Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dazmond on July 04, 2017, 08:15:13 pm
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forget trolleys.van mount and a backpack are best of both worlds.
xtreme poles arent worth the money for main day to day poles but essential for work over 25ft.
25ft SLX for regular work.
fixed reels and microbore are again essential for smooth efficient working.
hot water is a waste of money and wont speed you up.
pencil jets are my main choice for window cleaning but fan jets can be great for add ons and certain large properties with large panes.
i prefer a pumpbox and tank/tank frame thats bolted to the eyelet holes in my van(rather than through the floor)cheap and easy to fit (and take out if need be).500L is also ideal size for me.
i always have ladders with me and a little step.they come in handy (and a small trad pole for the odd bit of squeegee work)
as part of my end of day jobs.i check my tds after filling up as a matter of course.
i keep a stock of spares in the van in my toolbox(tape,spare connectors,o rings,etc).
at home i also have a spare pump and controller,poles,odds and ends,reel and reel hose,pole hose etc.
i periodically strip down and flush out my main pole and spray with PTFE spray(esp if ive been working where theres a lot of sand/grit etc)
i always wipe my pole hose before putting it back in my van.
ive dropped work or given it away to other cleaners before now because of it not being wfp friendly or just a PITA with the pole.its never stopped me from building a better round.
9 times out of 10 working with a high flow speeds me up.
the uni valve is the best water control device for my main pole.so easy and fast to use.
on ground floor problem windows(dodgy top rubber seals)i wipe over the top frame/seal with a dry scrim or microfibre cloth before rinsing about an inch from the top frame or trad/squeegee that particular window.
i now prefer leasing new vans after years of using older vans and put up my prices to cover the van rental every month.
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Words of wisdom.
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Best change I've made this year is converting poles to the Exceed Tubeless set up.
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Best change I've made this year is converting poles to the Exceed Tubeless set up.
Nail on the head there , did it last week and its a joy !
Its DIY tubeless on the poles and 100m of Gardiner green on the reel , should have done it sooner
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Don't pee against the wind and if you have to poo do it in the garden of a dog owner.
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Get good customers and easy properties is my top tip. Then if you can get great paying work.
Your business is only as good as your customers. If your have a load of slow paying, non paying, miserable, ignorant messers it will drain the life out of you.
Likewise if the houses your clean are awkward access, awkward angles, gardens full of rubbish and no where to park etc it soon gets to you.
The icing on the cake is to charge a premium rate for all this easy work and then work becomes a joy.
Refining your work has to be more important than all the gear and vans.
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Keep it simple.
Keep your equipment light.
Keep your common sense button switched on
Be careful of people telling you about the latest window cleaning game changer, 999 times out of a thousand they will be trying to sell you rocking horse manure.
Only give customers a level of service that they're prepared to pay for.
Don't try to win work by undercutting or offering freebies as both are nothing but messer magnets.
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Go to work.
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Have self confidence backed up with quality but loose the arrogant personality.
Believe in the quality service you offer (obviously backed up with quality) and believe in yourself. This will push you to get the prices you want and allow you not to keep hold of a bad customer on the false thinking that your only just building a round up etc so you need every bit of work that comes along. That is false reasoning! Unless your entire round is made up of ones like that! Which cannot possibly be the case.
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forget trolleys.van mount and a backpack are best of both worlds.
xtreme poles arent worth the money for main day to day poles but essential for work over 25ft.
25ft SLX for regular work.
fixed reels and microbore are again essential for smooth efficient working.
hot water is a waste of money and wont speed you up.
pencil jets are my main choice for window cleaning but fan jets can be great for add ons and certain large properties with large panes.
i prefer a pumpbox and tank/tank frame thats bolted to the eyelet holes in my van(rather than through the floor)cheap and easy to fit (and take out if need be).500L is also ideal size for me.
i always have ladders with me and a little step.they come in handy (and a small trad pole for the odd bit of squeegee work)
as part of my end of day jobs.i check my tds after filling up as a matter of course.
i keep a stock of spares in the van in my toolbox(tape,spare connectors,o rings,etc).
at home i also have a spare pump and controller,poles,odds and ends,reel and reel hose,pole hose etc.
i periodically strip down and flush out my main pole and spray with PTFE spray(esp if ive been working where theres a lot of sand/grit etc)
i always wipe my pole hose before putting it back in my van.
ive dropped work or given it away to other cleaners before now because of it not being wfp friendly or just a PITA with the pole.its never stopped me from building a better round.
9 times out of 10 working with a high flow speeds me up.
the uni valve is the best water control device for my main pole.so easy and fast to use.
on ground floor problem windows(dodgy top rubber seals)i wipe over the top frame/seal with a dry scrim or microfibre cloth before rinsing about an inch from the top frame or trad/squeegee that particular window.
i now prefer leasing new vans after years of using older vans and put up my prices to cover the van rental every month.
Agree with 95% of this, except an Slx18 and a longer pole that you can strip down to whatever working length you need suits me better.
Also i like my 650ltr tank, at 35 ppm local water, it's cheap and I can splash it around to my hearts content.
Also i can sniff out messers better than I used to ;D
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Go to work.
No I'm off to the seaside, it's far too nice for working!!!!
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Dazmond. I think you have left off your most important thing off the list.
This forum
With over 12000 post averaging over 4 a day deserves a mention in your list bud. ;D
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Keep it simple.
Keep your equipment light.
Keep your common sense button switched on
Be careful of people telling you about the latest window cleaning game changer, 999 times out of a thousand they will be trying to sell you rocking horse manure.
Only give customers a level of service that they're prepared to pay for.
Don't try to win work by undercutting or offering freebies as both are nothing but messer magnets.
Absolutely agree!
Today my 3 week old Gardiner's water control valve fell apart whilst I was cleaning a window.
Also having problems with the tubeless kit. Iv found it wears the bottom of section 1 on the pole and starts to slide further up the pole, making it harder to connect.
My solution, rip the lot out, attach pole hose to hose reel with a tightly fitted barb and run the pole hose directly through pole into brush head.
Back to basics but nothing to go wrong, no leaks, no stiff connectors, no dodgy springs etc.
A simple on/off tap near the brush head is all that's required.
Keep it simple. Sometimes this game seems to be far too complicated just to clean a few poxy windows.
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Go to work.
No I'm off to the seaside, it's far too nice for working!!!!
Ive just been out on the bike, so day off for me too. ;)
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Dazmond. I think you have left off your most important thing off the list.
This forum
With over 12000 post averaging over 4 a day deserves a mention in your list bud. ;D
Dont encourage him.
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When you get the customers house , park up and TAKE THE KEYS WITH YOU
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Keep it simple.
Keep your equipment light.
Keep your common sense button switched on
Be careful of people telling you about the latest window cleaning game changer, 999 times out of a thousand they will be trying to sell you rocking horse manure.
Only give customers a level of service that they're prepared to pay for.
Don't try to win work by undercutting or offering freebies as both are nothing but messer magnets.
Absolutely agree!
Today my 3 week old Gardiner's water control valve fell apart whilst I was cleaning a window.
Also having problems with the tubeless kit. Iv found it wears the bottom of section 1 on the pole and starts to slide further up the pole, making it harder to connect.
My solution, rip the lot out, attach pole hose to hose reel with a tightly fitted barb and run the pole hose directly through pole into brush head.
Back to basics but nothing to go wrong, no leaks, no stiff connectors, no dodgy springs etc.
A simple on/off tap near the brush head is all that's required.
Keep it simple. Sometimes this game seems to be far too complicated just to clean a few poxy windows.
Ditto.
The only things ive done different is stuck an immersion heater in my 500ltr tank and stuck additional pencil jets in brush.
(Haha am im told im over thinking things 😂😂)
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When you knock on the custies door they don't answer.
When you do a massive fart round the back, they are standing right behind you! ;D
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
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More seriously:
Magic eraser pads get rid of most marks on front doors and sills.
I use pencil jets for windows and fan jets for FSG cleans. Also Screwfix no nonsense degreaser is very good. I do not pre wet, just apply it and leave for a few minutes.
Stick 60m of pole hose on your main reel. (obviously take 60 off to start with). It's light and easy to work with, good flow at the brush head and no controller problems.
If you have bad elbows etc etc, keep it light. I tried everything for my tennis elbow then got the xtreme pole and brushes. Hardly notice it now. (Hence the 60m of pole hose, keeping it light).
My 350l tank is not big enough. I need about 450 per day.
A higher flow rate actually uses less water and is quicker.
Never swear out loud at your protector ball being caught behind a car tyre...someone will hear.
If your new enquiry says 'her last window cleaner stopped coming' you will too.
If a custy sounds too good to be true...they probably are.
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Dazmond. I think you have left off your most important thing off the list.
This forum
With over 12000 post averaging over 4 a day deserves a mention in your list bud. ;D
;D ;D
yep this forum has drastically helped me transform my business over the years. :)
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
It's very good. Doesn't expand or kink like other hoses. Probably the best pole hose iv used.
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Top Tip..
If you put something over your tank lid to stop any water spillage/leaking out while driving to place of work. Make sure you take it off before you start cleaning windows, and dont forget like i did ::)roll
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
Its fantastic , im using 100m of it on my reel , which serves as pole hose too , i wasnt going to run it across roads to begin with but it was starting to lay so flat i thought sod it , a small price to pay to find out if its up to the job , so far so good , lots of big stuff went over it today with no harm , i did have a car decide to go from lock to lock on it yesterday , i proper cringed as i watched , all was well .
I must point out that Mr G does make it clear that it is not made for use as reel hose , so at your own risk chaps , if it goes pear shaped then i will have lots of pole hose !
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Keep it simple.
Keep your equipment light.
Keep your common sense button switched on
Be careful of people telling you about the latest window cleaning game changer, 999 times out of a thousand they will be trying to sell you rocking horse manure.
Only give customers a level of service that they're prepared to pay for.
Don't try to win work by undercutting or offering freebies as both are nothing but messer magnets.
You need to add:
Don't fall off garage roofs and brain damage yourself.
;)
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
Its fantastic , im using 100m of it on my reel , which serves as pole hose too , i wasnt going to run it across roads to begin with but it was starting to lay so flat i thought sod it , a small price to pay to find out if its up to the job , so far so good , lots of big stuff went over it today with no harm , i did have a car decide to go from lock to lock on it yesterday , i proper cringed as i watched , all was well .
I must point out that Mr G does make it clear that it is not made for use as reel hose , so at your own risk chaps , if it goes pear shaped then i will have lots of pole hose !
why did you decide to use this over microbore? is it easier to work with?
I never go across roads with my hose, im paraniod it will get tangled round someones wheels and rip the lot out of the van and probably cause a lot of damage or an accident. Ive seen guys laying it across main roads, seems crazy to me.
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I have been laying microbore over main roads for 12 years without incident.
I am using the green now as its so easy to use , i just hope it lasts well , i am trying now not to cross roads with it , but some jobs its the only way to do it .
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
Its fantastic , im using 100m of it on my reel , which serves as pole hose too , i wasnt going to run it across roads to begin with but it was starting to lay so flat i thought sod it , a small price to pay to find out if its up to the job , so far so good , lots of big stuff went over it today with no harm , i did have a car decide to go from lock to lock on it yesterday , i proper cringed as i watched , all was well .
I must point out that Mr G does make it clear that it is not made for use as reel hose , so at your own risk chaps , if it goes pear shaped then i will have lots of pole hose !
why did you decide to use this over microbore? is it easier to work with?
I never go across roads with my hose, im paraniod it will get tangled round someones wheels and rip the lot out of the van and probably cause a lot of damage or an accident. Ive seen guys laying it across main roads, seems crazy to me.
you will when you get more compact work.its impossible not to go across roads with your hose without wasting time when you have a lot of work on both sides of the road.(i mean side roads not main roads).i too have never had an issue.
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1499431275_Screenshot_2017-07-07-13-40-32.png)
From pure freedom! Can lay safely across the road
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1499431275_Screenshot_2017-07-07-13-40-32.png)
From pure freedom! Can lay safely across the road
That's just standard minibore reel hose.
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I have not come across any micro or minbore hose that cant be laid in road !
Its just up to you if you choose to do it or not.
Im laying green pole hose in the road now with no damage so far , i dont care if it lasts only for 6 months , the benefits of its light weight has already won me over .
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I have not come across any micro or minbore hose that cant be laid in road !
Its just up to you if you choose to do it or not.
Im laying green pole hose in the road now with no damage so far , i dont care if it lasts only for 6 months , the benefits of its light weight has already won me over .
Be careful laying hose on a road, especially if its super thin . There is a small possibility that the hose can get caught up in a car wheel as it drives over it at speed and it will take you with it.
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I have not come across any micro or minbore hose that cant be laid in road !
Its just up to you if you choose to do it or not.
Im laying green pole hose in the road now with no damage so far , i dont care if it lasts only for 6 months , the benefits of its light weight has already won me over .
Be careful laying hose on a road, especially if its super thin . There is a small possibility that the hose can get caught up in a car wheel as it drives over it at speed and it will take you with it.
Since I started wfp, I always laid my hose across the road due to the nature of my work and safely as well. Running straight line across and following curb etc and hose laying flat. But only a hand full of months ago (I think I may have posted about it) something gave ne a harsh yank back on the hose. Bare in mind I hove it holstered to my waist/belt. Initially thinking the worst I ran to main road as I was at the rear of the property. My hose reel was 6meters down the road (had my reel behind my van on the road with an external port), yanked clean off the port. At the side was a cars under carriage protector. It became clear that this must have been loose and dragging under the car who according to witnesses was flying down a 20mph zone and it scooped up the hose and pulled everything off. The owner of the car didnt stop either (not sure if thats a good thing or not though really).
So even tho the hose can take the hammering of cars driving over it, doesnt always mean that they should. Its changed how I work now
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Couple of thing I'd change Daz, I love my trolley and my extra light 18" slx :)
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Something I've learnt as a sole trader is you can only use one pole at a time so why have 2 or 3 ? ( sure have an old pole as a spare ) just buy the longest length you'll need to cover all your work and remove sections when not needed .... easy if you set up the tubeless way, paired with the univalve IMO its the most innovative thing to have happened in last few years. Will save you £££'s ..... I wouldn't want to work without that set up now.
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I have wasted 12 years finding the perfect set up !!!
Smallest van to carry just what you need.
Fixed raised powered reel with hose roller of some sort.
100m of Gardiner green.
18 foot SLX , Extreme brush , Univalve and Tubeless conversion.
35 foot Facelift , Extreme brush , Univalve and Tubeless conversion.
Ultimate brush (For 8 weekly and 1st cleans).
Small well priced round full of good paying customers (The hardest bit)
Rich
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I feel I have the best set up for what I need now. Perhaps in the future I may do what alot have done so far and change from microbore to pole hose. But I cant see that happening for a while.
Perhaps if I start to get higher work I will get a longer pole, but my slx25 is more than adequate for my work and I like the 14inch dual trim 6 jetted brushes which I will continue to use. Especially while im fit enough to do so as I like the weight of this brush.
The trolley for those odd cant park near jobs at times.
But apart from that, my set up is ideal.
Just got to make sure no one nicks it
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Nathan.... I am not sure if you have already explained your DIY motorised reel.... but for the electrically challenged could you give a really dumbed down 'walk-thru'... Would really appreciate it :-)
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For those using Gardiners GREEN FLEXIBLE PU POLE HOSE 5.5MM ID/8MM OD - 100M ...... how do you find it for day to day working..... ?
Cheers
Dave.
It's very good. Doesn't expand or kink like other hoses. Probably the best pole hose iv used.
Same here!
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Why do gardiner advise against using it for reel hose? how long is it lasting?