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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Stu Wallace on December 08, 2011, 08:43:46 pm

Title: Spotting
Post by: Stu Wallace on December 08, 2011, 08:43:46 pm
Hi I have got a problem with a customers windows, Every time i clean them they are left with spotting on them even tho i have now been cleaning them for 12months . I have checked my Water, Brushes etc and i have even take to cleaning them twice each time i go but still get spotting, The house is a village and away from main roads.

Any Ideas?

Thanks
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: AS Window Cleaning on December 08, 2011, 08:49:21 pm
Welcome noobie to the forum!

Does the glass sheet or stay in bubbles on glass? Cant remember technical term, but if doesnt sheet might need more rinsing,.

Plastic, metal or wood frames?  Spotting on the same windows or different?  It metal or metal coated can be very difficult.  You rinsing frames?
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Stu Wallace on December 08, 2011, 08:54:59 pm

Hi

They a white UPVC not to old either

It seems to be all of the windows

I spend ages rinsing using the brush and the just spraying. 
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: AS Window Cleaning on December 08, 2011, 09:02:33 pm
what tds are you running at?  And do the windows sheet, ie does the water run off quicly, or gather in lots of droplets?
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: king marko on December 08, 2011, 09:07:56 pm
I get a similar problem on a conservatory window I've been doing for 6 months - the water just stays on glass, doesn't 'sheet' off
I've tried cleaning off before I start with some scrim and even some TFR but no joy
Be interesting to find out what response you get chap  :)
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Craig 72 on December 08, 2011, 09:16:15 pm
Is it just a few drops at the top of the frames or all over the glass?If it's all over it may be hard water left from something like a sprinkler and you could wfp all day long and not get good results.If it's just a few drops at the top,this is something I've just learned to accept on certain windows.There are houses in my round that leave spots at the tops regardless of how much scrubbing/rinsing I do but I've never had a call back from an unsatisfied customer.On the ground floor ones that I know are prone I give the tops a quick wipe with a scrim just for peace of mind.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: king marko on December 08, 2011, 09:54:44 pm
Mine is just the top part - every month is the same, all the other windows are fine so I know my water is good (always 000)
I've tried to rub it/clean it dry but it won't shift
I accept it's the glass- the customer has never said owt
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Pope vader on December 08, 2011, 10:01:44 pm
trad them, and see what happens,  or wfp and then aqueege the windows dry
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: bobplum on December 08, 2011, 10:18:32 pm
in my opinion some windows will never take to wfp its happened to me and i just trad this type of window
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Avo on December 08, 2011, 10:27:38 pm
I agree with bob here some glass just don't wanna take to wfp No matter how much you rinse off it's something about the glass not his water.. With this on repeat offenders (glass) just squeegee it far quicker
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: mark m on December 08, 2011, 11:10:00 pm
in my opinion some windows will never take to wfp its happened to me and i just trad this type of window

Agreed i have one house that will never come up clean apart from 2 windows ???
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: alanwilson on December 08, 2011, 11:13:44 pm
try rinsing up to  - but not touching the top part of the frame, we've loads of windows like this and thats what we do.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: bad trippy on December 08, 2011, 11:26:22 pm
Be sure to check its not limescale,if its not limescale,and its a wfp problem,then there aint really much you can do about it,it will be the black rubber seal thats at fault,as it probs is perished in a few places.
Try and splay your brush, just fractionally short of the top black seal, and rinse slightly lower also
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: windiewasher on December 09, 2011, 08:53:28 am
limescale,someone has probably had hanging baskets near by,i clean a house with a conservatory that is covered is limescale from a sprinkler that sprays it when they spray there grass!
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Richard Shepherd on December 09, 2011, 09:50:46 am
To remove limescale we use 000 wire wool, regardless of how hard you scrub you won't scratch glass it just polishes it.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Klean07 on December 09, 2011, 10:30:59 am
To remove limescale we use 000 wire wool, regardless of how hard you scrub you won't scratch glass it just polishes it.

Excellent tip!!
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Avo on December 09, 2011, 10:37:22 am
To remove limescale we use 000 wire wool, regardless of how hard you scrub you won't scratch glass it just polishes it.

Interesting I saw a YouTube clip using wire wool pads stopping glass being hydrophobic and sheeting the glass after been rubbed down dose this work Richard??? This might stop his glass spotting.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: bad trippy on December 09, 2011, 11:48:01 am
To remove limescale we use 000 wire wool, regardless of how hard you scrub you won't scratch glass it just polishes it.

Where can i buy 000 wire wool?
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: VSP Home Care on December 09, 2011, 01:49:39 pm
Your local hardware store should sell 000 wool  :)
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Dave66 on December 09, 2011, 02:43:22 pm
yea trad it if a lower ground floor, i would'nt get the ladders out though..
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Stu Wallace on December 09, 2011, 04:25:32 pm
Hi ya

 Thanks for all the advice I have been on a training course with Impact 43 in MK today and spoke to the guys there about it, and some of them said it just happening on some windows no matter what you do  :( 

And guess what the customer phoned me 30mins ago to say they had spotted again,

So i'm going back tomorrow with fresh water TDS 000 and New Brush and lots of rising until it sheets

Wish me luck!!!  :)
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: king marko on December 09, 2011, 06:14:43 pm
Gud luck chap let us know how you get on  :)
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: richard jagger on December 09, 2011, 10:38:01 pm
Spotting on the top of glass is not necessarily lime scale as it would wash of quite easy. Its more than likely coming of the wall above the glass.Its is more than likely calcium oxide and heavy metals of the walling. This is much more difficult to remove.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on December 09, 2011, 11:06:15 pm
sum glass will never sheet
its all technique really
as long as youve cleaned all the frames
n rinsed n rinsed they shud be right
if not just get on ya ladder n squeegee em
simples  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Jeff Brimble on December 10, 2011, 05:41:53 pm
HI Stu, I still get spotting on 10-15% of custys and shops, Its difficult to see pics of spots so I have highlighted them on one of my windows that is Hphobic, taken from the inside, this is with 000tds rainwater water 12 hours after drying, the spots size outlines the actual spot from large to small.

(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc114/JeffBrimble/photo-1.jpg)

Did them late yesterday, so it could be, The frames where painted this summer in and out and are in good nick, the bits hanging down are strings from the rolled up blind. But then I have the same prob for 6 years what ever the weather.That pic is also with an additive to reduce spotting. Just done another section of the same window with a special brush I have to do a side by side comparison- if I can get similar light conditions for the pic.
Just trying to help others so thanks for not riddiculing me. ;D
if the glass only is cleaned and not touching the frames then the spots are still there.The tds readings are correct over a 5 year span.I have covered the window with pvc covers to try to prevent dust ingress but it makes no diff, its the glass surface thats a prob and also for maybe 30 other houses and shops I clean. The dried on spots are also still visible next time I do my round.
Hope this helps Stu  8)
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Smudger on December 10, 2011, 07:05:36 pm
Interesting post Jeff -

Have you tried anything like 'scrubbing' half the window with something like 000 wire wool
and re washed to see if that cures the problem ?

Darran
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: alanwilson on December 10, 2011, 07:23:53 pm
If anyone would actually listen to what I said - don't rinse the very top of the glass where it meets the seal.

Oh I give up
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Smudger on December 10, 2011, 07:56:02 pm
If anyone would actually listen to what I said - don't rinse the very top of the glass where it meets the seal.

Oh I give up

HI Stu, I still get spotting on 10-15% of custys and shops, Its difficult to see pics of spots so I have highlighted them on one of my windows that is Hphobic, taken from the inside, this is with 000tds rainwater water 12 hours after drying, the spots size outlines the actual spot from large to small.

(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc114/JeffBrimble/photo-1.jpg)

Did them late yesterday, so it could be, The frames where painted this summer in and out and are in good nick, the bits hanging down are strings from the rolled up blind. But then I have the same prob for 6 years what ever the weather.That pic is also with an additive to reduce spotting. Just done another section of the same window with a special brush I have to do a side by side comparison- if I can get similar light conditions for the pic.
Just trying to help others so thanks for not riddiculing me. ;D
if the glass only is cleaned and not touching the frames then the spots are still there.The tds readings are correct over a 5 year span.I have covered the window with pvc covers to try to prevent dust ingress but it makes no diff, its the glass surface thats a prob and also for maybe 30 other houses and shops I clean. The dried on spots are also still visible next time I do my round.
Hope this helps Stu  8)

were listening Alan - !!
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Jeff Brimble on December 10, 2011, 09:07:10 pm
Interesting post Jeff -

Have you tried anything like 'scrubbing' half the window with something like 000 wire wool
and re washed to see if that cures the problem ?

Darran
Cheers Darran
Yes, and no it does'nt , if you think it through any coating sinks into the substrate of the glass as its absorbent so polishing it with wire wool wont get deep down. In fact there is nothing in the known universe that will remove silicon from in deep layers of the glass. ?
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Smudger on December 10, 2011, 11:03:15 pm
Good point.

So windows that have persistant problems of spotting may have imperfections rather than  being
caused by bad WFP technique....

to the best of my knowledge i dont have any windows that suffer like this - but i have had issues with
wooden frames - a 1st clean with 'raw' oak frames (not paint/varnish) these spotted like crazy - got it right 2nd time
by not touching frame only glass and on occasions wood frames tend to throw out some sort of grease/silicon residue
along the top edge of the glass which i can onlt get off by microfibre cloth.

Darran
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Stu Wallace on December 11, 2011, 08:54:58 am
Morning Guys

Thanks for all the advice.

I recleaned the windows yesterday with a brand new brush and freshly filtered water with 000 tds. I had a good look at all the windows before starting to clean them.

Most of the front windows had no major spotting but a most of the rear windows were really bad with spotting all over the glass but the conservatory windows were fine.  So recleaned the rear ones and spent ages rinising and making sure i didn't touch the top frames.

Lucky the customer is very understanding and was very impressed that i was asking you guys about the problem so much so that i got a nice Xmas tip. :)
   
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: dazmond on December 11, 2011, 09:02:48 am
if you ve tried all the techniques and rinsed an inch from the top frame etc,etc and they still spot badly its just easier to trad them windows in future.quicker as well!wfp is a very good tool but sometimes trad is better!!use both!! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: Poles R Us on December 11, 2011, 09:10:19 am
Hi I have got a problem with a customers windows, Every time i clean them they are left with spotting on them even tho i have now been cleaning them for 12months . I have checked my Water, Brushes etc and i have even take to cleaning them twice each time i go but still get spotting, The house is a village and away from main roads.

Any Ideas?

Thanks


Give the frames a good scrub, then rinse well ,that should stop it.
Title: Re: Spotting
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on December 11, 2011, 09:12:56 am
sounds like hard water marks from either gargen tap & hose or "concrete cancer" from the wall above the glass getting rained on. its not your fault! if your water is 0 ppm and your using a good flow rate brushiung the entire window and rinsing well enough its simply defective glass! ive had no end like this but luckly only 1 custy cancel