Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 09:29:57 am

Title: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 09:29:57 am
Ok here we go.
UPVC windows in good condition.
4th wash.
Technique. scrub frames first and rinse off well, Scrub glass and top seal. do it again. give top seal another rub.
Then rinse off the glass, keeping the water hitting just below the top seal..
TDS is 000ppm.

And I still get tiny great spotting… AAAArrrggghh

What am I doing wrong peeps?
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: andyM on September 15, 2013, 09:45:36 am
It certainly sounds as if you are cleaning the window well enough.
Use a good flow rate so that window is getting well rinsed but be careful that the water is not bouncing off the window because of too much pressure or if your brush is too far away from the window when rinsing.
Are you being precise with where your water is going so that it is not getting sprayed into vents or onto lintel/brickwork above window?
Also is this every window that is spotting or just one particular window?
Sometimes a dodgy seal can cause spotting, usually in a vertical line down the glass.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: tlwcs on September 15, 2013, 09:53:16 am
On the odd occasion I've had this, Ive put some ecover washing up liquid on the brush head and scrubbed all sections of the frame and glass together. Rinsed well and it has worked.
First cleans for me now (maybe only one a week) I clean every window using this method.
Tony
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: trippyboy on September 15, 2013, 10:15:14 am
You will never get rid of spotting, its part and parcel of wfp. New windows do not spot, older windows can, this is because the seal has perished over the years. 
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: richard jagger on September 15, 2013, 10:18:32 am
If you use a backpack or detergent these types of results are a possible due to the soap not been biodegradable enough or still in the brush. Did you douse your brush after the a soap clean. Backpacks not putting not enough on the glass.
Were is the spotting on the glass.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: PoleKing on September 15, 2013, 12:27:06 pm
Could be that you're doing everything right but dust is hitting the water droplets before they evaporate.
Is it in a windy/dusty area?
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: dave0123 on September 15, 2013, 12:45:55 pm
Quote
You will never get rid of spotting, its part and parcel of wfp. New windows do not spot, older windows can, this is because the seal has perished over the years.

I don't agree with that tbh. Spotting is very very rare if you  use your equipment properly, and i find older windows are actually easier to clean.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 01:11:23 pm
Darren LAne I think you may have hit the nail on the head, Never thought of that. Im on the MEndips and we have limestone quarries throwing dust in the air 24/7 Makes a terrible mess of the cars so makes sense that the droplets would pick up crud..
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Frankybadboy on September 15, 2013, 01:42:20 pm
Darren LAne I think you may have hit the nail on the head, Never thought of that. Im on the MEndips and we have limestone quarries throwing dust in the air 24/7 Makes a terrible mess of the cars so makes sense that the droplets would pick up crud..
you just crap,stick to your day job jim ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Dave Willis on September 15, 2013, 01:56:33 pm
Could be dirt on the very top of the frame on the openers. Are the spots in vertical runs, all over or at the bottom?
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: home6442 on September 15, 2013, 02:11:38 pm
When cleaning degraded seals you need to clean and rinse then rub the brush along
the seal rubbing any water droplets off.
Then rinse again starting a few inches below the seal.
Don't have your water pressure too high as it will splash the seals again.
Any droplets left on these seals will drip down onto the glass and spot.
Hope this makes sense.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Griffus on September 15, 2013, 02:15:17 pm
Hi Jim, if all windows are spotting then try another TDS meter, just in case.

Have you dragged your finger down the frame? May be that they are dirtier than they look and any white residue on your finger would id this. Rubber seals could also be shot, though less likely.

Another possibility is trapped dirt in the top seal and / or vents. Loads of rinsing with the final stages avoiding the top of the frames, even the top seal, altogether.

If only a few windows are spotting  and all on the same side of the house then the earlier poster is probably right, dust hitting the window after cleaning whilst still wet. Only solution in this case is either clean on damper days or buff dry after cleaning, just do the lot with a scrimm once you're done. This shouldn't add too much time, though still a bit of a ball ache.

You could always just trad the lot.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: supernova77 on September 15, 2013, 02:24:58 pm
Quote
Ok here we go.
UPVC windows in good condition.
4th wash.
Technique. scrub frames first and rinse off well, Scrub glass and top seal. do it again. give top seal another rub.
Then rinse off the glass, keeping the water hitting just below the top seal..
TDS is 000ppm.

And I still get tiny great spotting… AAAArrrggghh

What am I doing wrong peeps?

Rinse the seal well to! Not from just below...

Andy
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 03:26:50 pm
I have had a good look. Every water droplet on every window that didn't dry PDQ has left a V tiny grey spot.. I deffo think its the dust..  Im going to have to find a way of drying them off.

Thanks for the excellent replies.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: tlwcs on September 15, 2013, 04:41:37 pm
Go trad.  ;D
(theres always one)
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Sean Kelly on September 15, 2013, 06:26:14 pm
Go trad.  ;D
(theres always one)

Haha
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 06:41:01 pm
Lol

The 3 words Im thinking of end in
iss aking soles….  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: robbo333 on September 15, 2013, 07:48:37 pm
Jim, I know this sounds like a silly idea, but why not take ten minutes to watch the window drying. Obviously pick the downstairs window that will dry the quickest. You'll get an idea if it's the water droplets, or seals leaking or whatever. If it's a good custy and worth good money then it could be ten minutes well spent. And it will answer your question.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 15, 2013, 08:36:19 pm
Good point well Made Robbo good idea.
This particular house was done late in the day and dried overnight.. Ill do it again monday morning  and do as you suggest watch it dry.. Im pretty sure its the quarry dust.. but as you say If I watch it dry. Ill be sure.
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: matthewprice on September 17, 2013, 09:25:00 pm
Hi I have had some houses that sound the same as you one is up a dusty side road ,I find that a brush with 4 x 2mm jets and a high flow rate and a slow rinse does a good job
Title: Re: spotting
Post by: Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny) on September 17, 2013, 11:17:36 pm
Hi I have had some houses that sound the same as you one is up a dusty side road ,I find that a brush with 4 x 2mm jets and a high flow rate and a slow rinse does a good job
Funny enough I redid it in the rain which suppressed the dust.. Spotless. I think Ill try the 4 jet method..