Richy essex

  • Posts: 140
starting out traditional
« on: July 16, 2011, 09:53:55 pm »
what am i doing wrong? i  have tried to offer a complete service by cleaning frames and sills etc as this seems 2 b what customers want. is this an over the top way of cleaning windows as others around me are busting round houses next to me in like ten mins  i seem 2 hav my pricing about right an am ok with squegee teqnique etc as i hav practiced alot at home i notice that other cleaners are nt even carrying buckets etc around and hear that a certain amount of water lasts all day where i seem 2 b up 2 my neck in dirty plastic all day... i was under the impression a b.o.a.b was jus 2 hold applicator and stop u getting a wet leg but how do others get their solution onto applicator and get it 2 last on there.. i thought i was k bt notice other window cleaners who are out their van around a house and back on their way b4 iv even gt my ladders off lol any help or advice wld b great thanks

mci services

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2011, 10:11:33 pm »
how long you been going, speed comes with time and if you are doing frames as well once the first clean is done a quick wipe keeps them clean

bobby p

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2011, 10:12:32 pm »
my experience is, it will take you a year or more to get up to speed. theres no shortcuts to learning it,just slog away daily and 1 day  you suddenly are as fast as the rest

mci services

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2011, 10:24:48 pm »
my experience is, it will take you a year or more to get up to speed. theres no shortcuts to learning it,just slog away daily and 1 day  you suddenly are as fast as the rest

yep I agree, I took a 15 year break from window cleaning and second time round I was dreadfully slow until I got back into it, not a year though, but I wasn't learning from scratch

Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2011, 11:28:00 pm »
to be classed as an exp windy
on ladders you shud be doing atleast 4
an hour on your own
im 43 n leave my lad standing  ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

mci services

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2011, 11:32:10 pm »
to be classed as an exp windy
on ladders you shud be doing atleast 4
an hour on your own
im 43 n leave my lad standing  ;D ;D

only four ;D

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2011, 11:33:42 pm »
to be classed as an exp windy
on ladders you shud be doing atleast 4
an hour on your own
im 43 n leave my lad standing  ;D ;D

only four ;D

I can do 5  ;).............windows  :-[.
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Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2011, 11:36:14 pm »
pmsl houses im meaning
 ;D ;D hey it that was when i
did a load of georgian pre wfp days :o :o :o
n i mean every window was a geogian  ;D ;D ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2011, 11:40:32 pm »
pmsl houses im meaning
 ;D ;D hey it that was when i
did a load of georgian pre wfp days :o :o :o
n i mean every window was a geogian  ;D ;D ;D ;D

I used to do a vicarage like that and all the paint was coming off, too.
Ball ache.
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Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2011, 12:13:34 am »
do u still do it ???
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2011, 12:39:44 am »
do u still do it ???

No. I can`t remember why. I think it was to do with a new vicar or something.
I`m not bothered anyway  :).
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Gav Camm lammy 283

  • Posts: 7520
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2011, 01:30:03 am »
all our georgian leaded or problem work is wfp
miss the trad at times not on that type work though  ;D ;D
LET YOUR PANES BE MY PLEASURE

"If CALSBERG did WINDOW CLEANING
 it would be C.C.C  Probably the best WINDOW CLEANERS IN THE WORLD ..........."

Richy essex

  • Posts: 140
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2011, 02:13:44 am »
thanks for your encouragement as im sure you must b fed up with all stupid newbie questions! then they keep u amused i spose lol. i think i hav some of the methods right but bits of the way i go about  it that prob let me down i will keep pluggin away i have only bin doin it about 6 months and have 25  customers so nt  2 bad  i seem 2 do a gd job just cant fit many in can ne one tel me hw i shld b using my applicator properly in regards to solution as i  hav bin using s/o in a spray bottle and applying it to the window this way which i knw is ridiculous and slow bt iv tried putting it in my boab bt then i end up with a soppin wet window hw is the best way as i hav seen others jus using their boab and applying just the right amount on the glass ??? also wot shld i b doin on a 1st clean as in hw far shld i b goin in terms of scrubbin? i knw iv bin far 2 fussy and spent far 2 lng there?

scud

  • Posts: 683
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #13 on: July 17, 2011, 08:40:59 am »
  I should try to get some more customers to practice on.

  25 in 6 months, that is just over 4 a month, 3 days work maximum.

  Without trying to kick you when you are down, I think a bit more effort is needed.

Pope vader

  • Posts: 1944
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #14 on: July 17, 2011, 08:45:45 am »
but a normal bucket and dump the spray,  if you need water why you are out fill up at a custys tap

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #15 on: July 17, 2011, 08:54:12 am »
hey, what we do is keep the bucket in the car, use an old fairy bottle in your pocket and fill from the bucket, that way your bucket water wont get dirty and use the bottle to wet your applicator, next time you come to do the windows the frames will not have got dirty and will need just a single wipe, plus the windows will take under half the time, change your rubber all the time and use plenty of scrim after 4 months you will have trebbled your speed mate

bobplum

  • Posts: 5602
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #16 on: July 17, 2011, 09:00:11 am »
could save yourself a lot trouble and go straight to wfp ;D

Londoner

Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #17 on: July 17, 2011, 09:18:03 am »
Speed doesn't matter, it all comes in time. Just keep banging on.  

With regard to your BOAB don't put liquid in it just wet your applicator before you start. Think of it as a waterproof holster.

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #18 on: July 17, 2011, 09:43:18 am »
hey, what we do is keep the bucket in the car, use an old fairy bottle in your pocket and fill from the bucket, that way your bucket water wont get dirty and use the bottle to wet your applicator, next time you come to do the windows the frames will not have got dirty and will need just a single wipe, plus the windows will take under half the time, change your rubber all the time and use plenty of scrim after 4 months you will have trebbled your speed mate

Yeah, the Fairy bottle is good advice. You can put as much solution as you want on then and have always got it hand.
Another handy tip is- if a window is really dirty, give a good wipe first with your sill cloth and plenty elbow grease. It saves your applicator getting filthy straight away and makes soaping up the window much easier.
This is also useful in strong sunlight, as it cools the glass down and prevents your applicator drying out as quickly.
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Richy essex

  • Posts: 140
Re: starting out traditional
« Reply #19 on: July 17, 2011, 10:41:02 am »
k many thanks im going 2 jus get stuck in with it an start doin sme proper leafleting etc  the potential is there bt i cn c that i nd 2 pt alot mre effort in than i hav been an im sure i will improve in time bt it has been a boost speakn 2 u guys ta v much hav a gd week 2 u all!