Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:11:45 pm

Title: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:11:45 pm
I'm a newbie to traditonal window cleaning and as I said in a previous post I bought some work from a local w/c that was surplus to his requirements. I started some of the work this week and after slow start on the first house I feel I'm gradually starting to pick it up.

My question is how do you guys go about soaping up your applicator? I've been out with 2 guys to pick some tips up and the both did it different ways. One guy just filled his bucket up, put a splosh of fairy liquid in it and dipped the applicator in it and that was a days worth of water! Pretty filthy at the day mind you..

The second guy never put the applicator or fairy liquid near the clean water in his bucket and just used the fresh water to top up his bucket on a belt and put the soap directly on to the applicator. Now I'm confused to which is the best method and which is more time consuming? Also how often should I change the water?

Questions questions!

Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Crystal-clear on May 13, 2011, 08:15:06 pm
just mix in to bucket and work ,if you can get ettore squeegee off mix that in to bucket much better then fairy!
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:24:02 pm
Thanks Crystal-clear I've been searching on here for the best soaps to use and there's so many different opinions ??? I think if the proper window cleaning products do genuinely work better then I'd like to use them. I read on here that a few guys are using W5 from Lidl so have given that a go. I haven't had anythin otherr than fairy to compare it to though. Do you use squeegee off or are you wfp only?

Cheers
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 13, 2011, 08:36:08 pm
The way we do it is, fill bucket, pour in your soap or whatever you use. Soak your aplicator. Fill small bootle out of bucket, place in belt holder or bottle holder on the side of your ladder. Use bootle to keep your aplicator wet. We use Monsoon aplicator, holds enough water in it to last an average house (2 bed semi).
This way, you don't need to drag a bucket around all day.
Good for mainainance cleans, first cleans though, you need to work wetter, so use the bucket.
Also, look on youtube for "Wagga" He gives good tip about these things.
Hope this helps mate.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 13, 2011, 08:38:03 pm
PS, there are no silly questions. Ask anything, we all started out at some point. Except me of course, I was born knowing everything  8)




 ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Frankybadboy on May 13, 2011, 08:39:22 pm
just get used to what you are using first,i just normallyjust water add fairy then just dip in,and can often change the water up 3times a day depending how dirty the water gets.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:46:52 pm
Cheers Cozy spot on! Wagga has some excellent videos on youtube I'll get watching ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Crystal-clear on May 13, 2011, 08:48:16 pm
wfp only now andy, was trad 2 years now only use trad for the odd inside job.
you should try ettore squeegee off 5l will last you ages and you need less to dilute to water then you need fairy hence it will pob last you longer.

its easer to work with too ,
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 13, 2011, 08:49:40 pm
Get yourself one of these mate, mine has never let me down.

(http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/5/5/1049558/1304538269_3_FT0_wc1.jpg)
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:55:16 pm
Nice one! I'm in the market for a new motor is that the 2011 model :P
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 13, 2011, 08:56:21 pm
 ;D 85 mate!!! Check the plates!! ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 13, 2011, 08:59:18 pm
You wouldn't believe it :o it looks like it's fresh outta Dagenham ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: bad trippy on May 14, 2011, 10:18:18 am
Brings back memories, i used to take my 1.6 carberet to work back in the 80s, it was champaign in colour,
best car that crappy Ford ever made
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: H S and Son on May 14, 2011, 10:36:56 am
What a great picture, window cleaners out and about! Love it.


(http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/5/5/1049558/1304538269_3_FT0_wc1.jpg)


Isnt that a MK 4 Ford Cortina over the road and another Capri in the drive?
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Ian101 on May 14, 2011, 10:37:09 am
just keep the applicator away from bottom of bucket where all the crap is .... u can get a week from 1 bucket that way  ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Ian101 on May 14, 2011, 10:39:37 am
What a great picture, window cleaners out and about! Love it.


(http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/5/5/1049558/1304538269_3_FT0_wc1.jpg)


Isnt that a MK 4 Ford Cortina over the road and another Capri in the drive?

its a mk3 cortina in modena green (i think) ... ( maybe an estate) and capri is 2.8 or "s" version ... just an educated guess
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: mci services on May 14, 2011, 10:53:15 am
just keep the applicator away from bottom of bucket where all the crap is .... u can get a week from 1 bucket that way  ;D
;Dvery true

why don't we have a competition to see who can go the longest without changing water ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Andyt79 on May 14, 2011, 08:49:31 pm
Thanks for all the help gents, I've found this forum really helpful since joining ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Seymour Sunshine on May 14, 2011, 09:32:37 pm
Here's a piece of advice. Check your ladder from time to time for safety. If the feet look like this:

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/SeymourSunshine/ladderfeet.jpg)


Buy some of these:


(http://www.ackosdiydecorative.com/ekmps/shops/ackosdiydec/images/trim-2-fit-replacement-ladder-feet-pair--852-p.jpg)


Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 14, 2011, 09:36:25 pm
I reckon that's a Mk 2 in the background next to the Cortina.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Ross G on May 14, 2011, 11:31:53 pm

I rekon thats the Sweeny on a stakeout in the MK2 looks like they have found their men ;D
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: mci services on May 14, 2011, 11:37:59 pm
Cozy are you left handed mate? or someone work for you left handed? sorry strange question, just seen something that makes me wonder
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: BORBRYCE on May 14, 2011, 11:55:56 pm
I am watering at the eyes here, I truthfully am. I had one of them Capri's in 89. Just like that and in red as well. It went on fire one day doing the rounds and we flung our bucket's over it to put it out. A wiring fault, but the old bugger still drove home.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: bobby p on May 15, 2011, 07:35:04 am
looks like that ladder has come apart then been banged back together as the rungs are sticking out the sides  farther than normal. a great photo !
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Paul Coleman on May 15, 2011, 12:23:20 pm
I've used WFP almost all the time since 2005.
When I cleaned traditionally, I just part filled the oblong bucket and laid a clean scrim on it to stop it slopping over in the passenger footwell.  I never squirted detergent (I used Fairy) into the bucket.  I just squirted a bit onto the applicator and dipped it into the bucket part way (you don't usually need it too wet), then frothed the sleeve up a bit with my hand.  So long as I didn't put the applicator into the bucket, that bit of detergent (so long as it was a thickish one like Fairy) would last for a few houses.  I did try other window cleaning liquids but always came back to Fairy.  It's all very well these other liquids promising no suds, but I liked to see if I had messed a bit up so that I could re-do it.  Also, I found that some other liquids didn't give enough "slip" on the glass.
If cleaning the above way, I could go the whole day without changing water too - and it would still be pretty clean as the only contact between dirt and water might be a light dab of the applicator into the bucket.
Obviously if doing leads or Georgian, when cloth makes contact with glass, it could be more beneficial to change water but, so long as cloths aren't wrung out into the bucket, it can be kept to a minimum.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: cozy on May 15, 2011, 12:28:08 pm
Cozy are you left handed mate? or someone work for you left handed? sorry strange question, just seen something that makes me wonder

You windin me up Stu?  ;D No, right handed.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: bad trippy on May 15, 2011, 01:05:42 pm
I am watering at the eyes here, I truthfully am. I had one of them Capri's in 89. Just like that and in red as well. It went on fire one day doing the rounds and we flung our bucket's over it to put it out. A wiring fault, but the old bugger still drove home.
Ditto, mine caught on fire when the Mrs was out collecting for me, well ex Mrs now
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Klean07 on May 15, 2011, 01:42:53 pm
Here's a piece of advice. Check your ladder from time to time for safety. If the feet look like this:

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/SeymourSunshine/ladderfeet.jpg)


Buy some of these:


(http://www.ackosdiydecorative.com/ekmps/shops/ackosdiydec/images/trim-2-fit-replacement-ladder-feet-pair--852-p.jpg)




Yes those ladder feet are an accident waiting to happen.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: birdymiller on May 15, 2011, 03:05:53 pm
Here's a piece of advice. Check your ladder from time to time for safety. If the feet look like this:

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/SeymourSunshine/ladderfeet.jpg)


Buy some of these:


(http://www.ackosdiydecorative.com/ekmps/shops/ackosdiydec/images/trim-2-fit-replacement-ladder-feet-pair--852-p.jpg)




Yes those ladder feet are an accident waiting to happen.

No way, should get another couple of years out of them
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: mci services on May 15, 2011, 03:09:25 pm
Cozy are you left handed mate? or someone work for you left handed? sorry strange question, just seen something that makes me wonder

You windin me up Stu?  ;D No, right handed.

no it is ok mate I can see you are right handed ;) don't worry about I had a blonde moment
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on May 15, 2011, 03:43:17 pm
Here's a piece of advice. Check your ladder from time to time for safety. If the feet look like this:

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/SeymourSunshine/ladderfeet.jpg)


Buy some of these:


(http://www.ackosdiydecorative.com/ekmps/shops/ackosdiydec/images/trim-2-fit-replacement-ladder-feet-pair--852-p.jpg)


thats my mates company makes all kinds of ladder accessories..out there for all to see not like you plants!  ;D



Yes those ladder feet are an accident waiting to happen.
Title: Re: A silly question for the tradders!
Post by: Llaaww on May 15, 2011, 09:15:07 pm
Stick with fairy, those cheapies just don't last as long.

good luck with the trad work.

You could do worse than looking at wfp asap.