Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Meet the washmasters


Ashley and Mike Maharas, of washmasters, wash windows at Bonde Bistro on a brisk March morning.  The Delano couple began washing windows together full-time in early March.

Ashley and Mike Maharas, of washmasters, wash windows at Bonde Bistro on a brisk March morning. The Delano couple began washing windows together full-time in early March.

DELANO, MN – When Mike and Ashley Maharas, of Delano, decided they wanted to leave their respective full-time careers in telecommunications and accounting to become full-time entrepreneurs together, they opted to start a window-washing company.

That company is washmasters, which the couple named and began organizing in fall of 2016.

“We had just gotten done having lunch and were enjoying the scenery around Lake Minnetonka, and she came up with the name,” Mike said. “We wanted to do a window-washing company, and that was the germination of the seed. She came up with the name and it stuck, and from there, we’ve gone gangbusters into creating a brand and some equity in that name.”

In early March, the couple made the full transition to self-employment.

Why window washing?

“It’s not the most glamorous job and company to start up, but we’ve always been the types to want to take risks, but very calculated risks,” Mike said. “Window washing was an opportunity that had a very low startup investment. It wasn’t something we had to learn like a master skill trade like a plumber or electrician. It just made sense. On paper, it looks like a much smaller task. You find out there’s a lot to learn.”

Ashley said there’s a lot more to starting a business or washing windows than meets the eye.

“It’s always about three times more (work) than you think it’s going to be,” Ashley said. “It’s just that dedication, too. We spent a lot of nights up late working on this while working our full-time jobs. That was a hard time, and yet really exciting. It gave us something to look forward to.”

The couple’s children – 7-year-old Mackenzie and 4-year-old twins Avery and Kalen – are excited about the company.

“They want business cards and they ask if they’re washmasters now,” Ashley said.

“You ask the ominous question, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ (and they say) ‘I want to wash windows like you,’” Mike said. “Obviously, it’s not a doctor or a lawyer, but it’s certainly something that will bring a lot of deep joy out of your heart to see your kids look up to what you’re doing.”

Armed with a cleaning solution of dish soap, water, and vinegar; the washmasters clean windows, exteriors, and gutters for businesses and residents throughout the area. Their tools include a T-bar, squeegee, a window-washing pole, bucket, water and towels, with the pole using ultra-pure water to wash windows up to three stories high while the window washer stays on the ground.

“The water washes the window and we can inject soap if it’s a really dirty window,” Mike said.

Mike created a water-purification system so that washmasters can take their own purified water with them, regardless of where they are working.

Even with the right equipment and resources, the proper technique is also needed.

“As far as techniques go, it’s kind of like golf,” Mike said. “It’s all in the wrist. You start on one section, and work your way down, and fan the squeegee back and forth until you get to the final move called a closeout, where you bring it all to one corner and the water falls, and you wipe it away and are left with a fully-cleaned window.”

“We do have a no-streak guarantee,” Ashley added. “ . . . If people need us to come back out and touch up windows, we are happy to do that.”

Washmasters are open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and can be reached at (612) 770-8221.

There’s no need to call to get a quote, though, as quotes and more information are available at washmasterscleaning.com.

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