how much water you use in the sunlight. Otherwise, you’re just going to keep going over it.”

Perched atop an extension ladder at a recently built suburban Marion home, Gallenbeck applied soap to a large picture window with a sponge mop on a short handle. He quickly followed up with a few passes with a squeegee.

“This is newer construction,” he said. “On the other side, I noticed a lot of caulk. I try and take care of that, those little things that you never notice.”

Gallenbeck, 45, of Marion, started noticing such details a few years before launching Let the Light In Window Cleaning in June 2023.

Before that, he worked for Rapids Reproduction, repairing printers and installing large-format graphics for customers, but he wanted some time for his other job.

“I’m a professional Etch-a-Sketch artist,” he said. “That’s my side gig. The (window cleaning) business in Iowa tends to slow down during the winter months. Then I focus on my art, and do that more. This gives me the income I need to do that.”

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Learning the business

Gallenbeck, a 2023 contestant on the reality show “American Ninja Warrior, ” learned the trade working for a friend’s window-cleaning service before setting out on his own. He’s also owned his own skateboard company.

“He was looking to do another business venture, so he thought of me,” Gallenbeck said of his friend. “There’s a lot of ladder work involved, and I like climbing — I do a lot of yoga.”

The apprenticeship was a learning experience.

“There’s so much more involved in cleaning the window perfectly than you’d think,” Gallenbeck said. “Any industry you get in, you learn all of the things that no one will probably ever care about but make a huge difference. Sunlight makes a big difference. It’s way better to clean on cloudy days because the glass isn’t heating up.”

For the cleaning itself, “the industry standard is tried and true Dawn dish soap,” he said. “If it gets colder, I add quite a bit of window washing fluid because it has the alcohol in it and it doesn’t freeze. I’ve done windows in 30-, 20-degree weather, so sometimes it’s straight soap and window washing fluid.”

Gallenbeck also does pressure washing and gutter cleaning.

“It’s a common misconception that gutter covers are meant to be on forever,” he said. “Those need maintenance as well because a lot of the plants will break down on top of them and that will get inside. I’ve taken off the gutter guards and it’s almost full because it’s been years. They definitely need maintenance over time.”

‘Lot of factors’

About 75 percent of Gallenbeck’s accounts are residential, but he spends about as much time on commercial jobs.

Homeowners are happy with a cleaning in the fall and spring, while most businesses get their windows done monthly. Rates are set according to the work involved in each building — a prewash visit is often called for.

“There’s a lot of factors involved,” he said. “Have they had it done before, and how long has it been? How much ladder work is involved? That’s a big factor in price and time. I bring a guy once in a while if I need help moving the ladder because safety is important.”

He’s working on a website, but business has been healthy.

“I’ve been very lucky that I haven’t had to market a lot,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of word-of-mouth so that’s been most of my business. Doing commercial work, people will see my shirt and come up and ask, which has been nice.”

Gallenbeck is happy with his new line of work.

“I love the business model of it, and I love people,” Gallenbeck said. “It’s just that environment and helping people clean up their houses that I enjoy.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

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