Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Pj on October 04, 2006, 11:51:17 pm
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Ladders!
Wet Yorkstone!
Dirty water!
Running out of soap!
Soggy grass!
Slippery windowsills!
Slippery ladder!
Freezing cold ladder!
Windows too big to reach from under the sill, too high to do from over the sill!
Ladder too far away from the window!
Slippery tiles to get to the dormer!
Slates to get to the dormer!
3rd storey!
Wet leg!
Getting the ladders back on the roof rack!
19 years, my knees are worn out, my insteps are aching, my wrists have had it, my neck ain't so good!
I'm sure there are more...Come on, it's only fair, feel free!
If I could find an easier way of earning a living I would!
It's ok Squeaky, you can join in. You do on the wfp threads, so.........
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Cor :o
How about 'the height'?
Apart from that, not much really.
I (we) use wfp but I do prefer trad window cleaning in terms of satisfaction.
It is a more enjoyable way of cleaning windows.
Don't ask me why exactly, I just enjoy it more. I feel more like I done a job of work that takes a bit of skill. It's also more fun. WFP is just about earning money - well to me that is how I always feel after doing a job WFP.
OK. I know I clean windows to earn money but given a choice, I prefer trad. Definately more satisfaction for me at least.
Also, you see the results of your work straight away and so does the customer.
But... every time I step on a ladder..... it's always there in the back of my mind.
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Georgian windows.
Georgian windows on a foggy day.
Leaded windows on any day.
Deep seated windows where you have to detail every edge.
Those weather conditions that cause the edges of the glass to 'bleed' back out leaving you no option but to waste time polishing the edges instead of a quick bit of detailing.
turning your rubber when the first side has worn, only to find a tiny 'nick' on the fresh side and not having your spare rubbers in the car >:(
knocking over bucket full of soapy water in the car and finding the customer is out and doesn't have an outside tap!
Forgetting to tie ladders onto roof rack.
Forgetting the ladders are heavier on the overhang on the bonnet side of the car and then undoing the rear bungee first :-\
Buffing a pane of glass with your scrim and then realising you just spread spider flesh all over the glass, scrim is now rendered useless cos of the spider...you can also replace spider flesh with many other things too, a glob of sticky sweet or a bit of a chip you missed with your scraper :-[
Squeegeeing of a window in windy weather, only for the wind to blow the water back onto the glass >:(
I could go on...but I've got to get to work!
Ian
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bungee s on ladders!!!! wow ain t seen that for years. proper cowboys ;D
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Most points have been covered,just a few more.
Getting a nice big juicy splinter under my finger nail from the ladders.
Making holes in your clothing on the right shoulder in rapid time.
In winter you get well wrapped up cos of the cold weather and after an hour you have to stop unzip coat take your belt off cos all your clothing as worked lose and you feel dead untidy, start tucking shirt back in pants and rearranging clothing.
On a windy day you seam to use a lot more energy just trying to move the ladder around as your compensating for the effect of the wind all the time.
Getting to the top of the ladder and you realize you have left your Squegge in the van.
A customer wants to pay you when you have just climbed up to the top of the ladder.
The moral dilemma when you climb the ladder to clean the upstairs window and you find the lady of the house asleep naked on the bed. Do you clean the window or do you leave it?
Leaving holes in customers lawns from your ladders.
Misstiming putting your ladders on the car and leaving a nice scratch on your paintwork.
A sharp shooting pain in your knees as you rest your knees on the rungs.
The ladder moves a fraction and your up the ladder.OHHHHHHHHHHH
The rungs start Iceing up on a cold morning, should I carry on?
Nel.
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Things I hate about traditional - NOTHING!!!
Beats working for someone else!!!
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NEVER EVER had the situation with the naked lady asleep on the bed!!! if only i had problems like that.Guess you will never see that if you use wfp!!!
TONY
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The Delemia of naked ladys as happened to many times to be a coincidence.
The worst choice I had to make weather to clean a window or not was on a V shaped roof. I was in the middle cleaning a set of veluxs. It took ages to get up there, but directly below one velux was a 16 yr old girl laying in a bath with her eyes closed.
Should I clean it or leave it?
Nel.
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would have to of left it in case she opened her eyes and screamed pervert ;D may of had a quick peek though :)
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Treading in dogs mess and walking it up the ladder.
The first thing you know about it is after you have put the ladder on your shoulder.
Dormer windows
Leaded windows
Geogian windows
Slippery slabs
Decking
But i prefer traditional and sometimes wished i never changed over to WFP.
Traditional is so much more satisfiying
It and its so much easier
Just chuck your bucket a few scrims and detergent in the van and thats it your away.
No messing about filling up water tanks changing filters.
Leaky hoses
Paul
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Hairs comming of the scrim >:(
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directly below one velux was a 16 yr old girl laying in a bath with her eyes closed.
Should I clean it or leave it?
Nel.
get out thier pronto, if she only looked 16 she could of been younger and that could been a whole lot of trouble! Now if she looked 21 then....... ;)
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Georgian windows.
Wet leg.
That's about it.
Nice to see all the wfp'ers thinking of as many trad problems as they can, even though they all admit wfp is more bother.....
You lot make me laugh. ;D
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I know what it is Squeaks , it all boils down to the fact that wfp makes you lazy , i for one cant abide taking the ladders off the roof anymore , and as for pickin up a mop and squeegie ....dont swear at me ! ;D
Rich P @ F
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bungee s on ladders!!!! wow ain t seen that for years. proper cowboys ;D
Hey, don't knock bungees!!
First as a decorator and then as a window cleaner I've used them for well over 30 years and never had a single problem with em.
You get a heavy duty one and it is a very good way of tying on ladders.
The only thing better is the proper wind up and down ladder clamps, I've used those too but hate them!
Bungee's are better than rope because they are always under tension, rope can work loose.
And squeaks....just remember that all the guys who have replied are or were trad window cleaners as well as WFP users...
and as I recall, I remember you moaning about those damp days where you have to mop the windows dry before you can clean them, and the frames that are deep set, or trying to work in foggy conditions.
And who can possibly say they don't hate it when they climb down the ladder only to put your hand in the dog crap you've just walked up the ladder without realising it.
Ian
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Ever stepped off the ladder straight into your bucket full in winter?
Me too!
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bungees just a bit dangerous, thirty years of loyal service then pings off and removes an eye!Also like you say when you undo back first it smashes onto bonnet,apparently. rather spend extra time on ladder clamps. Will give you the dog mess on rungs then hand. cat mess is my worst offender. yuk >:(
TONY
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Yea have done that before mate when i had the ladder at bottom of bucket.Trip home me thinks,
TONY
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Nothing wrong with bungie, never used anything else. Some builders merchants and most chandlers sell it by the metre. The wire hook ones are lethal would never bother with them.
I hated knocking to ask people to move cars so I could get to a window, Wasn't fond of getting the bucket on a belt caought up on a wrung either, or the wet leg that came with it. On the whole nothing wrong with trad, Once you take the ladders out of it. Dai
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Ever stepped off the ladder straight into your bucket full in winter?
Me too!
No, but one of my customers ended up sat in it once. ;D
Good job I'd known her for years from my last job!
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use ratchet straps . easy and cheap... but petski put me right today... said i look cowboy ish... so clamps here i come! ;)
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Ladders are like a gun.perfectly safe in competent hands with the correct safty device s in use.
TONY
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After 20 years trad, EVERYTHING about it, :o
Macc
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Working on a blustery day (if it was like today I wouldn't have worked at all!).