Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 06:39:05 pm

Title: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 06:39:05 pm
Hi, would appreciate some feed back for my father, who is thinking of starting window cleaning at 60 :o ;D
I have been at him for years, hes in van sales hates it long hours money not great but hes done it for years
set in his ways but hes now considering it, works not a problem as he can have what he needs from me.

Is there any one started around this age? hows it working out?
How did it work out for the guy canvassing for his dad? sorry cant remember who it was.



 
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: dannymack on November 02, 2013, 07:01:39 pm
Hiya Paul I don't seem it to be a problem as long as your dads a fit 60 year old, as I find my neck aches a fair bit at time to time looking up for hours using the wfp and I'm only 44 but good on ya's and go for it. I'd say different if he had to get up high ladders at that age, but working from ground floor level with poles he should be fine. I'd also try and get him into maybe some small office cleaning & Communal cleaning hoovering ect.
Good Luck Fellas
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 07:59:43 pm
Hi Danny,  going to sort him out mostly with shops if he goes for it
I am just hoping it works for him i imagine its a big step at that age
especially as hes been in same job for donkeys years.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: david washbrook on November 02, 2013, 08:18:03 pm
Paul why not get him to apply to the fire service as they reackon a 60 can still do the same job as a 21 year old ;)
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: MATT BATEMAN (OWC) on November 02, 2013, 08:21:29 pm
Just make sure he doesn't wear Wellington boots to work and he'll be okay.  ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: dai on November 02, 2013, 08:31:44 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 08:43:39 pm
Paul why not get him to apply to the fire service as they reackon a 60 can still do the same job as a 21 year old ;)

 ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: geoffreyspecht on November 02, 2013, 08:47:53 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.
do u think u will still be cleaning windows at 80 dai
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 08:49:53 pm
Just make sure he doesn't wear Wellington boots to work and he'll be okay.  ;D
;D ;D

We have wore them last couple of years cheap and keep the feet dry but dont look
good in the pics :D got my  black boots for the posh jobs ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 08:54:38 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.

Hi dai, are you 71 and still cleaning :o with a 3 year old daughter
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: bobplum on November 02, 2013, 08:55:21 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.


i can i get this right.your..... 71 with a three year old daughter
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: bobplum on November 02, 2013, 08:55:49 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.

Hi dai, are you 71 and still cleaning :o with a 3 year old daughter

beat me to it :D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 09:06:34 pm
It's a case of how fit he is. I started back window cleaning when I was 53, that was 18 years ago last 9 years wfp. still use the ladders for access on some jobs. I am no lightweight at 17 stone but can still put in a good day with the best of them. It does take longer to recover, after a long hard day I do suffer a bit on the next day working. I have a 3 year old daughter, they tell me she keeps me young. If your dad wants it, tell him to go for it, age is just a date on your birth certificate.

Hi dai, are you 71 and still cleaning :o with a 3 year old daughter

beat me to it :D

 ;D
If that's the case massive respect.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: geoffreyspecht on November 02, 2013, 09:18:45 pm
we have  a few 70+ window cleaners in llandudno including dai. im still a young man 60 in march
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: windymiller on November 02, 2013, 09:25:05 pm
My dad is 67, and has been window cleaning since 20. i have been on at him to cut down but is still doing a full 5 days work load traditional and wont slow down. Once you start its in your blood  ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: stuart mc on November 02, 2013, 09:29:28 pm
don't see why not, my old man was a window cleaner most of his life, he moved into management but was made redundant at 55, so went straight back to the glass, continued until he was diagnosed with parkinsons at about 73 74 ;)
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 09:37:36 pm
I'm sure my dad will be glad to here he wouldn't be the oldest
window cleaner out there :)
Stuart where about are you based?
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: roundbuilder on November 02, 2013, 09:53:11 pm
I recently built up my mum and stepdad a window cleaning round up, he is 48 and she is 55 and they manage with no problems at all they are banging out 15 fronts a day 9-2pm, as long as all the work is easy to do with no access issues with no stress even an 80 year old could do it(as long as they have an extreme pole that is)  ;D..
A good bit of fitness for the old dudes too.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: stuart mc on November 02, 2013, 10:06:30 pm
I'm sure my dad will be glad to here he wouldn't be the oldest
window cleaner out there :)
Stuart where about are you based?

Falkirk mate
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 02, 2013, 10:50:33 pm
Good to here mick :)

Hi stuart, I was down your way pricing the care home at the wheel set up by (becci)
the other week, if your over this way give me a bell let me see your set up.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: gary evans on November 03, 2013, 10:15:07 am
Hi Paul

I put a thread on here a long time ago, about setting my father in law up.

He is now 70 & still going.

We set him up with a full van wfp system & gave him 50 -60 houses. He turned them into 200 within  a couple years.

With health & age he has slowed up & reduced his work load, but, still got 120 -130 houses. He has help on the awkward ones or UPVC Gutter & Fascia cleans.

I have just got him Gardiner SLX Poles to make it easier, He had Swift & Grafter & before that Tucker & Brodex so you can see we are reducing the weight of poles.

He says it keeps him fit & out meeting people so I would say go for it

Gary
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: Neil Gornall on November 03, 2013, 10:39:36 am
I have a friend who started window cleaning a week after he retired at 65. he could not stand the thought of doing nothing. He worked till ill health made him pack up in his 70's and sold me all his work.

Whatever we do we will never live up to him. His customers loved him. 
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: bobplum on November 03, 2013, 12:11:19 pm
i think the way the retiring age and pension industry is going most of us will be working up to 70
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: Dick on November 03, 2013, 02:32:50 pm
I started trad w/c at 56, still doing it but not as much as I did 9 years ago, it keeps me fit and active.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on November 03, 2013, 05:59:22 pm
There was a window cleaner in Manchester on the curry mile cleaning windows in his 90s ,he had an article by the FWC on him and was made a honorary member.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: PoleKing on November 03, 2013, 06:07:22 pm
2 guys I know just packed up at 74 and 70.
They guy (on his own) at 70 was making money a lot on here would be jealous of WFP.
To be fair the guy at 73 didn't slog his guts out but he was tradding.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 03, 2013, 07:51:24 pm
It's amazing the amount of guys 70+ still cleaning hopefully me one day ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: PoleKing on November 03, 2013, 07:59:41 pm
It's amazing the amount of guys 70+ still cleaning hopefully me one day ;D

Hopefully not me!
I'd hope for either 1) death 2) to be on a tropical island somewhere 3) see 1&2
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: bobplum on November 03, 2013, 09:11:19 pm
It's amazing the amount of guys 70+ still cleaning hopefully me one day ;D

Hopefully not me!
I'd hope for either 1) death 2) to be on a tropical island somewhere 3) see 1&2

i thought Rutland was a tropical isle :D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: G Griffin on November 03, 2013, 09:16:00 pm
Good to here mick :)

Hi stuart, I was down your way pricing the care home at the wheel set up by (becci)

And recruiting staff?
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: PoleKing on November 03, 2013, 09:20:57 pm
It's amazing the amount of guys 70+ still cleaning hopefully me one day ;D

Hopefully not me!
I'd hope for either 1) death 2) to be on a tropical island somewhere 3) see 1&2

i thought Rutland was a tropical isle :D

Lol.
It's nice.
But I work there-don't live there.
If money was no object we'd live in Stamford.
Technically Lincolnshire but feels like Rutland
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: stuart mc on November 03, 2013, 09:47:47 pm
I love rutland, I could fish there 24hrs a day, give me a job and I will be there, throw in digs as well :D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: PoleKing on November 03, 2013, 10:06:05 pm
I love rutland, I could fish there 24hrs a day, give me a job and I will be there, throw in digs as well :D

£10 a day.
Top & tail with me?
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 04, 2013, 06:57:16 am
Good to here mick :)

Hi stuart, I was down your way pricing the care home at the wheel set up by (becci)

And recruiting staff?

Not recruiting staff helping my father set up as a w/c
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: paul13 on November 08, 2013, 02:56:44 pm
My father has decided to become a windy cleaner as of today he's handed
In his notice, no more 3.30 am starts for him.

Now full steam ahead with some canvassing (hate door knocking) but needs must.

Thanks for reply's regarding age made him feel a bit better knowing he
Won't be the oldest guy on the windys ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 08, 2013, 04:04:29 pm
There was a window cleaner in Manchester on the curry mile cleaning windows in his 90s ,he had an article by the FWC on him and was made a honorary member.

That's about the average age of the FWC committee isn't it?  ;D
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: Clever Forum Name on November 08, 2013, 04:10:45 pm
My dad went wfp when he was 59 and its given him a new lease of life. Biggest plus was going for extreme poles and extreme brushes.
Title: Re: starting w/c at 60
Post by: Rob Knapman on November 08, 2013, 05:49:04 pm
My old man is 74 and still going strong, part time though, he has been at it for over 50 years!!!