Chris Curle/Special to the Eagle

Sherri’s work shirt says on the front, “I do windows,” and boy, does she. Her window cleaning service soon may expand to Naples, adding to her already impressive list of Marco business and residential accounts.

Chris Curle/Special to the Eagle

An update on the new, improved sidewalk signs going up at about 25 locations, on Collier Boulevard and the Leland-Sandlhill pathway. The sign on the left is the old one. Too confusing, many islanders said. The new, sign makes it pretty clear that the wide walkways also are bikeways, skateways and what, baby ways? As Jim Miller of the Public Works Department explains it, “These signs basically say, be courteous. Let common sense take over and people will do the right thing. If we turned it into a yield sign, saying, this guy yields to that guy or that one to that one and we had five or six drawings on it, it would be too busy. There is no enforcement involved.”

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Keep your windows clean

Nobody appreciates the art and skill of washing windows until they try it. It can cause muscle cramps and marital discord, not to mention the grudging acceptance of a sad fact — that our windows always will have at least a streak or a smudge here and there.

It’s like accepting the presence of a facial blemish. There may be a way to fix it but better not leave it to amateurs.

Enter Sherri Medeiros, owner, chief squeegee swirler and an expert with the “S Curve” of See Thru Window Cleaning Service on Marco. For about eight years she’s been keeping windows clean and healthy at a long list of Marco businesses, offices and homes.

Did I say healthy? Yep. Sherri says clean windows play a major role in keeping our homes and public places sanitary and health conducive.

“Washing windows is more than just getting rid of streaks and smears for cosmetic reasons,” Sherri points out. “Some people don’t realize that glass is porous. Germs, mildew, salt, dust, grime, handprints, pets’ nose and paw prints and a lot of other stuff can get on windows and stay there and that’s not healthy.

“And don’t forget smoke. I can always tell when people have been smoking in a building when I wash the inside windows. Smoke builds up and when we clean the glass, the water in our buckets turns yellow. It’s pretty bad.”

Sherri recommends that residential windows by cleaned professionally at least twice a year, inside and out, obviously more often for restaurants, which usually get washed weekly, and other places of business. So, why do we need a pro to do the job right?

“It’s an art and a skill, knowing how to avoid streaks, how to get into corners, frames and tracks and all that,” she says. Sherri uses the “S Curve” technique, applying the soap and water and then the squeegee. Why nor wash in sections, up, down or across?

“You get streaks that way. You must make sure the squeegee is dirt-free and moist. Even a grain of sand can leave a streak. And most important, keep the squeegee on the glass, moving in the S curve.”

We asked Sherri to reveal what cleaning products she uses. Secret stuff?

“Here’s the big secret — water and a small amount of organic dish washing liquid. You don’t need fancy glass cleaners. Besides some leave a buildup on the glass. Also, don’t use paper towels. They leave lint on the windows. Use lint-free towels, dry ones, to avoid streaks.”

Sherri also urges homeowners to let her clean their ceiling fans (“Oh, there can be lots of fun stuff up there,” she jokes) and to not forget the mirrors and screens.

Meeting Sherri, you know right away that she loves her work.

“I love being on the move, meeting new people. And because I’m local, not a huge company, many clients have become my friends.”

Sherri is reachable via cell phone at 641-7159 or at her work number, 642-0318.

Worth a listen

Marco Island radio listeners have had their disappointments with a series of local, losing efforts to provide a viable radio service to islanders.

We still don’t have an island-centric station, in spite of 1480 AM’s occasional lackluster pretenses. But there are some radio programs that often include Marco news and public affairs that are worth a listen.

One is Dave Elliott’s 3 to 6 p.m. daily talk show on 98.9 FM, WGUF. Dave is a Marcophile with a lot of friends and business contacts here and he often talks with Marco newsmakers.

The other Marco-friendly radio program also is on 98.9 FM, WGUF. It’s the Bob Harden show, airing weekdays 7 to 9 a.m. Harden’s show is an intelligent mélange of interviews and features, from very local looks at government, politics, restaurants and more, plus Harden’s Q&A sessions with heavy hitters from national media outlets.

WGUF is licensed to Marco Island and its primary coverage area is concentrated on Collier County.

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E-mail: chris@chriscurle.com or don@donfarmer.com