Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neil Grainger on July 03, 2006, 07:00:30 am
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Hi All
As we are going into a heath wave at the moment, I would like views on wearing shorts whilst cleaning. Not football shorts but very smart Chino shorts.
Just unsure but its damn hot.
Cheers
Neil
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had the same thought,holding off for now as think it does'nt look professional, expecially if you have milk bottle white legs and then shoes and socks!
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just though my new van got air conditioning great for a blast of chilly air between jobs, and that keeping me sane in this hot weather, if anyone is getting a new van seriously have a look at it as a option.
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without doubt it's got to be short's ! i am off to do 1st paying job now & would think people would expect short's & t-shirt for any trade, in this weather !
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Same here lads I'm in short now till end Sept!
One look at my legs and they pay to get rid of me ;D
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Tailored style shorts everytime. But on arrival, I apologise for the informal dress to lighten the situation.
A problem though, can be footwear. When wearing trousers, I arrive in slip-on shoes and change at the door into my deck-shoes for indoor use. With shorts, I now wear trainers with velcro straps so it's quick and easy to change. For you "young 'uns" the wearing of trainers without tied laces (just tucked in) still appears to be an acceptable style. H&S could be a grey area though.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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I absolutely agree with Ken. You can look just as smart in shorts as you can in longs. Wear tailored shorts and shirt with your logo and appropriate footwear.
Like Ken and many others, I also use separate footwear for indoor and outdoor use - can be a pain when you forget something and have to go outside to your van, but customers love the professionalism and care.
I only have one problem with shorts - wearing knee protectors with Velcro straps causes havoc with the hairs on my legs!
Nick
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just though my new van got air conditioning great for a blast of chilly air between jobs, and that keeping me sane in this hot weather, if anyone is getting a new van seriously have a look at it as a option.
Paul, How much is the AIR CON extra for your van ?
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list was £600extra but haggle amazing the results
Was lovely today 28c outside 15c inside...... bbrrrr chilly, plus side is ice lolllied don't melt to fast either.
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The compresor needs massive amounts of power to squeeze all that liquid to gas. You might be cold but your engine sure wont be! poor thing.
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Definitely shorts,be honest most custys wouldn't bat an eyelid if you turned up wearing just a tie and nowt else :)
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Nick
Become a cyclist! Tour de France is on! Word of advice don’t shave and then jump into the bath. ;D
Len
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Hi
Yep shorts!
Had my scary hairys out for weeks!
Don't show 'em too often, makes the Sparrows jealous!
Guys it is just too hot to wear trousers and you can still look professional.
Regards
Martin 8)
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Not sure what the fuss is all about. I wear shorts all year round and although just my opinion, the
customer doesnt care what you have on, to an obvious degree. Best, Dave.
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shorts but smart with logo [ all year round ]
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What, shorts in January when its about -8. ???
Are you mad, because your customers will think you are!
Phil
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No shorts, they are not professional looking and we should be portraying a good image at all times. What would you think yourself if say your solicitor or the vicar went around in shorts.
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If they were going to clean my carpets I wouldnt think any more or less of them for having shorts on.
Best, Dave.
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My thoughts echo those of Fintan
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Her'es a thought
In the likes of Greece and Spain sales reps and local trades people generally, do not turn up in shorts!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm just back from Spain and, really, 38 - 30 degrees is a long way short of the temperatures around the MED'
You probably look a sight............cover up.
angie
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What would you think yourself if say your solicitor or the vicar went around in shorts.
But a Solicitor dosen't have to graft like we do, I think its acceptable to wear shorts if its really hot like at the moment.
I play at a very high class Golf Course and they accept shorts just above the knees in hot weather.
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The reason Solicitors,etc don't have to break sweat, or graft, is that they sacrificed five or six years to study while the majority of others were already working and socialising.
I often wish I'd continued wirh my education, but the option was'nt available to me.
So, I graft!!! c'est la vie!
angie
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It would appear that us manual workers are been compared to white collar workers by some.
IMO it is possible to be clean, smart and comfortable in shorts and still be complimentary to your professionalism.
OK, it is rare to see a sales rep, vicar, accountant, solictor, judge, bank manager et al in shorts. They are all involved in sitting and walking in their professional lives.
But carpet cleaners, postmen (forget the sexism bit :o ) builders, carpenters, plumbers, milkmen et al are all involved in lifting/moving weights and manual work. Can you now see the differences in the nature of the different trades/professions being compared by others?
To make matters worse for CCers, we are working with HOT water, and when working upstairs, the heat from within the building as well as our equipment will find it's way up there. Has anyone here tried brushing in protector on a first floor carpet on a really hot day?
As for the comparison with warmer countries, air conditioning is more commonplace, especially in commercial premises. And as a good rule of thumb, the UK tends to be very humid on really hot days. Just compare it to a sauna. You pour water on the coals, the temperature stays the same but it feels hotter and stickier. Our work increases the house's humidity considerably.
At the end of the day, it's a personal choice, shorts or trousers, as long as you are considerate to both your clients needs and your own image.
And finally, you could have wonderful legs like mine, or you could have legs like Derek Bolton ;)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Hi Guys,
If I had'nt worn shorts today I think I would have died , it was that humid.
I have drunk about 6 pints of water .
Cheers
Doug
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shorts nice polo shirt marked up ;D looks ok
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Terry, don't you think that the SP1 has too small a tank, is a bit heavy on the wrists and not great on the fueling? (Power Commander excepted)
Life's a bitch, then you ride
Ken
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Ken,excellent post,and sums up the shorts/suits issue very nicely.
I think some people believe that carpet/upholstery cleaning is some kind of special job,and cannot be seen to be carried out professionally by someone who dares to turn up at a customers doorstep wearing anything other than a 3 piece suit,or is it suite? :)
We are not white collar workers,we are as you say manual workers.
Suits should be reserved for car salesmen/double glazing salesmen/estate agents or anyone else that is trying to rip you off,not by honest cc just trying to make an honest living.
Customers do not care what you wear as long as you look clean and presentable.-John
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Talk about twisting words around. Nobody is suggesting c/c's should turn up in suits or even ties, particularly on warm days.
All that was mentioned, was that in a hot climate, rather than a temperate climate most people, including manual workers do not find it necessary to wear shorts.
The comparison, was intended as a gentle sarcasm about the weather in these islands, rather than a really hot climate, like Spain, with 38 - 40 degrees.
The only air conditioned office I've ever been in, in Spain was an Estate Agents
angie