John Baxter began window cleaning in 1980 because as he put it, “We were poor.” With a huge mortgage and meager salesperson salary, he could not keep up.

His grandfather owned a window cleaning business during the depression in the 1930’s, and according to his dad, he had done well.

“I was scared, inexperienced, but willing to try anything to supplement my income.”

He bought a set of equipment from a local janitorial supply store. The owner gave him a quick lesson and then recommended that he not go into the window cleaning business, but after his first window cleaning job, he was hooked.

He loved the window cleaning business.

His biggest problem wasn’t getting accounts it was getting good information. He needed to learn the business. “I would stop and talk to every window cleaner, trying to get more information. Most of them didn’t give me any help because they feared the competition.” He eventually learned window cleaning and the business but it took way more time and energy than necessary.

After the Lubbock convention, he started Crystal Press to write and publish informational books for window cleaners. He didn’t want anyone else to go through what he did to learn the window cleaning business. “I felt compelled to write and publish window cleaning books that included lots of information at a reasonable price.”

In 1992 he wrote and published, Taking the Pane out of Window Cleaning, a book that demonstrates proper window cleaning techniques. Later he changed the title to How to Clean Windows Like a Pro, which is also published in Spanish. Two more books followed: Straight Talk about Window Cleaning Bidding and Straight Talk about the Window Cleaning Business. “I poured onto the pages years of experience gained from working the business as well as the knowledge learned through networking with other window cleaners around the country.”

When he writes, he always envisions an imaginary window cleaner; he’s got a family and needs to earn money. “I can see the tension on his face because he doesn’t know how to start; he doesn’t know the steps. This is the reason I wrote my books. This is the reason I will continue to produce informative books on window cleaning.”

Crystal Press

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