New drone-powered cleaning company aims to transform building maintenance

Jun 8

Written By Staff

A new company has launched with a mission to help keep it all looking its best. Clear Edge Exteriors is bringing drone-powered window washing and facade cleaning at scale to West Michigan's commercial, industrial, and healthcare markets. Founded by local entrepreneur Tim George, Clear Edge Exteriors uses an industrial drone tethered to a custom-outfitted van to service commercial properties, industrial facilities, hospitals, water towers, solar arrays, and municipal buildings throughout the region.

“Grand Rapids is evolving quickly, and the way we maintain buildings should evolve with it,” said Tim George, co-founder and lead drone operator of Clear Edge Exteriors. “We’re bringing a safer, more efficient approach that helps property owners keep their buildings looking their best without the disruption, cost, or safety concerns of traditional cleaning.”

Using specialized drones equipped with precision cleaning systems, Clear Edge Exteriors can wash windows, facades, and industrial structures up to three times faster and at an average cost 45% lower than traditional methods that rely on scaffolding, lifts, and large crews. The company’s van is equipped with a four-stage reverse osmosis and deionized water system to clean multi-story buildings without scaffolding, lifts, or workers at height.

The company's purified water system, which strips incoming water of all dissolved minerals, means windows air-dry spotless with no streaking. All cleaning solutions used are biodegradable.

Traditional high-rise exterior cleaning requires renting scaffolding or scissor lifts, coordinating large crews, safety risks, and accepting significant insurance costs, all of which are passed directly to building owners. Clear Edge Exteriors’ drone handles the climbing, which the company estimates saves customers an average of 45% compared to conventional methods. Their drone-powered method also completes jobs in a fraction of the time. A multi-story cleaning project that might take two weeks by traditional means can be completed in two days.

"When you have to move a scaffold to the next section of windows, that's 20 minutes of downtime," said George. "With the drone, I move it in five seconds."

For healthcare clients, the benefits extend well beyond safety and cost. Hospitals and medical campuses can complete cleanings more efficiently while increasing privacy for people inside. Clear Edge Exteriors operates from the ground, with no personnel ascending the building and no visibility into patient rooms, surgical suites, or private corridors.

Clear Edge Exteriors also reflects a broader workforce shift within the technology sector. Co-founder Tim George spent his career at major tech companies before being phased out of his role in late 2025.

After earning his FAA drone certification, George spent months studying aviation regulations, airspace mapping, drone mechanics, pump systems, and industrial chemistry. The company's long-term vision includes expanding to multiple cities nationwide, with each market supported by a dedicated van and team.

West Michigan Newspop Digital Partners