Iowa Solar Shine keeps things bright and clean

James and Hannah Markiewicz say they are up to the challenge of any home in the area.

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, September 2026

Most businesses evolve gradually over years. For James and Hannah Markiewicz, their Iowa Solar Shine business evolved almost instantly. 

“It was in the fall of 2024 that we started, so we’re in our third season. I started this kind of as a side gig, cleaning solar panels, because I couldn’t find anyone specifically that just did that. But once we started, the window washing demand was so great,” James said. “Now the window washing has really picked up, so that’s mainly what we do now.”

Because every home is different, the couple has found that every job is different. Some homes have many more windows; some homes are tall; some are built on a slope. Those near gravel roads or farm fields naturally collect more dust. 

“Some homes have nearly 100 panes of glass,” James said. “But it’s only in rare circumstances that we can’t finish a home within a day,” James said.

With experience and the right equipment, James is up to the challenge of any home in the area.

“There hasn’t been a window I haven’t been able to get to yet,” he said. “If something is way too high or I don’t feel comfortable getting up on the ladder, I have an extendible pole and brush that reaches up to 30 or 40 feet. But especially for a first-time cleaning, I really like to get up there and hand-scrub it if I can.”

Hannah shared that customers may not realize all that needs to be removed from dirty windows.

“Some people don’t realize it’s usually more than just dust on a window. There are bug spots, paint splatter and other stuff that rain is never going to remove,” she said. “Sometimes, we even have to get out a razor to remove stuff from a window.”

Although the bulk of their clientele is in the Panora area, James added that the couple also cleans windows for some customers in the Des Moines area.

“We’re pretty much fulltime from the end of March through November,” James said. “Then I find other work to supplement over the winter.”

James noted that satisfied customers have definitely helped the business become known in the area. He also stated that when customers get comfortable with their work, they are often interested in additional services. 

“It’s been growing every year. We also offer screen repair and gutter cleaning,” James said. “And I haven’t been advertising it all that much, but I have been doing some power washing, too, on decks and driveways.”

Because the husband-and-wife team works together, James generally works on the exterior window surfaces while Hannah cleans the interior surfaces, including the tracks for sliding doors and windows. Hannah pointed out that customers often comment that windows open, close and slide much better after a cleaning. 

“Most customers have us come once or twice a year,” James said, noting that he offers a discount for a repeat cleaning within six months. 

For customers who do use solar panels, James pointed out that the panels not only look better when cleaned but actually perform more efficiently as well. 

“Most people will notice a 2 to 6% increase,” he said. 

One of the frequent challenges the couple faces is removing screen windows to clean them. They noted that if screens have been in place for many years, it becomes a challenge to remove and clean them without breakage. 

For Iowa Solar Shine, spring is definitely the busy season. Customers often want the winter’s leftover dust and dirt removed, plus some customers want a cleaning right before gatherings such as graduations, weddings, Easter, etc. But fall is also busy, as customers want clear windows to enjoy the fall colors and views.

“We’re in our last big stretch before winter hits,” James said.

Anyone interested in contacting Iowa Solar Shine to book a cleaning or hear more details can call or text James and Hannah at 515-329-6061.