Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: garyfindlay on January 12, 2008, 01:54:27 am

Title: communal windows not clean
Post by: garyfindlay on January 12, 2008, 01:54:27 am
started cleaning windows in a communal area block of flats, but i am not happy with the results. i am using fairy in hot water, scweegee,  then, drying with a scrim? cloth but they are not perfect. any advice welcome
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 01:57:27 am
started cleaning windows in a communal area block of flats, but i am not happy with the results. i am using fairy in hot water, scweegee,  then, drying with a scrim? cloth but they are not perfect. any advice welcome
dont use fairy  ::)
gg4 or gg3 will help you out next time you clean them aswell as they will be cleaner, fairy attracts dirt and that a fact I have learnt over many years using it.



Ian
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: alanwilson on January 12, 2008, 01:57:52 am
ok gary, firstly try gg3/4 or squeegee off, fairy aint what most of us use.  Secondly make sure you don't put too much on and lastly you got to get the technique right.

if you're new to window cleaning ask a pro to give you a couple of quick lessons.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: alanwilson on January 12, 2008, 01:58:31 am
gary, where are you based.  maybe someone on here could give you a hand?
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 02:05:39 am
started cleaning windows in a communal area block of flats, but i am not happy with the results. i am using fairy in hot water, scweegee,  then, drying with a scrim? cloth but they are not perfect. any advice welcome
I am in cambs/beds boarder if you need any help  ;)
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: jeff1 on January 12, 2008, 02:10:02 am
squeegee off is good and you can buy that from B&Q less than a fiver, but don't use to much.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 02:13:32 am
squeegee off is good and you can buy that from B&Q less than a fiver, but don't use to much.
http://www.wintecs.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=82&products_id=835


you have to copy and paste that link to the address bar  ;)

if you are a member of ettore club you can get it for £2,75 and you get a micro cloth aswell  ;)

Ian
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Majestic on January 12, 2008, 01:59:57 pm
Have a look on this site , lots of tips

http://www.windowcleaningresources.co.uk/html/more_window_cleaning_tips.html
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: stevekennedy on January 12, 2008, 02:06:36 pm
Go on the BWCA skills course. In one day you will catch up on all you need to know.

You can find out al lot by just sniffing around the forums or WCR, but the BWCA is one day for £100 and you hit the ground running
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: garyfindlay on January 12, 2008, 03:18:35 pm
cheers guys, i only clean about 30 windows every month. after practising, my house windows are ok, but i was struggling with the initual clean on the communal windows. i`ll check out the site for tips, and get some decent cleaner.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Richy L on January 12, 2008, 03:23:09 pm
fairy is fine to use on windows. Its all about the technique.

When you say you are "drying them with a scrim." do you mean you are drying the whole window, or just the edges and the mistakes you make from the squeegy?
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: [GQC] Tim on January 12, 2008, 03:49:31 pm
fairy is fine to use on windows. Its all about the technique.

When you say you are "drying them with a scrim." do you mean you are drying the whole window, or just the edges and the mistakes you make from the squeegy?

Fairy is for dishes, not for windows, it leaves a film on the window that attracts dirt, so why should you use it unless you want to do a clean that isn't as clean as with pro stuff?

Squeegee off, or GG3/4 if you can do with less slip.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Richy L on January 12, 2008, 04:27:43 pm
yes Squeegee off or GG3/4 are better, but by the sound of it hes not happy wqith the immediate results.
Fair enough, fairy may make the windows get dirtier faster, but for immediate results there is no difference.

Do you not agree?
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: garyfindlay on January 12, 2008, 04:39:47 pm
I clean the edges with a micro cloth, then mistakes, and edges again with the scrim.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 04:57:37 pm
yes Squeegee off or GG3/4 are better, but by the sound of it hes not happy wqith the immediate results.
Fair enough, fairy may make the windows get dirtier faster, but for immediate results there is no difference.

Do you not agree?
I do  to some degree but they do seem to shine better if you step back and look with gg4 or 3. And wfp there is no comparison they gleam far better.

Ian
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 12, 2008, 05:36:25 pm
If you are a traditional window cleaner who has the odd customer who moans that their windows are still clean from your previous wash and you wish to keep all your work bunched together and not split it up then I would recommend using Fairy liquid.
The more Fairy liquid you put in your bucket to leave on the windows, the quicker the windows will attract dirt back to the windows ensuring that your customer requires a regular, frequent periodic wash interval if you get my drift. Also if you put excessive fairy on the glass, it leaves a thick invisible skin which allows you to blade the windows much quicker than you would normally. It is not the best thing for cleaning windows traditionally, but if you are just trying to persuade customers from changing from say 1 monthly to 2 monthly washes, it's fine :-X ;D
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Dean Aspects on January 12, 2008, 05:42:47 pm
I have used washing up liquid for the past 12 years and have always done a top notch job with it so it works for me but i have never used the other products they might be better or not i dont know but if you are starting out and your technique is not upto standard yet then try these other products as others seem to think they do a better job its a bit of trial and error to find out what works best for you

Dean
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 05:45:40 pm
I have used washing up liquid for the past 12 years and have always done a top notch job with it so it works for me but i have never used the other products they might be better or not i dont know but if you are starting out and your technique is not upto standard yet then try these other products as others seem to think they do a better job its a bit of trial and error to find out what works best for you

Dean
Dean I used fairy for years aswell m8, I went to gg4 because it makes life easier because window are less dirty.

fairy gives great slide and nothing I have tried has every beaten it, but it does leave a film on glass to atract the dirt.


Ian
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Cleaner Windows on January 12, 2008, 05:47:00 pm
I use fairy and vinegar and get good results, the windows sparkle nicely after!
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Majestic on January 12, 2008, 05:48:15 pm
What have people been using before GG3 / 4 Squeegee off , Fairy has worked for them for years
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Richy L on January 12, 2008, 05:49:41 pm
exactly.
As long as you have a good technique, then it doesnt matter what you use.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Cleaner Windows on January 12, 2008, 05:50:52 pm
I wish they'd rename it and give it a more manly name lol  ::)
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Dean Aspects on January 12, 2008, 05:55:19 pm
I have used washing up liquid for the past 12 years and have always done a top notch job with it so it works for me but i have never used the other products they might be better or not i dont know but if you are starting out and your technique is not upto standard yet then try these other products as others seem to think they do a better job its a bit of trial and error to find out what works best for you

Dean
Dean I used fairy for years aswell m8, I went to gg4 because it makes life easier because window are less dirty.

fairy gives great slide and nothing I have tried has every beaten it, but it does leave a film on glass to atract the dirt.


Ian

I am not knocking any product especially ones i have not used its just everyone has to make up their own mind which tool /product to use whether it be a trad tool or a wfp tool
 :)
Maybe i should try these other products

Dean
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 12, 2008, 05:57:58 pm
'Fairy'- It was given a female name all those years ago before modern man started washing the dishes too. The reason women use to end up doing the dishes was simply because they had smaller feet, so they could get up close to the kitchen sink ;D
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 06:10:40 pm
'Fairy'- It was given a female name all those years ago before modern man started washing the dishes too  :o . The reason women use to end up doing the dishes was simply because they had smaller feet, so they could get up close to the kitchen sink ;D
lol
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Pj on January 12, 2008, 06:17:57 pm
I have used other products, but Fairy (or whatever you want to call it), pound for pound is still by far the best, but don't just scrim off, you have to use applicator and then squeegee then just use scrim or microfibre to mop the edges.
21 years windowcleaning and I haven't found better yet
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 06:25:11 pm
I have used other products, but Fairy (or whatever you want to call it), pound for pound is still by far the best, but don't just scrim off, you have to use applicator and then squeegee then just use scrim or microfibre to mop the edges.
21 years windowcleaning and I haven't found better yet
in cheapness maybe, in time no way
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 12, 2008, 06:28:33 pm
Cant believe theres people on here that use fairy liquid how pikey is that
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Dean Aspects on January 12, 2008, 06:29:47 pm
If you have good technique then i cant see how any cleaning product of this type can make the trad way any quicker unless it can cut down on how much detailing at the edge of the glass

Dean
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 06:33:56 pm
If you have good technique then i cant see how any cleaning product of this type can make the trad way any quicker unless it can cut down on how much detailing at the edge of the glass

Dean
the last part of the post hit the nail on the head  ;)
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Dean Aspects on January 12, 2008, 06:40:27 pm
In that case i will give it a try at some point always willing to try something once

Dean
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 06:43:19 pm
In that case i will give it a try at some point always willing to try something once

Dean
you have to use it over a couple of cleans, it seems to make the water run off better, how I dont know just does and the streaks fairy can leave does not seem to happen with gg4
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 12, 2008, 06:49:31 pm
If you have good technique then i cant see how any cleaning product of this type can make the trad way any quicker unless it can cut down on how much detailing at the edge of the glass

Dean

Don't wash right up to the side edges of the glass. Leave a small gap. Then when you blade down, go right to the edge of the sides of the glass with the squeegie so you only have to detail the top of the glass ;D
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Feen on January 12, 2008, 07:13:17 pm
"Don't wash right up to the side edges of the glass. Leave a small gap. "
So you don't actually clean the whole window ???
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 12, 2008, 07:16:34 pm
"Don't wash right up to the side edges of the glass. Leave a small gap. "
So you don't actually clean the whole window ???

what i was thinking aswell

Arthur job lol :D

Thats what Ameturs do
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: alanwilson on January 12, 2008, 07:55:36 pm
youlot are missing the point - fairy does a good job but it will attract dirt more afterwards, so the next month the windows are dirtier than what they would be if you had used squeegee off.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on January 12, 2008, 08:13:28 pm
attracts more dirt for you to clean off next month you mean.

Simple dont use it
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: Wayne Thomas on January 12, 2008, 08:16:20 pm
"Don't wash right up to the side edges of the glass. Leave a small gap. "
So you don't actually clean the whole window ???

what i was thinking aswell

Arthur job lol :D

Thats what Ameturs do

The job is done properly. The water under the rubber from the squeegie when you blade off is sufficient to remove the dirt at the edge of the glass without having to run a scrim/microfibre down the side of the pane of glass. The glass still gets cleaned as efficiently without so much effort. Therefore quicker job done, more efficiently = more money for same amount of time. I'm no cowboy, just a smarter window cleaner :) It takes a lot of practice to avoid hitting the sides of the window frame with the winwash, but once you get the hang of it, it is definitely quicker because you don't have to wipe the sides of the glass because the rubber blade removes the excess water. :)
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: windowwashers on January 12, 2008, 08:17:02 pm
youlot are missing the point - fairy does a good job but it will attract dirt more afterwards, so the next month the windows are dirtier than what they would be if you had used squeegee off.
I know what you are getting at there and I used to say the same thing, I now sing from a different song sheet, I clean windows, why have them clean for a couple of weeks a month when they can always be clean (this way I am doing what people  pay me for and that is clean windows always)
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: garyfindlay on January 12, 2008, 08:39:04 pm
I get paid whether i clean the windows or not, so I`m looking for them to stay cleaner, longer. `i`ve bought the stuff from b&q, and will give it a go.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: matt on January 12, 2008, 11:25:05 pm
fairy is great to learn with, its soaps up well and glides really really well

when your qood in the old technique is good, then think about GG3 or 4

Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: [GQC] Tim on January 13, 2008, 08:29:25 am
Like windowwashers said, windows simply don't sparkle as much with Fairy. But ok, some people you won't convince.
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: garyfindlay on January 26, 2008, 08:49:50 am
what about the initual clean, with all the plaster, grit, labels etc. how do i get that clean?
Title: Re: communal windows not clean
Post by: cvdewsbury on January 26, 2008, 06:04:37 pm
I,m a complete fairy!!