Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay moley on May 22, 2020, 10:49:50 pm

Title: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: jay moley on May 22, 2020, 10:49:50 pm
I've done it a few times this week and I swear it's faster.

Am I going nuts?
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: KS Cleaning on May 22, 2020, 11:11:05 pm
I've done it a few times this week and I swear it's faster.

Am I going nuts?
I start at the front doing tops, working my way round to the back, then I collapse the pole and work my way back to the front of the house doing bottoms. I work with a backpack tho so hose management doesn’t come into it for me.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Smudger on May 22, 2020, 11:19:49 pm
As above

Darran
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: jay moley on May 23, 2020, 11:24:20 am
I've done it a few times this week and I swear it's faster.

Am I going nuts?
I start at the front doing tops, working my way round to the back, then I collapse the pole and work my way back to the front of the house doing bottoms. I work with a backpack tho so hose management doesn’t come into it for me.

Is that really quicker?
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: jay moley on May 23, 2020, 11:24:58 am
As above

Darran

Is that really quicker?

I would have thought the hose is more likely to be caught??
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: swanson on May 23, 2020, 11:37:41 am
All depends how I feel
Sometimes I start with the backs sometimes the fronts.
It’s good to mix it up a bit.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Smudger on May 23, 2020, 11:43:49 am
As above

Darran

Is that really quicker?

I would have thought the hose is more likely to be caught??

yes its quicker - not that ive ever noticed.
basically thats the way I clean the majority of the houses - its a routine - with routine you get more efficient the more efficient  you are the easier cleans become

Darran
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: NWH on May 23, 2020, 12:00:55 pm
As a rule I’ve always gone to the furthest point but on some domestic jobs I’ll do the front first it can be quicker,if I go to the furthest point and work my way back I fell as though I’m constantly dragging the hose I tend to do it in sections.
I’ll sometimes clean the front and side pull right round the back clean the other side and back then all I’ve got to worry about doing is making sure the hose is clear of obstacles before I go back and reel in.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: tlwcs on May 23, 2020, 01:18:12 pm
Quicker is so last year.
All I’m getting is people I never usually  see, those who I normally try to avoid, all now stopping me foe a socially distant chat ffs
I used to quick and miserable, now I’m just miserable
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: The Jester of Wibbly on May 23, 2020, 01:22:29 pm
Always the front first.   It hints to the customer that I am there rather than going straight round the back and surprising them in their private areas.  You never know what you might see. 
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: dazmond on May 23, 2020, 01:35:45 pm
it just depends what im cleaning...if im cleaning estate work where i clean nearly every house on the estate one after the other then ill  usually start by cleaning 2 fronts then 2 backs,sometimes 1 front then 2 backs followed by 1 front.....it depends on access,cars parked that day,fences,etc

most other jobs ill clean the front(top and bottom first)followed by the rest of the house
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: SB Cleaning on May 23, 2020, 01:50:26 pm
Always the front first.   It hints to the customer that I am there rather than going straight round the back and surprising them in their private areas.  You never know what you might see.
I do the same.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: jay moley on May 23, 2020, 02:30:55 pm
Cleaning the front could stop people cancelling on the doorstep when it's raining if you have to knock for the side gate, if they've forgotten to open it or if the garage needs to be opened.

Just a thought.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Simon Trapani on May 23, 2020, 02:38:49 pm
We pretty much always start at the furthest point so as we know how much hose to pull with fixed reels. Then we go back to the van to grab the pole, shut the doors on the hose and lock the van.

Otherwise you gotta guess how much hose to pull. And I'm not working with the van doors open else our tools & van insurance is void.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: KS Cleaning on May 23, 2020, 02:43:16 pm
I've done it a few times this week and I swear it's faster.

Am I going nuts?
I start at the front doing tops, working my way round to the back, then I collapse the pole and work my way back to the front of the house doing bottoms. I work with a backpack tho so hose management doesn’t come into it for me.

Is that really quicker?
It’s quicker for me yes. Other advantage is, of the customers  who still pay by cash  I ring the doorbell before I’m finished at the front, gives them time to go get the money, so no hanging about waiting at the door for payment. Also long term there is less wear and tear on the pole.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: dazmond on May 23, 2020, 02:49:57 pm
We pretty much always start at the furthest point so as we know how much hose to pull with fixed reels. Then we go back to the van to grab the pole, shut the doors on the hose and lock the van.

Otherwise you gotta guess how much hose to pull. And I'm not working with the van doors open else our tools & van insurance is void.

i just grab the hose and pole and start walking,leaving a van door open
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Shrek on May 23, 2020, 02:52:20 pm
Quicker is so last year.
All I’m getting is people I never usually  see, those who I normally try to avoid, all now stopping me foe a socially distant chat ffs
I used to quick and miserable, now I’m just miserable

Same , I took a month out so all my jobs are now a month behind. A bit dirtier and everyone is in , 9/10 owners are coming out to chat for 10 mins per job so I’m pretty slow this month.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: TomCrowther on May 23, 2020, 04:16:03 pm
I tend to start at the bottom first. This warms me up to do the higher windows. Yes, the ground floor windows get dripped on but I’m less like to pull a muscle this way.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Stoots on May 23, 2020, 04:22:34 pm
Always front first incase the gate is locked.

And secondly because it alerts the customer to my presence so if they have a dog, forgot to open gate etc they usually hear me and come out to sort it without me having to knock and of course if they were sunbathing, had kids running round etc they usually disappear in. Nothing worse than going straight round the back to surprise people or get bitten.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Smudger on May 23, 2020, 04:29:55 pm
We pretty much always start at the furthest point so as we know how much hose to pull with fixed reels. Then we go back to the van to grab the pole, shut the doors on the hose and lock the van.

Otherwise you gotta guess how much hose to pull. And I'm not working with the van doors open else our tools & van insurance is void.

Seriously?
That's an extra journey to and from the van each and every job

Darran
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Stoots on May 23, 2020, 04:35:58 pm
We pretty much always start at the furthest point so as we know how much hose to pull with fixed reels. Then we go back to the van to grab the pole, shut the doors on the hose and lock the van.

Otherwise you gotta guess how much hose to pull. And I'm not working with the van doors open else our tools & van insurance is void.

Seriously?
That's an extra journey to and from the van each and every job

Darran

Yes seems a weird way of working. Shutting and locking the van is an extra faff as well.

I always leave mine wide open, in 5 years I've never had a problem. I mean someone could decide to nick a pole or a backpack etc but I'll take my chances.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Smudger on May 23, 2020, 04:39:48 pm
My tasks are mid load bay so you can only get to the reels from the back doors

But even so - if anyone wanted to nick a 15 year old windy bucket, then they really need some help

Darran
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Shrek on May 23, 2020, 05:07:59 pm
Same here , all I keep in the back is a couple of brushes , tank & hose reel. Nothing really worth nicking!
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: dazmond on May 23, 2020, 10:19:22 pm
I tend to start at the bottom first. This warms me up to do the higher windows. Yes, the ground floor windows get dripped on but I’m less like to pull a muscle this way.

You must be joking right?if not that's a really terrible way to work IMO!
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: TomCrowther on May 23, 2020, 10:36:06 pm
You not got used to my sense of humour yet Daz?
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: jk999 on May 24, 2020, 12:16:16 am
I start at back ups then onto front ups then round to backs down then finish fronts down ,reason for this is customers dont like you dropping straight onto downs once you do the windows above so keeps customers happy im not interested in speed as long as i get my work done with happy customers 🙂👍
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on June 10, 2020, 04:29:34 pm
I usually knock, start to clean front tops.. say hello.. get them to unlock gate if necessary.. round the back, tops that are above windows so they can be dripping, tops above conservatory or whatever then bottom windows, leaving the ones below dripping windows until last then round the front to finish off with the bottoms. Get paid then wash down the front door so it doesn't drip inside
Oh.. and a partridge in a pair tree 👍
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: dazmond on June 10, 2020, 05:44:44 pm
I usually knock, start to clean front tops.. say hello.. get them to unlock gate if necessary.. round the back, tops that are above windows so they can be dripping, tops above conservatory or whatever then bottom windows, leaving the ones below dripping windows until last then round the front to finish off with the bottoms. Get paid then wash down the front door so it doesn't drip inside
Oh.. and a partridge in a pair tree 👍

ive never understood window cleaners knocking before they start cleaning.....ive never done it in 27 years of window cleaning...it must be a regional thing! ;D
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: KS Cleaning on June 10, 2020, 06:08:01 pm
I start at back ups then onto front ups then round to backs down then finish fronts down ,reason for this is customers dont like you dropping straight onto downs once you do the windows above so keeps customers happy im not interested in speed as long as i get my work done with happy customers 🙂👍
In 10 years poling I’ve never had a customer tell me in what order to clean their windows.....if they did they would be an ex customer.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: Phil J on June 10, 2020, 07:21:05 pm
We always start with the dodgy windows if any. The ones that take an age to drip or the ones with dodgy seals that drip. That way you get longer to work on the above.
Title: Re: Anyone clean the front before the back?
Post by: robbo333 on June 10, 2020, 07:32:21 pm
Front ups, front downs.
sides.
back ups, back downs.
If I feel I need to lock the van, then out the van, put the central locking on, open the side door on the key (the rest stays locked).
I clean out the side of the van.
If it's slightly more dodgy then I shut the side door on the hose (it doesn't affect pressure).
If it's even more dodgy...I don't clean  ;D