Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Frequently Asked Questions & Useful Resources => Topic started by: Wake on January 11, 2006, 10:25:40 pm
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I am thinking of starting a window cleaning round in the Wiltshire area, and would like to spend 2/3 days on an established round, to learn something about it.
Can someone please contact me, and let me know what they would be looking for from me.
Many thanks
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Starting a round and you dont know how to clean windows .
Very funny.
If i were you i would get a job as a window cleaner working for someone to learn the trade first.
There is so much to learn and it would be better if you could spend 12 months with someone first
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There's a short training film on how to use a squeegee at nawc.biz (look at the training section)
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Where are you based.
We work between Stoke and Derby.
Anyone is welcome to come out with us for experience
Rob
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Starting a round and you dont know how to clean windows .
Very funny.
If i were you i would get a job as a window cleaner working for someone to learn the trade first.
There is so much to learn and it would be better if you could spend 12 months with someone first
It's not rocket science David.
I spent one day with a local window cleaner, then went for it; full time.
As long as you leave clean windows, it doesn't matter how long it takes to begin with.
And as time passes, you get fitter, more experienced and you get faster.
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i'm based in hampshire if that's any use to you
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I am thinking of starting a window cleaning round in the Wiltshire area, and would like to spend 2/3 days on an established round, to learn something about it.
Can someone please contact me, and let me know what they would be looking for from me.
Many thanks
where abouts in Wilts?
used to live in Lyneham and have friends with rounds in the Chippenham area who may be interested in helping you out
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Tosh
i have been cleaning for 8 years and i am still learning.
I wish i had someone to work wiyh for a few months instead of having to jump in at the deep end.
You can take all the advice you like on here ,but there is no substitute for the hours on the ladder learning the trade.
Dave
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Have to agree with Tosh here. i cleaned my car windows for practice then went to do my first job!! As long as you know what a clean window looks like and that you get to know the does and don'ts with ladders, then just get stuck in. Its more thrilling (though daunting) to learn for yourself. So 2/3 days would be about right if you ask me. Some people on here talk about the skills and workmanship of the window cleaner, but na, not really, its about getting a nack more than anything. we're not talking cabinet making or engineering!
Ben
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I picked it up in a day.Now,im not far off my mate,whos been doing it ages
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one persons idea of clean is anothers dirty.
I have seen window cleaners who think they are doing an acceptable standard are actually cleaning them really bad.
One or 2 of them just need a few tips or pointers and some need to start all over again.
It is true anyone could go out and clean windows straight away but training goes a very long way .
I have seen some truly bad cleaners in my time and most of them are self taught.
At one time you would never get away with that standard.
Like i said there is no substitute for being trained by an expert.
Whats 3 months working for someone to give you the confidence on the job.
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I too agree with Tosh and Ben
I had a chat witn a local WC over a pint and he told me what
kit I needed and how to go about it. He even oferd to show me how to squegee but I never took him up on his offer. I cleaned my own windows till I felt good enough before working on other peoples windows. That was 15 month ago I now have a very good business both trad and WFP with nothing but praise for my cutomers, however I could not have done it without the help of this and other forums but the work was done by me
So thank to all of you !
Just do it but be a profesional
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Starting a round and you dont know how to clean windows .
Very funny.
If i were you i would get a job as a window cleaner working for someone to learn the trade first.
There is so much to learn and it would be better if you could spend 12 months with someone first
SO YOUR SAYING IT TOOK YOU 12 MONTHS TO LEARN HOW TO CLEAN WINDOWS? THE GUY I BOUGHT MT ROUND OF SHOWED BE HOW TO CLEAN WINDOWS IN ONE DAY BY THE END OF THE WEEK I WAS JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER THAN HIM..
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some of the guys i have had working for me have been realy bad and i wished someone had trained them before they worked for me.
No it has not taken me 12 months ,it has took me 8 years and i am still learning.
I nearly killed myself a few times in the early days by the ladder slipping etc. so a bit of training there would of been good.
This is a big factor in learning the trade.
For some people it comes naturaly and they pick it up fast for others it is a different story.
There is more to window cleaning these days and a lot more to learn.
Maybe the way i typed that post it came out a bit different than it intended it to be.
So i am sorry if i gave offence.
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I'm offended! 8)
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I'm offended! 8)
No your not >>>>>>>>> ;D
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Oh! ::)
Ok, I'm just too cold.
I'm just starting now. Be finished about 2pm!
Now thats wot I call a real Pro! ;D
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I have got all day off today,
Now thats a pro ;)
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I have got all day off today,
Now thats a pro
I thought that was you need more customers
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Yes i do need more customers but today i am sat at home while my staff does the work and chasing new contracts ;)
Realy tough next 2 weeks though
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Dave,
It was good to see you on your back foot for a change. And it's great that the more experienced guys are taking a look in this part of the forum.
I agree with you though.
Ladder safety takes experience to learn. It's something a book can't teach you as there are so many different situations and ladder safety devices to use.
Then there's pricing. That's an 'art' rather than a science.
Then there's customer handling skills.
Then there's the administration. Who needs cleaning and who owes you money and what's the best method of getting round your 'round'?
I've personally made many mistakes and could've benifited with working for another window cleaner for six months. If only to learn how to price residential houses.
I underpriced when I first started and suffered that for at least 18 months, and still suffer in some areas; three-years after I started.
I've also 'fell' off my ladder during my first year of window cleaning. Luckily enough I only recieved bumps and scrapes.
As David says, reading between the lines, there's more to clean windows than just leaving a 'clean window'. That's the easy part.
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I also think that what gets forgotten is that so many people start window cleaning and then are never seen again after a few months or a year.
Therefore there has to be something more than it being a dead simple and easy job.
I think the cleaning of the actual glass is the easy part but to start with as when it's all new, that is all that matters. It's easy to be motivated when it's all fairly new.
It's when it all becomes a bit boring or when you get up and the weather is on and off ok/not ok, or when you get frozen, or wet, or frozen and wet, and get those days when nothing seems to work right. Worse still are those days when you just don't feel like working and you still ache all over from the previous days work. Then you have to get up the next day for a long days comercial work and the wfp packs up and it all has to be done by hand and in the middle of that you have to phone up customers and reschedule which throws the nexts days work into a muddle. Then when you get home instead of collapsing into a chair, you have to fix the wfp and try and sort of the muddle of the work list.
Then the next day someone doesn't turn up for work and you waste an hour only to find out they've got a hangover and aren't coming into work.
And all the time you still have to do the job to a high standard whilst working faster with no breaks and still smile and be pleasant and friendly to customers.
So I think as per the previous postings, the cleaning of the glass is the easy bit and if time isn't an issue and profit doesn't matter, it's a doddle.
Having written all that, I started without a clue how to do the job and our business only went from just keeping our heads above water to being profitable after I found this forum. The first thing I discovered after being a window cleaner for 4 years (I think) was that my technique when using a squeegie was all wrong and I was making extra (time consuming) work for myself.
Cheers