Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on April 16, 2017, 09:37:25 am
-
Time for an updated "Top Tips" thread methinks. I'll start:-
I quite like having 30 metres of pole hose on my hose reel attached to 50 or 60 metres of reel hose. Much lighter to throw about and just replace the "thin" 30 metres when it wears out. Been doing this for about a year now.
The 50 metres of reel hose lasts "forever" too.
Also makes the reel lighter for those who lift their reel out from time to time.
-
Always keep 20m of extension microbore hose for add on jobs in the van.it really helps with dirty conny roof jobs if you can plug straight into customers outside tap.saves your pure water too as well as a faster flow.
-
A ladies towel turban (they use this when they have wet hair) is exactly the right shape and size to fit over your brush. Use this to quickly remove any nasty drips when doing soffit cleans.
-
Time for an updated "Top Tips" thread methinks. I'll start:-
I quite like having 30 metres of pole hose on my hose reel attached to 50 or 60 metres of reel hose. Much lighter to throw about and just replace the "thin" 30 metres when it wears out. Been doing this for about a year now.
The 50 metres of reel hose lasts "forever" too.
Also makes the reel lighter for those who lift their reel out from time to time.
Go tubeless, do away with your 50 metres of 'fat/heavy' reel hose and just have 100 metres of 'thin'!
No join, no waste water lying in the hose to run out and wet the van.
That with Gardiner poles and the univalve is the best set up I've found
Tony
-
A ladies towel turban (they use this when they have wet hair) is exactly the right shape and size to fit over your brush. Use this to quickly remove any nasty drips when doing soffit cleans.
Good idea but I go one better and use a car car drying towel. Designed for super absorbancy.
-
work harder not smarter [is my tip]
theres no end of folk on these forums who promote the "work smarter not harder" adfinitum, but this is put about by ones who have a tiddlyarsed business
so dont ever take it seriously
-
A ladies towel turban (they use this when they have wet hair) is exactly the right shape and size to fit over your brush. Use this to quickly remove any nasty drips when doing soffit cleans.
Awesome idea , I'm always faffing about trying to tie a microfibre cloth around my brush!
-
A trad boab makes a good pee wee when you have to go. Just lean into the van and flop yer manhood in it (One size fit's all). Remember to empty it afterwards...Job done. lol
-
A ladies towel turban (they use this when they have wet hair) is exactly the right shape and size to fit over your brush. Use this to quickly remove any nasty drips when doing soffit cleans.
Awesome idea , I'm always faffing about trying to tie a microfibre cloth around my brush!
Me too. I usually use cable ties, there cheap enough, but something that just fits over the brush would be great.
-
Never count your change over a grate!
-
Buy a money belt........I find my wallet fills up far to quickly and uncomfortable in my back pocket whilst driving ;)
-
A ladies turban? I just click an applicator on my spare pole and mop the drips up.
-
Organisation and preparation!
Wear a pouch with the things you may need in it to save trips to the van like scourer(white top) ,scraper, mini bottle of virosol ( i filled a 100ml bottle), cloths.
Use the above to help cut down on hard scrubbing with the brush, wears you out.
I find a scrim in the pocket comes in handy a couple of times a day.
-
Put a small camping stove and a pan in the back of your van to boil water for hose repairs "in the field" - and you can have a cuppa too!
Business expense too!
-
Magic eraser pads get rid of 99% of marks on upvc and can improve the appearance left by oxidising seals.
If you've got a Gardiners scraper on your pole, use a thick rubber band to attach the magic pad. ;D
-
5L urine bottle saves on less emptying and usually has a wider opening for us lucky guys.
-
Keep a pillow in the cab for afternoon snoozes!
-
Large spare drinks bottle for having a pee at side door of van.I go at least twice in the day while working.
Never lift reel in and out.have it fixed in the van.much easier on your back.
Use a very high flow for most work.you'll work quicker and save at least 30 mins a day.
Always have business cards on you at all times while working (same for 'windows cleaned today'tickets/invoices)
End of day jobs include water production, charging battery,etc Don't forget to always check your tds in tank too after purifying.
Spray bottle with detergent for trad jobs.saves getting the bucket out.leave it in the van with a lid on.just use it for a quick dunk of your T mop here and there.
Always have a good stock of spares in the van(Connectors,tape,blades,rubbers,brushes,gooseneck's, etc,etc)
-
Always take a flask and packed lunch so u can have lunch in the van.this also cuts down time wasted nipping to the shop/chippy/bakery etc.healthier too.
Polarised sunglasses,a baseball cap of some sort and various pairs of gloves are a must.the cap comes in handy for working in the rain(stops rain going in eyes).
Sun cream, toothpicks,a spoon (for yoghurt/soup,etc),plasters are also on my 'must have in the van" list!☺
-
Always organise your worksheets for the next week on the friday/sat as one of your "end of day jobs".
Keep an eye on your debt lists and don't let them get too out of control.don't clean accounts that are more than 2 or 3 cleans in arrears until payment received.
-
Always book in add ons for existing customers next time you clean their windows.
1.it'll give u chance to re schedule your work next month to fit it in.
2.your not interrupting your normal schedule this month.
3.its more efficient to clean their windows at the same time as the add on job(s)
-
Get up and go to work.
-
I've found hot cleans better than just using cold on filthy plastics, glass etc... Less scrubbing and all that. lol
-
Never accept a drink of juice from a window cleaner.
-
Never accept a drink of juice from a window cleaner.
;D
-
Stay off the forums. :)
-
work harder not smarter [is my tip]
theres no end of folk on these forums who promote the "work smarter not harder" adfinitum, but this is put about by ones who have a tiddlyarsed business
so dont ever take it seriously
hard work and smart
little example from my world
intead of spending the day mixing cleaning windows and quoting
spend 3/4 days working on the windows and a day or an evening pricing saving a day
keeps you focused on one thing instead of having to build up the cleaning momentum after slowing to talk to customer
when you get down to paperwork online work etc. just do the jobs you have planned instead of browsing and watching videos.
then you have worked smartly and effieciently. dealt with work issues so the are not on your mind. now you can get on to next job!! cleaning, pricing, emailing, ticketing, collecting
-
Always book in add ons for existing customers next time you clean their windows.
1.it'll give u chance to re schedule your work next month to fit it in.
2.your not interrupting your normal schedule this month.
3.its more efficient to clean their windows at the same time as the add on job(s)
if they are close proximity you could save for a rainy afternoon if you stop for wet days! also if you have staff that count on the hours then it would be a bonus to then in this way!
-
A trad boab makes a good pee wee when you have to go. Just lean into the van and flop yer manhood in it (One size fit's all). Remember to empty it afterwards...Job done. lol
I did this last Thursday
Trouble is I stepped right into the van and the door shut behind me
Panicked initially until I realised that my custom has a safety lock inside that allows you to get out :o
-
Serious one this: a 6" applicator and squeezy bottle of solution for SOME trad. work. Not for shop work and the like.
It's great for really dirty jobs and inside work.
Inside there's less to wipe up and detail.
It might take longer to soap up but it saves time in other ways. And no wet leg.
-
Serious one this: a 6" applicator and squeezy bottle of solution for SOME trad. work. Not for shop work and the like.
It's great for really dirty jobs and inside work.
Inside there's less to wipe up and detail.
It might take longer to soap up but it saves time in other ways. And no wet leg.
Totally agree, but still prefer the 18" mop n blade. For smaller windows a bottle of asda window cleaner works a treat and a whole lot less greasy than other makes. You can even dilute it. Easy to carry in pouch for the odd house you might have to pop into from time to time.
-
Carry a can of disinfect for those cat poope days.
-
Buy some battery cable off ebay or similar and have a large car battery fitted and wired up by a friendly mechanic, I included a switch so I can separate the work battery from van's battery.
Had mine installed 2 years ago and haven't charged a battery since.
I chose a car battery as a leisure battery takes longer to charge, I only work within 20 mins of home usually and that is more than enough driving to charge it up.
-
Regardless of what stage your business is at, always be looking for ways to drop the dross from your rounds.
-
Don't get too friendly with your customers, sometimes it can feel like your scared to put their price up because their your friends and don't want to offend them. You then end up not wanting to do the job , especially if you've underpriced it
-
A trad boab makes a good pee wee when you have to go. Just lean into the van and flop yer manhood in it (One size fit's all). Remember to empty it afterwards...Job done. lol
do you really do this? ::)roll
-
industrial wipes in the van for dog/cat muck on your hose/hands
-
Always put a saucer of antifreeze under the van ;)
-
Don't over complicate or over analyse matters- it's window cleaning! ;D
-
Stick to your word. Do what you agree to do.
Use a fixed hose reel, it's a simple case of open the door grabbing and going. If you can, try to mount the hose reel shoulder hight..no bending or yanking needed.
Keep your van clean at least on the outside by washing over with the wfp at the end of the day
It's already been said don't treat your customers like mates..always sir/mrs/ms be friendly, don't try to solve every problem they come to you with or you will end up an odd job man. Remember you can have a good rapport with your customers without having to be chatting for ages, your relationship stops with the £. Who was it who said "No doshy No washy" it's always stuck with me that.
Get on and do the Job.
Be polite and smile, even if someone is rude to you or messes you about. You just don't know who they may know, and even if they are in the wrong and you tell them what you think of them, it can still ruin your reputation as people talk.
-
If your work on the glass is good and are people friendly then be confident in the service you offer and in yourself. Reflect this in your prices.
Did one today, pulled up to clean a new customers windows (3rd clean) and noticed most of neighbours cars in drive and thought whilst here, wont hurt to ask. So knocked and explained and gave a price of 15 for 4 wkly cleaning. Big chap who looks after himself, "tell you what make if 15 for 8wkly clean" he says.
"Call it 20 for 8wkly and youve got me booked!"
I now have a new customer. (Now i knew before the lad i have taken over used to clean this house before he messed things up on his round and he only charged £9 a clean. This was about a year ago)
Not doing all this waffle for it to be contested, but just top tip, be confident when going in for a price
-
When changing your resin top up with pure or tap water makes screwing top on a lot easier!
-
If your work on the glass is good and are people friendly then be confident in the service you offer and in yourself. Reflect this in your prices.
Did one today, pulled up to clean a new customers windows (3rd clean) and noticed most of neighbours cars in drive and thought whilst here, wont hurt to ask. So knocked and explained and gave a price of 15 for 4 wkly cleaning. Big chap who looks after himself, "tell you what make if 15 for 8wkly clean" he says.
"Call it 20 for 8wkly and youve got me booked!"
I now have a new customer. (Now i knew before the lad i have taken over used to clean this house before he messed things up on his round and he only charged £9 a clean. This was about a year ago)
Not doing all this waffle for it to be contested, but just top tip, be confident when going in for a price
ive been doing this for ages.it makes a massive difference to your earnings after a few years.
-
A trad boab makes a good pee wee when you have to go. Just lean into the van and flop yer manhood in it (One size fit's all). Remember to empty it afterwards...Job done. lol
do you really do this? ::)roll
Yes why do you think I said it. Also I've been known to pee in me trad bucket too. lol
-
Don't eat yellow snow!