Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 06:12:58 pm

Title: HELP!!!!
Post by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 06:12:58 pm
Went to clean a business today next to the sea. Started washing with pure water and then noticed that the windows were drying all streaky, washed again and again and still the same result.They are covered with white streaks. The windows looked dirtier after cleaning than before. I wonder is it salt. We tried washing up liquid and traffic film remover to no avail. Has anyone had this problem near the sea. I should add that there are a lot of pharmaceutical plants in the area. Thanks in advance. :'( :'(
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: Ian Lancaster on April 10, 2012, 06:17:17 pm
Went to clean a business today next to the sea. Started washing with pure water and then noticed that the windows were drying all streaky, washed again and again and still the same result.They are covered with white streaks. The windows looked dirtier after cleaning than before. I wonder is it salt. We tried washing up liquid and traffic film remover to no avail. Has anyone had this problem near the sea. I should add that there are a lot of pharmaceutical plants in the area. Thanks in advance. :'( :'(

I doubt it's just salt - we have a lot of sea front jobs and they get salt on them but it dissolves easily enough in pure water.  If washing up liquid and traffic film remover won't get it off then I guess it must be some sort of chemical contamination.  Are the streaks in the same place each time it dries?
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: BVC on April 10, 2012, 06:25:18 pm
Got a nasty commercial job. 5 big office blocks. 8 sections of glass high. Streaks like a pig, done it for 2 years still no improvement. Just resigned myself to losing the job as it looked terrible. Still doing it as they have never mentioned it. ???

Probably not that helpful but some windows will never look good. plus side is recognizing, sometimes we care more than the customer.

BVC.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: matthewprice on April 10, 2012, 06:33:46 pm
all my work is next to the sea as i live in an island dont get that problem,it can be a bit harder after a storm need to rinse more.so it sounds as if you have windows that stained or frames that are old and are a problem :)
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 06:41:39 pm
Yes Ian, funny thing is that on the ground floor windows if you rub it with your finger it seems to smear but wash it again and its as bad as ever. The job is for a big local cleaning contractor, so I rang them and was told they never had any problems doing it.

To make matters worse had two lads doing the insides and one had to hold the step ladder while the other was standing on it. We weren't told about this beforehand and hadn't priced it in. I hate leaving the windows filthy but looks like its going to turn out that way BVC
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: richard jagger on April 10, 2012, 07:14:30 pm
There are so many smart asses on here I am surprised you don`t have a solution yet.Just be careful they come in a pack. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 07:19:02 pm
The frames are pretty good so its not that, will have to try something else and maybe do trad on the bottom to see if that helps.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: richard jagger on April 10, 2012, 07:30:02 pm
Use a back pack with pure and IPA.
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: KS Cleaning on April 10, 2012, 07:37:51 pm
My guess would be that it could be the salt reacting to some sort of protective covering on the glass(similair to self cleaning glass)  
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: ian1965 on April 10, 2012, 07:45:14 pm
Did a house , not by the sea, they had there house water proofed!! streaks galore! They were aware about it but I cant shift it.  :(
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 07:57:32 pm
Thanks guys, wizkid what is IPA?
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: firefly123 on April 10, 2012, 08:01:41 pm
rub your finger on the plastic sills or frames if it comes of white the plastic is shot keep well away from the edges should work
Title: Re: HELP!!!!
Post by: G & M on April 10, 2012, 09:11:38 pm
The frames and sills are brown metal firefly