Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: joshem on June 26, 2011, 02:29:12 pm
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Since I started in October last year I have improved greatly in my speed. I am fed up, though, of several issues with my technique:
1. No matter how hard I try I always get those 'water marks' that dry after just a few seconds when turning the squeegee. I think it could be because of my rubber not being taut. When positioning the rubber in the channel I can get it dead straight but as soon as I attach the handle the teeth thingys push parts of it so it's no longer straight. I use the Unger Golden Pro squeegee with brass clips, too. I have played around with the tension from extremely tight, where it won't glide to loose, where the channel wobbles. I have played around with my solution, too. I have used Squeegee Off, GG4, Fairy and combinations of these in varying quantities but nothing stops these marks...
2. I always detail. Always. I would like to not have to do this but I'm not able to squeegee without leaving a border of cleaning fluid, no matter how slow I go. I've tried not using the applicator all the way to the edges but I worry the windows won't be clean enough. I can see that the squeegee pushes water to the edges so they're probably fine but I would like to avoid doing this.
3. The other thing that really annoys me is cleaning windows like this top left-hand open window (http://www.rehau-trade-windows.co.uk/rehau.6.jpg). I wash and squeegee them but can't find a method I like. I use 10" and 14" rubbers. Any suggestions?
Cheers all,
Josh
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Until you're proficient with squeegying, use a new rubber each day; it lets you know if it's your technique or your rubber's fault.
And have a look on youtube; there's a wealth of stuff on there that'll show you various squeegy techniques.
And really, it comes down to practise, practise, practise. I'm sure I was still improving at squeegying even after four years of doing it.
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What you need to understand is when you are pulling a blade of rubber across a pane of glass the water infront of the blade will run down to the bottom of the blade which you will blade on the next cross movement .But when you turn the blade at the end of the movement the lower edge might be brooping and let this water run to the wrong side (in this case the outer edge which leaves a skid mark. e.g if blading down a side of the frame always allow the blade to droop towards the frame so the water runs towards the frame and you can detail this water.
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Not too kuch soap in your water, or more likely, you need more soap in your water. Like Tosh said, practice. You earn while you learn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af_0zV79zsk
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I agree with the above comments.
I prefer to use a 6" squeegee for blading off the small top opener windows.
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I use a custom made 7 inch squeegee on houses, because its small it can take a little longer to clean the windows but as long as the rubber is ok it cleans so well that detailing is not required
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Those water marks are usually caused by a build up of solution on the squeegee; even the back.
Keep wiping your squeegee and you`ll be ok. Less so, this time of year `cos it dries anyway but if you keep the back of the squeegee dry it won`t run back to the front and on to the window.