Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: AuRavelling79 on February 22, 2008, 03:12:44 pm

Title: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 22, 2008, 03:12:44 pm
Ok, test time - being a sad anorak I have chosen a downstairs window on my house which has three upright panes - the LH one I've wfp'd, the middle I've used "squeegee off" and the RH pane I've used washing up liquid (ASDA).

The window faces approx. South across a lawn (well grassy weedy stuff ;D) for 6m to a 6ft hedge and then there is a drop of 3ft to a grass verge, pavement and road which gets steady traffic - including lorries and buses peaking at school and commute times - and is quiet at night.

It's brown upvc and about six years old.

I'll let you know on a weekly basis how mucky they each get over the next two months without being cleaned.
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: xxmattyxx on February 22, 2008, 03:16:42 pm
Have you got a web-cam  ;D
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 22, 2008, 03:23:37 pm
Have you got a web-cam  ;D

Now there's an idea - you can tell me when the chavs turn up to case the joint!
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: matt on February 22, 2008, 04:01:52 pm
Have you got a web-cam  ;D

more importantly

have you got a life  ;D ;D ;D ;D

only a joke  Malc
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Adam Boss on February 22, 2008, 04:33:16 pm
By the way it's only the 22nd Feb, does this mean the experiment is flawed ??
LOL  ;D ;D
Start again tomoz.
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Jeff Brimble on February 22, 2008, 05:19:08 pm
Good input, keep doing the experiments, most dont appreciate it. I do.
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Captain Scarlet on February 22, 2008, 05:19:32 pm
little voice......................and me
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on February 22, 2008, 06:10:41 pm
are you gonna run a book on it ???
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Jon-scwindows on February 22, 2008, 06:16:20 pm
i done my own windows the other week, downstairs trad and 1 done 1 downstairs window wfp and its still lovely and clean! the others have dried on dirt marks and spiderwebs.
Title: Re: Window test 23rd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on February 26, 2008, 03:42:53 pm
By the way it's only the 22nd Feb, does this mean the experiment is flawed ??
LOL  ;D ;D
Start again tomoz.

Quite right - it was the afternoon of the 22nd! Ooops. :-[ I've changed the title now.

So it's now Tuesday 26th (4 days - quite windy and some rain too) and all three panes still seem clean and I can tell no difference yet.

I'll keep you posted.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 03, 2008, 01:44:36 pm
March 4th (10 days)  modified to 3rd March - thanks Mike108! :-[

All three panes look the same - some signs of dried on mucky rain beginning to show. No difference so far ...
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Tosh on March 03, 2008, 05:21:30 pm
I honestly would've bet money on the WFP windows staying cleaner for longer.

Let's give it another week.

Good post, you anorak!  ;)
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Mike 108 on March 03, 2008, 05:38:43 pm
Malc(G)old - Theres something wrong with your calendar, again - it's only March 03rd today!    ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 03, 2008, 06:45:26 pm
Malc(G)old - Theres something wrong with your calendar, again - it's only March 03rd today!    ;D ;D ;D

Duuhhh! I'm wishing my life away! I'll correct it now! ;D

Tosh - I'll give it three months before I get round to cleaning them again!
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Jeff Brimble on March 03, 2008, 07:54:09 pm
It will also depend on whether the glass itself is phobic or philic, the phobic will repel dirt better than the phillic.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: NWH on March 03, 2008, 08:37:43 pm
Your right Jeff the phobic glass does stay cleaner longer over the sheeting glass,i`ve also noticed this.I`ve also noticed that when using WFP i don`t get anywhere near the amount of bird poo since the trad days.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 08, 2008, 11:21:40 am
Ok guys, they are beginning to show a little dirt, but still too close to call and here we are on March 8th, about two weeks on ...

But we're getting some more of that light, drizzly patchy rain now so we'll see what that does!

BTW, I cleaned all the frames when I started, the left hand with wfp, the other two with old damp towel, like I would trad. So no spidy nests or residue left behind at the start.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Moderator David@stives on March 08, 2008, 11:47:57 am
Can we have photos
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: [GQC] Tim on March 08, 2008, 12:15:31 pm
Important question.

Did you use different applicator sleeves for the squeegee off and washing up liquid. A rinse wouldn't be sufficient. Also I hope you rinsed your squeegee properly.

Also, not every washing up liquid might leave behind a film. Fairy definitely does, why didn't you use fairy? :)

Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 08, 2008, 01:46:46 pm
Can we have photos

1. When I learn how ...  ;D
2. When there is enough dirt to see with a camera!

Important question.

Did you use different applicator sleeves for the squeegee off and washing up liquid. A rinse wouldn't be sufficient. Also I hope you rinsed your squeegee properly.

Also, not every washing up liquid might leave behind a film. Fairy definitely does, why didn't you use fairy? :)



No, but the applicator had a through rinse in boiling water a few times ... yes the squeegee was rinsed. Didn't have any fairy - perhaps you wouldn't mind setting up a FAIRY/ASDA experiment?

Also, I wonder if top frame cleaning (or lack of ) might be a consideration? All mine were cleaned either by wfp or hand.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Londoner on March 09, 2008, 07:25:22 am
I did these tests a couple of years ago when I was playing around with WFP to see if it worked.
Trouble is my wife is getting harder to convince that its not a elaborate scam on my part to avoid cleaning our windows so the tests have been interupted a few times.

My findings were not that conclusive but I didn't try the washing up liquid and that would be interesting.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: karlosdaze on March 09, 2008, 11:45:59 am
I tried it with GG4 & Ettores "squeegee off". The results from GG4 outlived the "squeegee off" by more than twice the time.
By the way, the washing liquid lasted 2 weeks, before noticeably looking dirty.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Jeff Brimble on March 09, 2008, 11:56:02 am
Compared to washing up liquid, how longer does the gg4 last.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: karlosdaze on March 09, 2008, 04:19:44 pm
Compared to washing up liquid, how longer does the gg4 last.
3 months
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: [GQC] Tim on March 09, 2008, 04:23:49 pm
Can you give us the full timeline please Karlos.

How long did they last before you could see them getting dirty?

Fairy :
GG4 :
Sgueegee off :
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: karlosdaze on March 09, 2008, 10:33:20 pm
Can you give us the full timeline please Karlos.

How long did they last before you could see them getting dirty?

Fairy : 2 weeks
GG4 : 3 months
Sgueegee off : 3 weeks
Posted in your quote. This was taken on my own windows in Mallorca, so weather conditions are slightly different. I did my own windows 4 months a go with GG4 & still look reasonable, although not perfect. To give you an idea, we are blessed with one of the best views of the bay, so getting too dirty would not be an option.

P.S. I also found the Unger pill to have a 6 - 8 week life.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on March 09, 2008, 10:40:16 pm
mallorca eh ??? need any help in high season,for about......ohh...TWO WEEKS ;D ;D
i always found gg4 snagged when blade it :(
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Londoner on March 10, 2008, 06:35:57 am
Up to a point you want the windows to stay clean longer, beyond that point its not good for business.
So in real terms washing up liquid is best? 
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: karlosdaze on March 10, 2008, 04:15:35 pm
Up to a point you want the windows to stay clean longer, beyond that point its not good for business.
So in real terms washing up liquid is best? 
Have to agree if you are on a 4 week turn around.
LJ - it takes some getting used to, but the results are worth it.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: Neil Williams on March 10, 2008, 08:07:42 pm
Up to a point you want the windows to stay clean longer, beyond that point its not good for business.
So in real terms washing up liquid is best? 

I knew this answer as the thread started but waited to see who would spot the 'Keep your business going' first.
If any car manufacturer comes up with the car  that never breaks down then they'd be out of business in 10 years.
Title: Re: Window test 22nd Feb wfp/Sq.off/W.up lqd
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 16, 2008, 05:44:30 pm
Still very close, but I'm wondering whether the proximity of a hedge running at 90 degreees to the house might be skewing the result so that whichever pane is nearer to it gets more muck.

Taking both windows downstairs on this side of the house there are five panes of glass in all.

The pane nearest the hedge (2/3ft away) seems slightly muckier (wfp) than the next (3/4ft plus) (sq.off) and the next (4/5ft plus) (w/up lqd) cleanest.

The 2 paned window further along the wall (12/15ft) from the hedge - which was wfp'd at the same time is definitely cleaner.

So all very close after 3 weeks plus.