Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: firefly123 on February 01, 2014, 02:01:10 pm

Title: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: firefly123 on February 01, 2014, 02:01:10 pm
there are loads that are good and some bad i use trad and wfp some of us have been going for thirty years plus all ways do frames and sills trad or wfp and i can say where possible i enjoy trad more
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 01, 2014, 03:10:57 pm
It's fun. But not as much fun as going on about part-time firefighter window cleaners.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 01, 2014, 03:24:51 pm
there are loads that are good and some bad i use trad and wfp some of us have been going for thirty years plus all ways do frames and sills trad or wfp and i can say where possible i enjoy trad more

To be fair you can't say trad does as good a job with frames?

If you do, you would need loads of cloths, and spend more time on frames than you do glass.

I do trad and WFP and much prefer WFP.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dave0123 on February 01, 2014, 04:04:24 pm
Quote
To be fair you can't say trad does as good a job with frames?

If you do, you would need loads of cloths, and spend more time on frames than you do glass.

I do trad and WFP and much prefer WFP.

I am 100% WFP apart from bungalows.

There's a bungalow that i have done since 2006 and he wants his frames cleaned every time i enjoy doing it trad... the frames are as just as good as doing it with a WFP
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Clever Forum Name on February 01, 2014, 04:24:05 pm
trad 10 + years
WFP 4 + years

Trad does a better job on glass, but gets dirtier quicker.
Wfp does a better job on frames.

I dont care what does a better job, all i care is about £ and safety.

i am 99.9% wfp
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: squeegee master on February 01, 2014, 04:39:57 pm
Its funny most customers prefer trad, I use both, both great for different jobs. Wfp is such a waste of water tho, hate having all that extra weight in the van
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: SeanK on February 01, 2014, 05:17:11 pm
A clean frame is a clean frame doesn't matter how you clean it, to be honest your wont beat
a good trad cleaner using wfp.
I have trad cleaners as mates and they clean everything, plus you don't need a lot of cloths on maintenance
cleans a couple of microfibers would do you all day.
It might make you quicker and safer but not better.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 01, 2014, 05:47:00 pm
Like the difference between a washing up bowl and a dishwasher.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: richard groves on February 01, 2014, 06:28:56 pm
Like the difference between a washing up bowl and a dishwasher.
and we all know which is better , right ?  :D ;)
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 01, 2014, 06:32:29 pm
Like the difference between a washing up bowl and a dishwasher.
and we all know which is better , right ?  :D ;)

Well no.  The point I was trying to make is that there are pros and cons to both.  A dishwasher may occasionally not remove heavy marking but when it does clean properly, it should be better as clean water has flowed over it last rather than contaminated bowl water.  Of course, a double sink can be a help but most dont have them.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Bill.upnw on February 01, 2014, 08:08:38 pm
Here here
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: 8weekly on February 01, 2014, 08:10:32 pm
A clean frame is a clean frame doesn't matter how you clean it, to be honest your wont beat
a good trad cleaner using wfp.
I have trad cleaners as mates and they clean everything, plus you don't need a lot of cloths on maintenance
cleans a couple of microfibers would do you all day.
It might make you quicker and safer but not better.
Seriously? A couple of microfibres all day? When I clean insides, I would use two on one house. Once they get wet they are useless. A couple of scrims maybe. My dad was chamois and scrim and he only used a couple all day. Very happy to be proved wrong though as I have never been trad other than internals and it is easy to be wasteful with microfibres when I haven't got to make them last.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: tom20001 on February 01, 2014, 08:39:21 pm
Like the difference between a washing up bowl and a dishwasher.

David have u not got bigger fish to fry given happenings down in stoke today lol
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Johnny B on February 01, 2014, 08:43:48 pm
A clean frame is a clean frame doesn't matter how you clean it, to be honest your wont beat
a good trad cleaner using wfp.
I have trad cleaners as mates and they clean everything, plus you don't need a lot of cloths on maintenance
cleans a couple of microfibers would do you all day.
It might make you quicker and safer but not better.
Seriously? A couple of microfibres all day? When I clean insides, I would use two on one house. Once they get wet they are useless. A couple of scrims maybe. My dad was chamois and scrim and he only used a couple all day. Very happy to be proved wrong though as I have never been trad other than internals and it is easy to be wasteful with microfibres when I haven't got to make them last.

I use 3 or 4 micofiber cloths a day max. When damp, they are ideal for wiping frames, which I do every time  When excessively wet I just use another. If they are wet, but still clean enough, I hang them over my radiators and reuse them the following day.

I won't knock wfp, as I have never tried it, but what I do know is that I wouldn't do a better job with it than I do trad. Due to my OCD-ish attention to detail, I triple check everything I do, and if wfp'ing I would probably use a river a day to clean one house!

John
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: elite mike on February 01, 2014, 08:50:50 pm
john, with your ocd and attention to detail wfp would be ideal for you. 8)

i am being serious .
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: DG Cleaning on February 01, 2014, 08:54:56 pm
Because they're such easy targets ;D ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: capn sparkle on February 01, 2014, 10:55:06 pm
John I hate to admit it, n i'm gagging writing this - but an amateur with a pole would beat 'most' trad windies... not me, but most.

I'm a trad, but luckily for me none of 'em clean above the vents ( trad or wfp) - happy days - still nicking work of 'em...

BUT!! I have invested £2000 in a WFP system ( Trailer ) 'cos it allows me to earn and learn as I go along.

Gutted to say but this is the way forward - But no - one has managed to invent a sill brush that actually cleans 'all' of the sill
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 01, 2014, 11:12:06 pm
A clean frame is a clean frame doesn't matter how you clean it, to be honest your wont beat
a good trad cleaner using wfp.
I have trad cleaners as mates and they clean everything, plus you don't need a lot of cloths on maintenance
cleans a couple of microfibers would do you all day.
It might make you quicker and safer but not better.
Seriously? A couple of microfibres all day? When I clean insides, I would use two on one house. Once they get wet they are useless. A couple of scrims maybe. My dad was chamois and scrim and he only used a couple all day. Very happy to be proved wrong though as I have never been trad other than internals and it is easy to be wasteful with microfibres when I haven't got to make them last.

I use 3 or 4 micofiber cloths a day max. When damp, they are ideal for wiping frames, which I do every time  When excessively wet I just use another. If they are wet, but still clean enough, I hang them over my radiators and reuse them the following day.

I won't knock wfp, as I have never tried it, but what I do know is that I wouldn't do a better job with it than I do trad. Due to my OCD-ish attention to detail, I triple check everything I do, and if wfp'ing I would probably use a river a day to clean one house!

John

If you were to do a house with WFP that you previously did trad a month ago, you would see the dirt running out of the frames.

I too am very OCD and I know that I cannot get any cleaner than with WFP.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: PoleKing on February 01, 2014, 11:36:10 pm
John I hate to admit it, n i'm gagging writing this - but an amateur with a pole would beat 'most' trad windies... not me, but most.

I'm a trad, but luckily for me none of 'em clean above the vents ( trad or wfp) - happy days - still nicking work of 'em...

BUT!! I have invested £2000 in a WFP system ( Trailer ) 'cos it allows me to earn and learn as I go along.

Gutted to say but this is the way forward - But no - one has managed to invent a sill brush that actually cleans 'all' of the sill

The brush is only the tool.
To get the sill clean is down to the user.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: rosskesava on February 02, 2014, 12:51:19 am
I find it amazing that there is this competition.

If a windie cleans trad and is happy with that and so are his customers, then what is there to argue about.

If another chooses wfp and he's happy with that and so are his customers then ditto.

Why is there this weird type of snobbery.

If a member asks on here about using ladders, there will be the inevitable answer about changing to wfp which wasn't what the op was asking. In fact, any trad question ends up with the 'change to wfp' somewhere in the answers just as any question about non Gardiners wfp products ends up being about Gardiners wfp products.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: 8weekly on February 02, 2014, 08:14:50 am
John I hate to admit it, n i'm gagging writing this - but an amateur with a pole would beat 'most' trad windies... not me, but most.

I'm a trad, but luckily for me none of 'em clean above the vents ( trad or wfp) - happy days - still nicking work of 'em...

BUT!! I have invested £2000 in a WFP system ( Trailer ) 'cos it allows me to earn and learn as I go along.

Gutted to say but this is the way forward - But no - one has managed to invent a sill brush that actually cleans 'all' of the sill
To get the cill actually clean takes time. Trad guys wouldn't get them clean because the dirt is trapped in the join and continually washes out with WFP. On some I rinse until it is all gone, but in some I don't. Trad, you would just be dusting - not really cleaning as you can't get into the crevice between the frame and cill.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: G Griffin on February 02, 2014, 08:18:37 am
I agree about the trad for glass and wfp for frames being better comment.
And when I trad I don't use contaminated water. Don't dip the applicator in the bucket and there's no need to contaminate the water.  
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dave f on February 02, 2014, 08:48:15 am
hang on a mo i think  the post is about/ why slate trad windys its turned in to trad  v wfp
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: 8weekly on February 02, 2014, 12:46:22 pm
hang on a mo i think  the post is about/ why slate trad windys its turned in to trad  v wfp
Really? I thought it was NOT trad v WFP, but quite balanced pointing out pros and cons.

I think with glass though, trad and WFP are equal. A skilled wfp guy does as good a job as a trad. But, in either case I rarely achieve guaranteed perfection because I don't have the time. I reckon I get to about 85-90% on a maintenance clean. 95% on a first clean if I have charged double.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Frankybadboy on February 02, 2014, 01:32:52 pm
I don't slate them



there just crap ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Johnny B on February 02, 2014, 06:23:57 pm
I am not knocking wfp. As I said earlier, I have never used wfp so I am not in a position to compare the two.

What I do know is that due to the way that I work (ie painfully slow with a micro managed attention to detail), I achieve results that my customers are happy with, and that I am satisfied with.

I personally like to be close to the glass so I can see the results up close. I know that I would worry myself sick that if I were cleaning glass 10-15 feet away from me, using a brush and gallons of water, that I would do a poor job because I couldn't see well enough fom that distance. It's just my perception of how I would feel if I were to use wfp, and wish to point out that I am in no way insinuating that wfp is poor. I am sure you guys do a great job.

John

  
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 02, 2014, 06:43:11 pm
I am not knocking wfp. As I said earlier, I have never used wfp so I am not in a position to compare the two.

What I do know is that due to the way that I work (ie painfully slow with a micro managed attention to detail), I achieve results that my customers are happy with, and that I am satisfied with.

I personally like to be close to the glass so I can see the results up close. I know that I would worry myself sick that if I were cleaning glass 10-15 feet away from me, using a brush and gallons of water, that I would do a poor job because I couldn't see well enough fom that distance. It's just my perception of how I would feel if I were to use wfp, and wish to point out that I am in no way insinuating that wfp is poor. I am sure you guys do a great job.

John

  

You WOULD be doing a poor job if you were using "gallons" of water per window.

Better stick to shammy and squeegee. :)
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Johnny B on February 02, 2014, 07:13:20 pm
I am not knocking wfp. As I said earlier, I have never used wfp so I am not in a position to compare the two.

What I do know is that due to the way that I work (ie painfully slow with a micro managed attention to detail), I achieve results that my customers are happy with, and that I am satisfied with.

I personally like to be close to the glass so I can see the results up close. I know that I would worry myself sick that if I were cleaning glass 10-15 feet away from me, using a brush and gallons of water, that I would do a poor job because I couldn't see well enough fom that distance. It's just my perception of how I would feel if I were to use wfp, and wish to point out that I am in no way insinuating that wfp is poor. I am sure you guys do a great job.

John

  

You WOULD be doing a poor job if you were using "gallons" of water per window.

Better stick to shammy and squeegee. :)

Exactly.  :)

John
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: j timms on February 02, 2014, 09:01:40 pm
Stop stop stop stop stop

Sometimes wfp is better
Sometimes trad is better

For me the best windies can do both well

Most customers prefer trad though at the moment
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: 8weekly on February 02, 2014, 09:05:47 pm
Stop stop stop stop stop

Sometimes wfp is better
Sometimes trad is better

For me the best windies can do both well

Most customers prefer trad though at the moment
Only the ones that haven't had a good wfp windowcleaner.  ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 02, 2014, 09:11:35 pm
Stop stop stop stop stop

Sometimes wfp is better
Sometimes trad is better

For me the best windies can do both well

Most customers prefer trad though at the moment
Only the ones that haven't had a good wfp windowcleaner.  ;D

+1

Majority of my customers prefer WFP, often commenting on what a clever thing it is, and how good it is I can clean above the conservatory and get all the frames etc.

I had to use ladders a little while back and lots of my customers looked at me like I was an alien. Lol "that's a step back" some of them said, or "you've gone back in time"

WFP is the future guys.

Just accept it.

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: j timms on February 03, 2014, 07:46:06 am
Stop stop stop stop stop

Sometimes wfp is better
Sometimes trad is better

For me the best windies can do both well

Most customers prefer trad though at the moment
Only the ones that haven't had a good wfp windowcleaner.  ;D

+1

Majority of my customers prefer WFP, often commenting on what a clever thing it is, and how good it is I can clean above the conservatory and get all the frames etc.

I had to use ladders a little while back and lots of my customers looked at me like I was an alien. Lol "that's a step back" some of them said, or "you've gone back in time"

WFP is the future guys.

Just accept it.

 ;D ;D ;D
I do agree wfp is the future, without a doubt but it may take a few years yet to convince a lot of customers. I have customers (mostly older ones)  who just don't like it even though there windows are spanking. I would love to wfp everything but I know I would lose work so for now I just bite the bullet and trad some.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dazmond on February 03, 2014, 08:13:00 am
the thing is with a lot of trad window cleaners(that work near me anyway)is they use fairy liquid and dont clean the frames.some dont even bother to give the sills a wipe.

i know because of the unhappy ex customers of  theirs that are now on my books.the glass gets dirty very quickly if they use fairy.windows get missed(awkward ones).most dont offer online payments,or conny roof,fascia cleaning.

honestly lads the amount of people that have been unhappy with their work is amazing.

ive also had people that have had rubbish service from wfp cleaners as well.they are now happy as i simply say to them "if your not happy with the results DONT PAY ME!").

most of the complaints are because they dont take their business seriously,charge too little so rush the job or simply dont care IMO.

regards


dazmond
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 03, 2014, 08:25:43 am
Like the difference between a washing up bowl and a dishwasher.

David have u not got bigger fish to fry given happenings down in stoke today lol

That guy in the technical area is a clone.  If he were to remove his shirt, you would see a key in his back.  It's what people use to wind him up.  I am the real one.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: gary999 on February 03, 2014, 10:26:54 am
wfp is safer,easier on the body and gives me better access to
work like fascia clean and con cleaning.

The more that stay trad personally the better off i will be :)
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: geoffreyspecht on February 03, 2014, 09:09:02 pm
the thing is with a lot of trad window cleaners(that work near me anyway)is they use fairy liquid and dont clean the frames.some dont even bother to give the sills a wipe.

i know because of the unhappy ex customers of  theirs that are now on my books.the glass gets dirty very quickly if they use fairy.windows get missed(awkward ones).most dont offer online payments,or conny roof,fascia cleaning.

honestly lads the amount of people that have been unhappy with their work is amazing.

ive also had people that have had rubbish service from wfp cleaners as well.they are now happy as i simply say to them "if your not happy with the results DONT PAY ME!").

most of the complaints are because they dont take their business seriously,charge too little so rush the job or simply dont care IMO.

regards


dazmond
what do charge for a three bedroom house dazmond
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: geoffreyspecht on February 03, 2014, 09:13:58 pm
Stop stop stop stop stop

Sometimes wfp is better
Sometimes trad is better

For me the best windies can do both well

Most customers prefer trad though at the moment
trad 32 years wfp 7 years im good at both
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: PoleKing on February 03, 2014, 09:37:47 pm
the thing is with a lot of trad window cleaners(that work near me anyway)is they use fairy liquid and dont clean the frames.some dont even bother to give the sills a wipe.

i know because of the unhappy ex customers of  theirs that are now on my books.the glass gets dirty very quickly if they use fairy.windows get missed(awkward ones).most dont offer online payments,or conny roof,fascia cleaning.

honestly lads the amount of people that have been unhappy with their work is amazing.

ive also had people that have had rubbish service from wfp cleaners as well.they are now happy as i simply say to them "if your not happy with the results DONT PAY ME!").

most of the complaints are because they dont take their business seriously,charge too little so rush the job or simply dont care IMO.

regards


dazmond

I've only ever used fairy Daz. What's better & why?
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dazmond on February 03, 2014, 09:38:35 pm
geoff i charge between £7 and £12 for a 3 bed semi for a smallish one and depending on frequency,near other work.frames,sills and doors cleaned every time as well as glass. ;)
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: geoffreyspecht on February 03, 2014, 09:50:02 pm
geoff i charge between £7 and £12 for a 3 bed semi for a smallish one and depending on frequency,near other work.frames,sills and doors cleaned every time as well as glass. ;)
£10 to £12.50 me
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: C o z y on February 03, 2014, 09:57:22 pm
I find it amazing that there is this competition.

If a windie cleans trad and is happy with that and so are his customers, then what is there to argue about.

If another chooses wfp and he's happy with that and so are his customers then ditto.

Why is there this weird type of snobbery.

If a member asks on here about using ladders, there will be the inevitable answer about changing to wfp which wasn't what the op was asking. In fact, any trad question ends up with the 'change to wfp' somewhere in the answers just as any question about non Gardiners wfp products ends up being about Gardiners wfp products.

What he said. I find it really amusing watching the snobs on here  ;D A snobby windy, who'd have believed that eh? Same in the carpet section, truck mounts are better than portables  ::)roll

Sad gits  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: geoffreyspecht on February 03, 2014, 10:04:47 pm
sounds good snobs window cleaning service.always wanted to clean windows in my morning suit
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dazmond on February 03, 2014, 10:07:43 pm
there is just a better class of window cleaner! ;D ;D ;D

and they are usually wfp! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: C o z y on February 03, 2014, 10:20:57 pm
there is just a better class of window cleaner! ;D ;D ;D

and they are usually wfp! ;D ;D ;D ;D

I'm trad Daz, you better than me then?
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: gary999 on February 03, 2014, 11:00:44 pm
there is just a better class of window cleaner! ;D ;D ;D

and they are usually wfp! ;D ;D ;D ;D

I'm trad Daz, you better than me then?

Cozy mate..you are a scouser living in Germany

Even if you were wfp,you would still be lower than a snakes belly! ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: C o z y on February 03, 2014, 11:26:43 pm
Yeah, good point.  ;D
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: Jonny 87 on February 04, 2014, 12:33:28 am
the thing is with a lot of trad window cleaners(that work near me anyway)is they use fairy liquid and dont clean the frames.some dont even bother to give the sills a wipe.

i know because of the unhappy ex customers of  theirs that are now on my books.the glass gets dirty very quickly if they use fairy.windows get missed(awkward ones).most dont offer online payments,or conny roof,fascia cleaning.

honestly lads the amount of people that have been unhappy with their work is amazing.

ive also had people that have had rubbish service from wfp cleaners as well.they are now happy as i simply say to them "if your not happy with the results DONT PAY ME!").

most of the complaints are because they dont take their business seriously,charge too little so rush the job or simply dont care IMO.

regards


dazmond

I've only ever used fairy Daz. What's better & why?

Anything is better than fairy.

Fairy gives a good clean, but coats the seals and glass heavily, meaning that within just a few days after they've been cleaned you can see the dirt starting to gather.

I clean a few where trad guys clean next to me that I know use fairy, they work a fortnightly rota and I'm only monthly. Even after 4 weeks my customers windows look better than there's.

Then again mayb they are making money than me because needing to do more cleans. Lol.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: rosskesava on February 04, 2014, 12:50:50 am
Anything is better than fairy.

Fairy gives a good clean, but coats the seals and glass heavily, meaning that within just a few days after they've been cleaned you can see the dirt starting to gather.

I clean a few where trad guys clean next to me that I know use fairy, they work a fortnightly rota and I'm only monthly. Even after 4 weeks my customers windows look better than there's.

Then again mayb they are making money than me because needing to do more cleans. Lol.

I've gone back to good old fairy for the shops I do exactly for that reason. I hate to say it but I've gone for the cash over doing a proper job.

A few weeks back a shop keeper said to to do the windows every 2 weeks as they seem to stay clean and for some odd reason, that really narked me considering he brags to me about selling over priced tat to his customers and gives all the spiel to customers about quality of product.
Title: Re: why slate trad window cleaners
Post by: dazmond on February 04, 2014, 08:15:59 am
fairy is the detergent of choice for many trad window cleaners(i used it for years!) ;D

it certainly helps for a 2 weekly frequency at £3-50-£4 per house.