Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: DaveG on November 04, 2023, 11:40:29 am
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It's time to get a new work jacket. Any recommendations?
Links would be handy.
Cheers
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After working outside for 36 years in all weathers the best gear for keeping me warm and dry is....
Decathlon hiking trousers(£45)
Decathlon half wellies(£20)
Logod polo shirt and fleece
Bergaus and/or northface shell goretex jackets
I know it seems excessive to some but I have 3 goretex shell jackets and I use all 3 on some particular wet days,swap for a dry one at lunchtime and sometimes once before lunch if the rains heavy!
No sweating like a pig like I used to do in cheap,nasty jackets or waterproof overtrousers...do not bother with these...
This works for me....I've also got a heavier goretex sailing jacket but I only wear this over my fleece when the weather gets really cold(hovering around zero or sub zero)
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But why three?? Either Goretex works or it doesn’t!
On really wet days I tend to stick with a dressing gown, works for me!
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I'll wear a t shirt, long sleeve thermal top and a hoodie in the cold. A coat would get in the way. If it rains I'll get wet. If it's raining for a long period I'll pack up. I don't understand why people 'clean' windows in 💩weather. I wouldn't want mine cleaned that's for sure.
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Without hesitation I can recommend Montane Gore tex jackets. I have used them since 96 on expeditions, hikes and day to day window cleaning. You do get what you pay for in my experience. I also have goretex trousers which are equally as good and enables you to work in all conditions. I have also found the helly Hansen waterproof trousers from screwfix brilliant as they seem to bit a breathable too and use them for powerwashing.
Most important thing with goretex is its breathable so you don't sweat like Peter storms etc where you get just as wet from sweating!
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Jacket needs to be long if possible.
British Navy Goretex jacket from - army surplus.
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With baseball caps on head to keep rain off face.
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With baseball caps on head to keep rain off face.
I wear a wide brimmed summer hat like you might wear watching cricket. (Like a Canadian Mountie might wear.) Sprayed with boot waterproofer. I bought 4 for £20 off the net about three years ago at the end of summer. I keep two in the van.
Keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my specs.
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With baseball caps on head to keep rain off face.
I wear a wide brimmed summer hat like you might wear watching cricket. (Like a Canadian Mountie might wear.) Sprayed with boot waterproofer. I bought 4 for £20 off the net about three years ago at the end of summer. I keep two in the van.
Keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my specs.
If the brim is too wide you get a crook in your neck when cleaning upstairs windows.
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baseball cap also keeps the hood of the jacket out of your eyes
Id rather have 2 or 3 cheap jackets than one expensive one, ive got a lightweight £20 one and slightly heavier one £50 with zipped in fleece both peter storm from go outdoors. If ive managed to soak both of them through in a day i probably shouldnt have been out.
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But why three?? Either Goretex works or it doesn’t!
On really wet days I tend to stick with a dressing gown, works for me!
Because they get wet after a few hours but are breathable so I don't sweat like a pig,it's always nice to put a fresh dry one on if it's still raining after lunch or a particular heavy spell of rain.
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I'll wear a t shirt, long sleeve thermal top and a hoodie in the cold. A coat would get in the way. If it rains I'll get wet. If it's raining for a long period I'll pack up. I don't understand why people 'clean' windows in 💩weather. I wouldn't want mine cleaned that's for sure.
I like to keep to my work schedule as much as possible all year round.in winter it can rain nearly every day here in the North West,sometimes for a fair few hours per day.
Sod having the time off.id rather be outside earning even in bad weather so I can have my days off I want...
It makes no difference whatsoever!
What if you clean a customers windows on a dry morning and it rains hard all afternoon?no difference than just cracking on all day in the rain.
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But why three?? Either Goretex works or it doesn’t!
On really wet days I tend to stick with a dressing gown, works for me!
Because they get wet after a few hours but are breathable so I don't sweat like a pig,it's always nice to put a fresh dry one on if it's still raining after lunch or a particular heavy spell of rain.
So you only work 5-6 hours a day so must be changing your coat every 2 hours ?…. Doesn’t sound very water proof to me
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Must be wearing them inside out?
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I've designed and honed my work life over many years of experience to make it as easy,comfortable and pleasant as possible. ;)
If that means changing my rain jackets every 2 hours on occasions they so be it....it makes my work days better....
Same as heated drivers seat,hot water,xtreme poles,electric reel,etc,etc
All these things add up.thats why I go about my work with a smile on my face! :)
Window cleaning is easy these days for me.👍
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Whatever tablets Daz is on I want some. I been doing this sh*t 32 years in May & I f*ckin hate it lol.
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Whatever tablets Daz is on I want some. I been doing this sh*t 32 years in May & I f*ckin hate it lol.
Really?why?
When I think back to my trad days climbing ladders 100 times a day,collecting money for hours on a Friday and Monday night there's no comparison to how easy this job is now....
Also we have a limitless supply of music,audiobooks,etc to choose from to listen to while we clean!
I also work shorter days,earn a lot more money,have better equipment and van,decent waterproof clothing...the list goes on!
There's never been a better time to be a window cleaner in the history of the trade
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I agree with all you say. I don’t really know any different it’s been so long now. I do pretty much the same regarding podcasts, equipment etc. Even have an employee in another van. But the novelty of new toys is only temporary. I get peed off with the heat, the wet, the mud, dog mess, texting, plant pots, flat roofs & just most customers in general etc etc. I’m ready to retire but what on I’ve no idea lol. And yes i do have a small pension pot so far & will have a paid for house. 32 years is a long time to be doing any job & i was cleaning Saturdays for
2 years before that! If i switch career though it would be a reality check. Yes, we have it easy really. Just lost my mojo for it at the moment.
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Whatever tablets Daz is on I want some. I been doing this sh*t 32 years in May & I f*ckin hate it lol.
Really?why?
When I think back to my trad days climbing ladders 100 times a day,collecting money for hours on a Friday and Monday night there's no comparison to how easy this job is now....
Also we have a limitless supply of music,audiobooks,etc to choose from to listen to while we clean!
I also work shorter days,earn a lot more money,have better equipment and van,decent waterproof clothing...the list goes on!
There's never been a better time to be a window cleaner in the history of the trade
That’s church, yo.
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Whatever tablets Daz is on I want some. I been doing this sh*t 32 years in May & I f*ckin hate it lol.
Really?why?
When I think back to my trad days climbing ladders 100 times a day,collecting money for hours on a Friday and Monday night there's no comparison to how easy this job is now....
Also we have a limitless supply of music,audiobooks,etc to choose from to listen to while we clean!
I also work shorter days,earn a lot more money,have better equipment and van,decent waterproof clothing...the list goes on!
There's never been a better time to be a window cleaner in the history of the trade
When you are out there in heat, rain, mud, dark, cold not to mention customers, dogs, dog muck, aches, pains, lack of brain stimulation to name a just few of the downsides it can all get a bit depressing and monotonous.
Then on the flip side when you get home at 2pm and finish on a thursday for the week you can reflect and think ive got it pretty good really things could be a lot worse and you get a bit of motivation and enjoyment back.
I think the lack of social interaction isnt good for the mind, we can all listen to podcasts but its not the same as having a laugh with your work mates or flirting with some bit of skirt in the office.
Lets face it none of us would do it as an employee working 40 hours a week, id rather stack shelves or be on the dole. We only put up with it because the hours are short and we can have random days off when we like. Its poope but that doesnt mean it doesnt have upsides which make it worth enduring.
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I've just bought a really nice winter jacket in costcos, it's water proof has a hood and a quilted liner , it's ideal for the winter and being good quality should last me for the remainder of my working life.
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None of us here would do it 40 hrs p/w as employed - just like we wouldn’t do factory work - food production work - imagine slicing up bits of a turkey all day everyday - call centres are just awful- sitting at a desk having to answer a phone within 3 rings asking permission to go to the toilet
Takes a certain type to be able to do SE
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I used all 3 jackets today.it was a bit grim this morning with lots of heavy 10 min showers but I certainly don't find it demoralising or depressing like Adam does....
The great thing about working outside in the winter is I appreciate a nice hot bath and home cooked food when I get home a lot more.👍
I would hate a job where I didn't leave the house all day even on a bad weather day like today.....its good to be outside even if its only 5 or 6 hours....
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Would be nice to live anywhere far enough East in the UK to avoid plenty of the showers but living in the West is what it is, just have to accept it rains more this part of the country and crack on between showers.
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I've been working outside all my adult life(36 years)and I've noticed the winters are a lot wetter than in the late 80s/early 90s.we also tend to get less freezing cold weather generally..
But remember lads it's not officially winter yet until 1st Dec! ;D
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I've been working outside all my adult life(36 years)and I've noticed the winters are a lot wetter than in the late 80s/early 90s.we also tend to get less freezing cold weather generally..
But remember lads it's not officially winter yet until 1st Dec! ;D
First day of winter is 22nd Dec Daz ???
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Meteorological winter starts 1 Dec
Astronomical winter starts 22 Dec
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Diabolical Winter starts anytime now.
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Started late today(1015am)but
still managed to get all my scheduled work completed by 3pm.only 6 hours to do tomorrow then my usual 3 day weekend 😀
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I don’t really bother with fancy clothes, just a jumper or fleece and let it get wet. I rarely work in the heavy rain.
I’ve a waterproof coat from go outdoors that cost a fortune and hardly wear. I guess I’d wear it more if I lived in the west.
The most important thing is waterproof footwear in the autumn/winter. Nothing worse than wet feet. Wet grass is a mare.
Then come summer, standard light weight trainers back on!
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I don’t really bother with fancy clothes, just a jumper or fleece and let it get wet. I rarely work in the heavy rain.
I’ve a waterproof coat from go outdoors that cost a fortune and hardly wear. I guess I’d wear it more if I lived in the west.
The most important thing is waterproof footwear in the autumn/winter. Nothing worse than wet feet. Wet grass is a mare.
Then come summer, standard light weight trainers back on!
Sounds like we live in different countries 😆, I also have 3 waterproof jackets in the van. The waterproof jackets only last so long on any jacket before you’ve got to wash it in that waterproofing liquid again to renew it. In the north west it rains for hours, maybe not heavy , but it rains a lot … a lot of days. Wouldn’t get anything done if we didn’t work in the rain up here 🌧️
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Yeah it’s just not that wet here in Essex, it’s not often it rains all day. last few weeks have been bad as has everwhere)
I remember when my dad moved to Herefordshire with a very well paid job he’d been offered, he couldn’t believe how miserable it was. Rain rain rain. All the time!
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I’ve designed and honed my round over the years so I don’t have to work in the rain.
My customers have been trained not to expect me when the weather is bad. That’s the whole idea of being self employed, take a day off whenever you feel like it.
I’m having my hair cut later.
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I’ve designed and honed my round over the years so I don’t have to work in the rain.
My customers have been trained not to expect me when the weather is bad. That’s the whole idea of being self employed, take a day off whenever you feel like it.
I’m having my hair cut later.
How did you design a round to not work on the rain ??? I could take a day off if I wasn’t so busy 😁
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I’ve designed and honed my round over the years so I don’t have to work in the rain.
My customers have been trained not to expect me when the weather is bad. That’s the whole idea of being self employed, take a day off whenever you feel like it.
I’m having my hair cut later.
Yes but I don't hate the job like you do and I do take the days off I want.if I didn't work in the rain this week I wouldn't be finishing at 3pm today with all work completed!😉
And a nice 3 day weekend to look forward to like I do most weeks!
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Easy, nobody really cares if I’m on time or not. I work one Saturday in six for a commercial job. Been doing this for seventeen years and have never worked in rain. Certainly don’t intend starting either! 😂
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Easy, nobody really cares if I’m on time or not. I work one Saturday in six for a commercial job. Been doing this for seventeen years and have never worked in rain. Certainly don’t intend starting either! 😂
You must be losing out on thousands of pounds a year not working in the rain over the course of the year...sod that!
Home and dry now.finished my work by 230pm.van tank filled,batteries on charge,cloths washed.worksheets downloaded and slips printed ready for monday.
Had a shave,bath and even cooked dinner early today....
Drum practice in a bit followed by a gym session 🥁🏋♂️
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Knocked it on the head around 3pm when it chucked it down. Hour+ on the smart bike. Dry as a bone.