Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Browns Associated cleaners on March 13, 2006, 06:57:48 pm

Title: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Browns Associated cleaners on March 13, 2006, 06:57:48 pm: whilst wfp ing today on a new customer he asked wat happens when its windy and the water is left on the windows? surely the ro water will attract this ????? i had no answer for him ............. any idea's ???
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: ray l on March 13, 2006, 07:12:25 pm: you,d need to check up on the literature,
but me thinks there is a line or two about di water having a negative charge which will repell positive charged dirt particles

ray
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 13, 2006, 07:38:12 pm: Well if it doesn't pick up dirt in the air, how can it pick up dirt off the glass! ::)
That's why it leaves spots.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: windows_chepstow on March 13, 2006, 07:38:48 pm: Quote from: Brownscleaners on March 13, 2006, 06:57:48 pm
i had no answer for him ............. any idea's ???

Yes,

Just say, 'You pay me to clean your windows. I'll collect on Friday (or post me a cheque) when you've checked them. I'll only take the money if you're completely happy with the standard of cleaning.

The next time, if you're in, you can pay me when I've finished.

I've XXX amount of customers, and they all can't just be giving me money for doing a shoddy job'

Or words to that effect.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: windows_chepstow on March 13, 2006, 07:39:24 pm: Quote from: Squeaky Clean. on March 13, 2006, 07:38:12 pm
Well if it doesn't pick up dirt in the air, how can it pick up dirt off the glass! ::)
That's why it leaves spots.

Don't listen to Roger,

His customers ask me for quotes! ;)
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 13, 2006, 07:43:19 pm: Quote from: Tosh on March 13, 2006, 07:39:24 pm
Quote from: Squeaky Clean. on March 13, 2006, 07:38:12 pm
Well if it doesn't pick up dirt in the air, how can it pick up dirt off the glass! ::)
That's why it leaves spots.

Don't listen to Roger,

His customers ask me for quotes! ;)
Can match them though can you? ;)
You have to fund your ridiculous water habit. ;D

Haven't got an answer to my question though....
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: supernova77 on March 13, 2006, 07:47:29 pm: Squeaky you crack me up with your anti-WFP views.

I reckon within the next 2 years you would have changed over though.

;)
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: windows_chepstow on March 13, 2006, 08:04:55 pm: Quote from: Squeaky Clean. on March 13, 2006, 07:43:19 pm
Haven't got an answer to my question though....

Your question isn't clear.

It could be applied to the squeegie with equal ambiguity.

Squeeky said:

Quote
Well if it doesn't pick up dirt in the air, how can it pick up dirt off the glass!

To start with the WFP doesn't 'pick up' dirt.

It scrubs it from window-frames and windows, then rinses it all off; leaving the window spottlessly clean; if you do it correctly.

And why should it 'pick up dirt from the air'?

It's not a British Army Mark 6 respirator that protects you from Nerve Agent Gasses? A WFP is to clean windows; not purify air.

To Southern Cleaning Services:

Quote
Squeaky you crack me up with your anti-WFP views.

I reckon within the next 2 years you would have changed over though.

Roger knows both the moderators here (Ian_Giles and myself) personally, and lives close to us both.

I'm sure he just does it to wind us up!
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 13, 2006, 08:08:46 pm: Quote from: Southern Cleaning Services on March 13, 2006, 07:47:29 pm
Squeaky you crack me up with your anti-WFP views.

I reckon within the next 2 years you would have changed over though.

;)
Chuckle!
I reckon in two years you'll find you're wrong. ;)
I reckon in two years a lot will have gone back to proper cleaning too... ;D
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: supernova77 on March 13, 2006, 08:10:19 pm: I know he's only winding us up :)

But I still reckon he would have made the switch within 2 years.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: supernova77 on March 13, 2006, 08:13:24 pm: Quote
I reckon in two years a lot will have gone back to proper cleaning too... ;D
Quote

No way!

Don't get left behind squeaky... More and more window cleaners are going WFP now. All the ones I know swear they would never go back to fully trad again.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 13, 2006, 08:13:48 pm: Quote from: Tosh on March 13, 2006, 08:04:55 pm
And why should it 'pick up dirt from the air'?
Well everyone keeps saying that pure water attracts dirt.
I'm not wrong on that am I?

So, if it's left on the glass(as you do), then it will pick up dust and dirt from the air.
More-so than normal water too.
I can't see how you can say otherwise.... ???

That's how you get spots.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 13, 2006, 08:24:14 pm: Quote from: Southern Cleaning Services on March 13, 2006, 08:13:24 pm
Don't get left behind squeaky... More and more window cleaners are going WFP now. All the ones I know swear they would never go back to fully trad again.
Left behind what exactly? ???
The fact that more and more w/c'ers are doing it means my profile is getting better and better. ;)

I'm finding myself getting recommended by people all the time now, as a lot of people are looking for a "proper" w/c.
The rarer I become, the more in demand I get.
Shout me down if you like, but whether you want to admit it or not it's a fact.

I've just got a shop in the middle of another w/c'ers shops, as they were unhappy with wfp.
She said many others in the street want me too, but I know the w/c in question and won't do that. :-\
He's a very good trad cleaner too.

But I could take most of the street if it was a stranger.

If I had a van I'd put on the side something like:

"Squeaky Clean
Traditional window cleaning
by hand"
"Done with care and pride"

...and you can't tell me that wouldn't attract people. :)

Rog.(who's said enough on this subject before!)
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: supernova77 on March 13, 2006, 08:29:25 pm: :)

I agree with you to a certain extent... But things change, people over time take a grasp of new technology. All of my customers are happy with me using WFP.

In fact today when I was canvassing an old guy was really happy when I told him I use WFP as his last window cleaner slipped on his tiled roof and hurt himself!

Give it 2 years... :D
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: windows_chepstow on March 13, 2006, 08:29:59 pm: Squeeks (Roger),

Why was it two of your current (or ex) customers asked me for a quote then?

I use a WFP!
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: supernova77 on March 13, 2006, 08:34:46 pm: LOL
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Morph on March 13, 2006, 08:36:18 pm: Quote from: Squeaky Clean. on March 13, 2006, 08:13:48 pm

So, if it's left on the glass(as you do), then it will pick up dust and dirt from the air.
More-so than normal water too.
I can't see how you can say otherwise.... ???

That's how you get spots.

Don't waste your time on something you don't really know about, Squeaky.

If it is a windy day, in a dusty area, using wfp the wind will generally dry the residual water before dust is able to reach a saturation on the glass. i have learned this from my experience.
If it is a windy day in a dusty area, the windows cleaned with a mop and squeegee, (unless you use just purified water and a few drops of glass gleam only), will definitely have more dust sticking to them soon after you have gone.
But your good customers won't say anything about it, anymore than my good customers and the few spots left by wfp occasionally.

...........NEXT......
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Moderator David@stives on March 13, 2006, 08:40:01 pm: whats squeeky doing here i thought this was a wfp thread i have just read an old copy of window talk and they reported another death of a window cleaner.

A 24 year old Richard Burrage 19 sept 2004.

I would not like to take away anyones choice with ladders ,but for me there is no turning back.

In answer to the wind blowing on wet windows ,i reckon if it were that windy for it to be a problem ,the windows will blow dry in no time at all.

Dave
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Morph on March 13, 2006, 08:44:11 pm: Do you know, when I was a kid we had radio, we didn't have a television for years.
I have vivid memories of coming home from school on a freezing winter day, sitting by the fire and listening to childrens hour, with a cup of cocoa. My imagination was totally immersed in the programmes. You just can't do that with TV. But I rarely if ever sit down to listen to anything other than music on the radio anymore, even though it has a quality that TV hasn't got, who can be bothered.
That is one way things just gradually get replaced.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: neil100 on March 13, 2006, 09:03:46 pm: I think Squeeks has brain washed himself into beliveing that Wfp is not as good as Trad cleaning.

I had a customer last week who I went to ask how she wanted me to clean her Bungalow. I had cleaned it just the once wfp and because she had white alloy frames I thought the Wfp would not be up to the standerd I set for myself.

She said She was mad when I left last time because the windows were left wet, and she was expecting them to dry streaky. When she got up the next morning she was amazed at how clean they were.

In fact she said I dont want to cause you any offence but the glass as never been as clean. She wanted wfp.

TRUE, Nel.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: poles apart on March 13, 2006, 10:01:26 pm: As an 'experienced' wfp'er, I can tell you that in the right (wrong?) conditions, dust will stick to the water left on the glass. I've had this happen on many occasions and it's usually where windows are in a deep recess on a building, usually stairwells on blocks of flats. The wind creates a turbulence when it hits the recess and carries the dust with it onto the glass. My customers understand that this can happen (after my long and drawn out explanation!) and accept it.

They also understand that to clean these windows trad would be *expensive/*illegal/*impossible so no probs really. ;)
Rod

*take your pick
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: neil100 on March 13, 2006, 10:10:36 pm: At the end of the day if its very windy, and the wind stays strong for a day or so even if you clean windows Trad they will start to get dirty straight away.

Customers have to accept that their will be times over a year were windows get dirty very quickly after being cleaned.

Nel.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Ian_Giles on March 13, 2006, 11:18:46 pm: Neil is right, in windy conditions windows will start to get dirty very quickly, whether done trad or WFP.
On Friday it was a very windy day (at least in the Chepstow area) and my last account of the day was a big house with all georgian windows.
The previous time it was cleaned the customer told me that on some of the upstairs windows I didn't seem to be cleaning the bottom edges of the panes.
These are the newish type of georgian windows with deep recessed panes.

I told the customer that after I had cleaned it this time, I would go back after an hour or so, get my ladders and check the work over, however, she did say that the downstairs windows were always fine.

Now as I have said, Friday was very windy, the house is surounded by all manner of trees and shrubery, and a couple of huge monkey puzzle trees.
I was actually a little worried about cleaning these windows in the windy conditions.
I was also dreading what I would see when I climbed the ladders to check over my work.

The windows were fine, up close I could pick a few faults, but I would have done so if I had done them trad, there wasn't a spot in sight though.

I did get to the bottom of the windows the customer was worried about....it was paint, the decorator must have painted the windows either when they were not sufficiently dry from the morning dew or some such.
Anyway, I initial cleaned them, knifed them off and didn't charge her extra.
Fortunately there was no fault attached to anything I had done.

Net result; one very satisfied customer.

But what pleased me the most was that the windows had dried out spotless.

That may not have been the case on a dry, dusty and WINDY summers day mind.

That being said, any work done trad leaves a sticky residue behind, even if you are using GG3/4 or Unger liquid and so on.
This residue isn't sticky to the touch of course, but it is sticky to airborn dust.

FACT: Windows cleaned with WFP stay clean longer.

Squeaks mentions a couple of shops in a street I work in, he now does one of them for about £2.50 that I was cleaning with WFP.
This customer cancelled, not that she told me, but apparently the reason she cancelled was because she thought the windows were not drying out clean.

A shame she hadn't actually voiced her concerns directly to me as it would have been very easy to show her that her windows were in fact as clean as they could possibly be.
Squeaks also says that several shops in this street are not happy with the job I do.
I doubt this as I don't do many in this street.
The one he did mention to me really surprised me as these paricular windows come up absolutely mint with WFP, plus I also do a huge amount of the paintwork (at no extra charge) and I also often do a lot of the insides and I have never once needed to go back outside and make good.
When I see the owner next I'll ask him if there is a problem, if he just wants the glass and sills done I'll lop a fiver of the price, but I'll not do all the entrance, paintwork and signs anymore.

Squeaks missus works in another shop, who strangely enough complained of spotty windows.
At the specific time, in all fairness there were a few spots, but they would not have been very noticable, even though they had done the insides themselves, not very well I hasten to add!
Since that time I have made sure that these always dried out spotless, these are always checked very carefully indeed, and if I can't find fault with them, no one will.
Having to go back to doing them trad though :-\
Some of the panes leak and water is getting inside, it's a shame cos the glass and frames come up spotless too.

Squeaks is frantic to get into shops, god knows why, it takes so long to build up enough to make decent money at them, I've been doing them for 21 years and I've still only got 2 and a half day a week doing them, actually it's less than that and they can be a bind trying to fill them in around the more profitable work (ask Tosh)!

They are bread and butter work for the most part.
The more profitable stuff are the small to medium sized offices, but to make real money at those you have to have WFP!!
And of course Squeaks has no intention of getting into that....does he...

Ian
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: gaza on March 13, 2006, 11:35:59 pm: squeeks:Doesnt dirt stick to your soapy stuff then ?

FACT: SOAP ATTRACTS DIRT
IF CARPET CLEANERSS CLEAN CARPETS WITH A SOAP SOLUTION THEY WILL BE JUST AS DIRTY WITHIN A FEW WEEKS/MONTHS [DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC]
THATS WHY I WAS TRAINED TO USE CHEM DRY no soap is used

gaza
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Browns Associated cleaners on March 14, 2006, 09:54:37 am: thanks chaps .............. i get the picture........... on the trad wfp debate ...... as an employer wfp rules for me ;D
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: windows_chepstow on March 14, 2006, 05:22:07 pm: Quote from: Ian_Giles on March 13, 2006, 11:18:46 pm
Squeaks is frantic to get into shops, god knows why, it takes so long to build up enough to make decent money at them, I've been doing them for 21 years and I've still only got 2 and a half day a week doing them, actually it's less than that and they can be a bind trying to fill them in around the more profitable work (ask Tosh)!

Ian

Roger (Squeaky) likes shops and bungalows because there's little or no ladder-work involved.

Personally, I find shops, even when you've loads of them a pain to do (and I've done a local window cleaners run of shops when he went on holiday).

Writing out all those invoices for small amounts was a pain. Queing to get paid and speaking to all those customers.

It just seemed like a lot of fannying about; I like jobs I can get my teeth into.

I only do three shops, all side-by-side and the lowest I charge one of them is £9.00 and they're all straightforward cleans; I don't move inside shop displays; the shop staff do that for me.
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 14, 2006, 05:47:53 pm: The reason I like shops and bungalows is because I make twice the money and it's easy.
Also because the shops are social, and there's lovely sights in town in the summer. ;D

My 8 or 9 shops take me 35 mins and they're £32.
Ain't going to make that on houses.(in general).
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: gaza on March 15, 2006, 10:41:24 pm: SQUEEKS :MY BEST JOB IS £38 FOR 12 SMALL WINDOWS SO THERE

OH YOU CARNT DO THEM CUS THERE 3 HIGH ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
ME LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK,ONLY 120 MORE TO DO AT £8 .00 A TIME
COMING UP WHEN THEY ARE SOLD ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

GAZA
Title: Re: airborn dust when its windy
Post by: Sir Squeaky on March 15, 2006, 10:59:36 pm: Didn't say it was the best anyone could do, just that it's a better, easier earner than MY domestic stuff. ;)

That's all I'm going to add to another silly wfp Vs trad thread.

Oh, except....You're a rip-off, I'm not. ;) ;D