Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: d s windowcleaning on May 08, 2011, 12:38:34 am

Title: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 08, 2011, 12:38:34 am
ive used loads of detergents/soaps and washing up liquids over the years just trying to get that perfect glide on the squeegee , a detergent /soap that will leave no mark , theres no rubber drag ,that leaves a shine second to none .
WHATS THE BEST ????????????????
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle on May 08, 2011, 12:54:35 am
well i thought id found that with gg3....... until the sun started shining..... streaks galore ???
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Johnny B on May 08, 2011, 01:10:33 am
I use Fairy liquid (proper stuff, cheap washing up liquid is no good), with a dash of vinegar.

As the weather has warmed up I use cold water. May seem obvious, but I get excellent results,
no smears and very little rubber drag.

John.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on May 08, 2011, 09:14:08 am
ive used loads of detergents/soaps and washing up liquids over the years just trying to get that perfect glide on the squeegee , a detergent /soap that will leave no mark , theres no rubber drag ,that leaves a shine second to none .
WHATS THE BEST ????????????????


Hi Dave

I've also used & tried them all in the same search!

What I ended up with & have stuck with for the last few years is a mixture of GG3 & Squeegee off.

GG3 for that gleam/shine & a dose of squeegee off to get the slip. ;)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: bobby p on May 08, 2011, 09:32:59 am
W5 washing up liquid from LIDL. i read on the forums that  its great and it really is. ive recently stocked up with a fair few bottles of it,and will buy more today now its in my mind, just in case LIDL change the supplier as they seem to change supplier on the food side
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 08, 2011, 10:50:33 am
ive used loads of detergents/soaps and washing up liquids over the years just trying to get that perfect glide on the squeegee , a detergent /soap that will leave no mark , theres no rubber drag ,that leaves a shine second to none .
WHATS THE BEST ????????????????


Hi Dave

I've also used & tried them all in the same search!

What I ended up with & have stuck with for the last few years is a mixture of GG3 & Squeegee off.

GG3 for that gleam/shine & a dose of squeegee off to get the slip. ;)
hey up tony
give this stuff a try mate its called big orange thats made by turtle wax cost £5.98 from b&q for 5 ltrs , ive just started using it yesterday on the bungalows i do ,everything about this stuff makes it  a perfect choice . if you get some and you are not happy with it i will refund you with the cost .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on May 08, 2011, 11:25:05 am
ive used loads of detergents/soaps and washing up liquids over the years just trying to get that perfect glide on the squeegee , a detergent /soap that will leave no mark , theres no rubber drag ,that leaves a shine second to none .
WHATS THE BEST ????????????????


Hi Dave

I've also used & tried them all in the same search!

What I ended up with & have stuck with for the last few years is a mixture of GG3 & Squeegee off.

GG3 for that gleam/shine & a dose of squeegee off to get the slip. ;)
hey up tony
give this stuff a try mate its called big orange thats made by turtle wax cost £5.98 from b&q for 5 ltrs , ive just started using it yesterday on the bungalows i do ,everything about this stuff makes it  a perfect choice . if you get some and you are not happy with it i will refund you with the cost .

Cheers Dave.

I'll get some next time I'm in B&Q. Keep us updated mate as you keep using it. ;)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: dazmond on May 08, 2011, 10:14:42 pm
gg3 and squeegee off combined.great finish and defo no smears when squeegee d off the window!i always make sure i have a good rubber in my squeegee channel.it helps a lot.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: steve rix on May 08, 2011, 10:50:21 pm
Fairy, nothing else comes close.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Tom White on May 08, 2011, 10:58:11 pm
Fairy, nothing else comes close.

I think in the early days everyone tries all sorts of stuff, but invariably we (usually) return to the good old green stuff.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Sean Dyer on May 08, 2011, 10:59:25 pm
whatever you use trad, the sun makes the best of us look crap  :o :'(

wfp is king in the direct sunlight
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: g newton on May 08, 2011, 11:06:41 pm
ill second thatw5  from lidl
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: mci services on May 08, 2011, 11:06:51 pm
fairy rules ;D always has
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on May 08, 2011, 11:10:44 pm
fairy gets my vote
tried w5 to thin  ;)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 08, 2011, 11:17:03 pm
ive used loads of detergents/soaps and washing up liquids over the years just trying to get that perfect glide on the squeegee , a detergent /soap that will leave no mark , theres no rubber drag ,that leaves a shine second to none .
WHATS THE BEST ????????????????


Hi Dave

I've also used & tried them all in the same search!

What I ended up with & have stuck with for the last few years is a mixture of GG3 & Squeegee off.

GG3 for that gleam/shine & a dose of squeegee off to get the slip. ;)
hey up tony
give this stuff a try mate its called big orange thats made by turtle wax cost £5.98 from b&q for 5 ltrs , ive just started using it yesterday on the bungalows i do ,everything about this stuff makes it  a perfect choice . if you get some and you are not happy with it i will refund you with the cost .

Cheers Dave.

I'll get some next time I'm in B&Q. Keep us updated mate as you keep using it. ;)
will do mate at the moment and after years of trying theres not a product on the market thats as good as this .
DAZMOND what rubber do you use ?
STEVE RIX what else have you used
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: neil kellett on May 09, 2011, 04:09:33 pm
fairy rules ;D always has
Yeah for cleaning dishes it does. If someone tried to put manky dish washing detergent all over my glass there would be heck to pay. And no one wants to pay any of my heck thats for darn sure buster. Fairy goes back to the old days when the old hands were chancing they're arms with they're scrims and war horses. You can't get the layer of fairy off with your manky water in your maggody bucket and your dirty old manky applicator. WFP is the only way. But if it hasn't been learned by now it probably won't be.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Mike_G on May 09, 2011, 04:38:05 pm
Fairy will last longer than the rest but I cant say it makes any difference to how the window looks once cleaned, I use all sorts and they all come up just fine
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: steve rix on May 09, 2011, 05:01:14 pm
Palmolive, various owm brands, specialist cleaners from different suppliers, nothing is as good all round as Fairy
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: steve rix on May 09, 2011, 05:10:28 pm
Well Niel, we have in excess of1200 customers, from semis to country mansions plus a large number of hotels and other commercial work. We never get any complaints so as far as we are concerned we have found the best liquid. I have no problems with wfp but it is not for us but we dont go slagging it off. If it works for you great as I said not for us.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Mike_G on May 09, 2011, 05:38:29 pm
fairy rules ;D always has
Yeah for cleaning dishes it does. If someone tried to put manky dish washing detergent all over my glass there would be heck to pay. And no one wants to pay any of my heck thats for darn sure buster. Fairy goes back to the old days when the old hands were chancing they're arms with they're scrims and war horses. You can't get the layer of fairy off with your manky water in your maggody bucket and your dirty old manky applicator. WFP is the only way. But if it hasn't been learned by now it probably won't be.

So do you wfp the insides as well?
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: rosskesava on May 09, 2011, 06:09:59 pm
whatever you use trad, the sun makes the best of us look crap  :o :'(

wfp is king in the direct sunlight

gg3. I've never had smears on the glass even in direct sunlight. Generally, even with unger liquid or squeegy off, the only time you get smears is if too much is added to the water.

I've found that with any washing up liquid, if you look through the glass and sideways on towards the sun, you'll always see smears. If you look straight at the glass, you don't see them.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: steve rix on May 09, 2011, 06:13:49 pm
fairy rules ;D always has
Yeah for cleaning dishes it does. If someone tried to put manky dish washing detergent all over my glass there would be heck to pay. And no one wants to pay any of my heck thats for darn sure buster. Fairy goes back to the old days when the old hands were chancing they're arms with they're scrims and war horses. You can't get the layer of fairy off with your manky water in your maggody bucket and your dirty old manky applicator. WFP is the only way. But if it hasn't been learned by now it probably won't be.

So do you wfp the insides as well?
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: steve rix on May 09, 2011, 06:14:19 pm
fairy rules ;D always has
Yeah for cleaning dishes it does. If someone tried to put manky dish washing detergent all over my glass there would be heck to pay. And no one wants to pay any of my heck thats for darn sure buster. Fairy goes back to the old days when the old hands were chancing they're arms with they're scrims and war horses. You can't get the layer of fairy off with your manky water in your maggody bucket and your dirty old manky applicator. WFP is the only way. But if it hasn't been learned by now it probably won't be.

So do you wfp the insides as well?
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: neil kellett on May 09, 2011, 06:27:26 pm
Yeah, its brilliant, here, wrap your eye balls round this.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Mike_G on May 09, 2011, 06:40:04 pm
Yeah, its brilliant, here, wrap your eye balls round this.

I hope you charged them extra for the carpet clean Neil :)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: drevitt on May 09, 2011, 06:44:39 pm
whatever you use trad, the sun makes the best of us look crap  :o :'(

wfp is king in the direct sunlight

agreed on certain houses but on other the windows just have spots all over when drying in direct sun!
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: neil kellett on May 09, 2011, 08:54:30 pm
Water has a surface tension or a barrier. It has like a skin, there are some insects that can actually walk on this barrier. All you need is a drop of amy water based cleaner to break down this barrier to allow the water to clean. Newbies have a tendency to go mad on the fairy. Ofcourse fairy is the market leader but its not the be all and end all. It is as I said before it designed to break down the dirt from grease on dirty plates. If you don't believe me read the label :) The grime on the inside of windows from nicotene stains or whatever is completely different. Whats better hot water with a drop of lidl stuff or cold water with fairy? You see its all relative.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on May 09, 2011, 09:23:51 pm
Fairy, nothing else comes close.

I think in the early days everyone tries all sorts of stuff, but invariably we (usually) return to the good old green stuff.

yep
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Mike_G on May 09, 2011, 10:11:46 pm
I cant use fairy anymore, its too concentrated and cut my hands to pieces.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Tom White on May 09, 2011, 10:17:26 pm
I cant use fairy anymore, its too concentrated and cut my hands to pieces.

I used to suffer badly with eczema - so much so that one Winter I had to wear cotton inners and black rubber gloves to keep my hands (which looked like claws) dry.

You can get a hydro-cortisone cream from the docs, or a lesser strength one from boots which clears it up fairly quickly, and that Norwegian hand moisturiser is good stuff too.

I've found that over time your skin gets used to Fairy and I've never really had any problems with it over the past seven years; though granted I haven't done 100% trad in that time.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 09, 2011, 10:37:19 pm
another day on bungalows using big orange , theres nothing that can touch this .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: AuRavelling79 on May 09, 2011, 11:26:21 pm
Water has a surface tension or a barrier. It has like a skin, there are some insects that can actually walk on this barrier...

So did the QE2!

Did you know that she grounded her bottom (ooooh errrr missus) which was 32 feet below the waterline in an area which was charted at 39 feet.

But instead of clearing the seabed, because she was going fast and digging down into the water the surface tension may have let all 70,000 tonnes of her lower the water around her by "squatting" up to 7ft and she scraged along the seabed. (Which may have been a few feet higher than the charted 39ft in places too.)

See what you find out round here?
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: G Griffin on May 09, 2011, 11:42:34 pm
You don`t have to get smears/ squeegee kicks etc. just because you are working in direct sunlight. Just a bit more care and attention with your applicator and you should be fine. 

ds, does Big Orange produce loads of suds?


Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: petemg on May 10, 2011, 12:46:03 am
hi ya  :) fairy with fresh rain water ;)..........pete
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: bobby p on May 10, 2011, 06:19:39 am
i too found that fresh rainwater is really ace,but i only have a small waterbutt at home and its ran dry ages ago now  .

 im thinking next winter of filling up a big tankful of it and that should last me a year , not sure if it will go stinky from standing stagnant though
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: dazmond on May 10, 2011, 07:47:40 am
do you guys live in a hard water area that get smears in direct sunlight?my tap water is around 30tds.a dash of squeegee off/gg3 and i dont get smears or streaks!windows come up great every time.

i use good dry microfibres and unger soft in my squeegee channels.

you shouldnt be getting streaks in direct sunlight!if you are your doing something  wrong IMO.

Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: bobby p on May 10, 2011, 08:15:11 am
do you guys live in a hard water area that get smears in direct sunlight?my tap water is around 30tds.a dash of squeegee off/gg3 and i dont get smears or streaks!windows come up great every time.

i use good dry microfibres and unger soft in my squeegee channels.

you shouldnt be getting streaks in direct sunlight!if you are your doing something  wrong IMO.


you dont realize how lucky you are up in the north with your lovely soft water . here in the south-east its hard n horrible. my stainless steel kitchen sink is stained badly from it  and wash your towels and they come out as stiff as a board !   a bloke from the water company told me that the water here is piped all the way from lincolnshire to suffolk
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 10, 2011, 08:27:57 am
You don`t have to get smears/ squeegee kicks etc. just because you are working in direct sunlight. Just a bit more care and attention with your applicator and you should be fine. 

ds, does Big Orange produce loads of suds?



no theres not loads of suds mate , £5.98 for 5 ltrs in b&q give it a go .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: G Griffin on May 10, 2011, 09:00:04 am
You don`t have to get smears/ squeegee kicks etc. just because you are working in direct sunlight. Just a bit more care and attention with your applicator and you should be fine. 

ds, does Big Orange produce loads of suds?



no theres not loads of suds mate , £5.98 for 5 ltrs in b&q give it a go .

Thank you, I`m always willing to try something new. I`ll give it a go when I`m ready for some new stuff  ;).
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: R W C™ on May 10, 2011, 11:07:29 am
You don`t have to get smears/ squeegee kicks etc. just because you are working in direct sunlight. Just a bit more care and attention with your applicator and you should be fine. 

ds, does Big Orange produce loads of suds?


Went to b&q today and they've never heard of it
no theres not loads of suds mate , £5.98 for 5 ltrs in b&q give it a go .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 10, 2011, 12:33:07 pm
You don`t have to get smears/ squeegee kicks etc. just because you are working in direct sunlight. Just a bit more care and attention with your applicator and you should be fine. 

ds, does Big Orange produce loads of suds?


Went to b&q today and they've never heard of it
no theres not loads of suds mate , £5.98 for 5 ltrs in b&q give it a go .
just go on the b&q website and type big orange in the search bar .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Harry Robins on May 12, 2011, 02:37:58 pm
I've used Fairy for years and always found it to be the best ( the specialist window detergents have too few suds for my liking).  I am intrigued with this big orange, will give it a go. cheers
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 12, 2011, 10:47:58 pm
I've used Fairy for years and always found it to be the best ( the specialist window detergents have too few suds for my liking).  I am intrigued with this big orange, will give it a go. cheers
you will never go back to fairy after using this out of all the makes ive used theres nothing that comes anywhere near this for TRAD cleaning .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: rosskesava on May 13, 2011, 01:16:32 am
Fairy Liquid contains silicon which is why the advert used to say 'for hands that use fairy can be as soft as your face....'

It leaves a coating of silicon. Like dishes, it's looks ok to start with but after a while, that good old silicon leaves smear marks and dust sticks to it.

Also, I can always tell any new customers shop window that has been done previously with fairy liquid, it bubbles up like anything. That means good old fairy leaves a residue.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 16, 2011, 12:04:55 am
anyone given big orange a try yet other than me ?
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: G Griffin on May 16, 2011, 12:26:53 am
anyone given big orange a try yet other than me ?

Not yet, but I will do. Still got other stuff to use up; stubborn git that I am  :). 
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 16, 2011, 11:25:10 pm
anyone given big orange a try yet other than me ?

Not yet, but I will do. Still got other stuff to use up; stubborn git that I am  :). 
put the other stuff in the bin , there is nothing that ive come across that is anywhere near as good .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Avo on May 17, 2011, 08:25:06 pm
i've tried and tested loads of liquids and by far the best stuff is unger liquid if its mixed correctly this blows away all soaps and fairy...  There's no right way really its just what works for you and as long as your not losing customers then dont change.. I do use ettore a lot in the winter months when its cold as you get less vapour trails than unger but if someone said to me i can only use one liquid forever its unger for me boys..

unger with ettore rubbers!!!! 
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 18, 2011, 12:03:06 am
i've tried and tested loads of liquids and by far the best stuff is unger liquid if its mixed correctly this blows away all soaps and fairy...  There's no right way really its just what works for you and as long as your not losing customers then dont change.. I do use ettore a lot in the winter months when its cold as you get less vapour trails than unger but if someone said to me i can only use one liquid forever its unger for me boys..

unger with ettore rubbers!!!! 
my mate was using unger liquid , he then tried big orange hes now using big orange .
give it a go £5.98 in b&q for 5 ltrs .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: bobby p on May 18, 2011, 07:48:03 am
i swear to God about the great W5 , but might give this big orange A go. does it whiff of orange nicely?
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: LADDER MONKEY on May 18, 2011, 08:52:59 am
fairy  ;) u ;Dsed it for nearly 20 years, the best a windy can get  :)
not quite as good as the gellett advert  ;D
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Avo on May 19, 2011, 01:19:18 pm
Im sure we used the big orange liquid 15yrs ago when i worked in a factory we used it for degreasing machines before painting them... i will have alook next time i go in there but 99% sure its the same stuff and yeah its very good.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: neil kellett on May 19, 2011, 01:51:20 pm
The Hi - tec cleaning group do a product called 'Super gleam'. Its a blue liquid, come in a 5 litre container and is used neat. I use it in a spray bottle when doing the insides. Top stuff.
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: ♠Winp®oClean♠ on May 19, 2011, 03:26:07 pm
Im sure we used the big orange liquid 15yrs ago when i worked in a factory we used it for degreasing machines before painting them... i will have alook next time i go in there but 99% sure its the same stuff and yeah its very good.

That might be "fast Orange", they used to do a range of cleaning solutions about 15 years ago. ;)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Avo on May 19, 2011, 08:06:37 pm
oh i just remember it been called orange but what ever it was it was pretty good..
so this stuff lads are using for cleaning windows now is what??? (turtle wax orange cleaner)
i wonder how well the rubber glides on the glass..
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 19, 2011, 11:32:26 pm
oh i just remember it been called orange but what ever it was it was pretty good..
so this stuff lads are using for cleaning windows now is what??? (turtle wax orange cleaner)
i wonder how well the rubber glides on the glass..
no its made by turtle wax and its called big orange .
im not joking when i say this stuff is the best on the market .

Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Avo on May 23, 2011, 07:02:51 pm
i tried the big orange out today cause i was curious to see if it was any good but im not sure if i like lol... what ratio you mixing it at??? its never gonna be on par with unger liquid just dont have the the slip but i thought it worked better with 5 drops of ettore squeegee off.. (back up liquid)
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 23, 2011, 08:23:18 pm
i tried the big orange out today cause i was curious to see if it was any good but im not sure if i like lol... what ratio you mixing it at??? its never gonna be on par with unger liquid just dont have the the slip but i thought it worked better with 5 drops of ettore squeegee off.. (back up liquid)
i use around 4 lids full  to around 10 ltrs of water . and its much better than unger liquid .
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: Avo on May 23, 2011, 08:38:07 pm
Key to all good liquids is the ratio of the mix.. do you not find it a dry mix??? i must say it almost drys clear which is good but i need to use it for a full day before sayin yeh or neh
Title: Re: trad cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on May 23, 2011, 10:05:23 pm
Key to all good liquids is the ratio of the mix.. do you not find it a dry mix??? i must say it almost drys clear which is good but i need to use it for a full day before sayin yeh or neh
after you used it for a full day you will say yeh , im not sure what you mean about a dry mix .