Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: julianbiggs on October 24, 2006, 04:53:21 pm

Title: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new sites
Post by: julianbiggs on October 24, 2006, 04:53:21 pm
Hi.. Can anyone tell what the best products to use for builder's cleans on brand new housing developments ??

Work involved includes removing tape from all window surrounds, removing all the grit and muck stuck to the windows and then finally cleaning all the frames.  All I really need help with is the best thing for removing the tape .
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new sites
Post by: M4RK on October 24, 2006, 05:00:06 pm
A good quality scraper with a 4 inch blade is good.
Soak a few windows at a time allowiing the stickers to absorb the water, then come back to them, they should come off easy with the blade.

Careful though, don't use it where there is concrete splashed on the windows.

Oilflo141 is great for builders cleans. I use a flower spray bottle to spray it where you need it, then use a soft non abrasive dish sponge to rub the glue, concrete whatever off.

Mark
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new sites
Post by: julianbiggs on October 24, 2006, 05:20:49 pm
Thanks for that - ive done plenty of builder's cleans on houses where they've decorated but this contract is a biggy and i'm sure the windows are gonna be a mess so any advice is gratefully received.
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new sites
Post by: Moderator David@stives on October 24, 2006, 06:31:44 pm
Julian

For the tape i use a scraper and remove the residue with Oilflo

Dave
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new si
Post by: Ian_Giles on October 24, 2006, 08:12:12 pm
If you are talking about that bloody awful blue tape that is stuck to the frames and not the glass then you are welcome to the job!! :o :o
It's the most awful stuff I've ever had to get off a window, absolute nightmare.

If there are scratches on it, then it won't peel off, and it'll come off in itty-bitty little bits.
It isn't glued on, so there is no adhesive to soften.

I totally refuse to get the blasted stuff off now, just can't charge remotely enough to do it.

Compo on the glass is generally ok to get off with a decent razor knife (not a Stanley blade scraper, they'll do the job usually, but much higher risk of scratches)
but get a disclaimer signed, if compo (sand and cement) is on the glass then of course there is going to be a risk of scratches already being in place before you even start cleaning the glass.
If the plasterers have been clumsy enough to splatter the windows with compo and not rinse it off, the last thing you want is to be hit with a writ for scratched windows!

Best of luck!

Ian
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new si
Post by: pjulk on October 24, 2006, 11:17:31 pm
The tape you can usually just pull that off just pick at the corner it will lift up and it does not normally leave anything behind.

And as Ian has said if its scratched it may take a while
Title: Re: Help !! - what are the best cleaning products for builder's cleans on new sites
Post by: ray l on October 25, 2006, 02:15:57 pm
Hi hope this helps

Tape on whites, as said,
   pick at corner and peel

  where its upto plaster run stanley knife along corner
 and pick and peel.
(  I have found were blue plastic is used, if new ok, if old it could take upto 2 hours per window so watch out)

I give the outside a good run with wfp first to get all the loose c##p off
( even if its connected to an outside tap will do )

A 4" blade is good for going over the glass to remove plaster/paint and such.
Use plenty of water to soften up any plaster.

I,ve found white spirit takes off the glue  from stickers.

I know most of that is repeats of other threads

The route can save time. Where practical go round all windows
1 ) Remove tape and stickers  ( they will think more of you if you bin )
2 ) Remove glue
3 ) Clean glass

Keep washing your mop and change water regularlly as the smallest wee bit of plaster could cause trouble.

Have fun