Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Alex Gardiner on July 18, 2008, 11:02:35 am

Title: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 18, 2008, 11:02:35 am
I would be most appreciative of your input on this question. If possible could you post your reason for your choice as well. It would be on a black stock.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: matt on July 18, 2008, 11:04:02 am
red for me
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: david wood on July 18, 2008, 11:08:05 am
ide say black .white looks cheap imo and would look  dirtier quicker
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: LWC on July 18, 2008, 11:10:00 am
yep black here too
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: LWC on July 18, 2008, 11:12:24 am
i looked at v8edds black ionics brush the other day, so smart, 2 years old and still looks brand new
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 18, 2008, 11:16:38 am
Mrs A likes black because it looks macho (her words not mine!). I am leaning towards white because it allows you to see the level of dirt on the bristles whilst working. This can be useful if you think you need to rinse more, scrub more or even wash the brush head. Also I think that at height it is easier to see the white bristles on the glass. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: LWC on July 18, 2008, 11:24:16 am
i can see where your coming from, but ive coped with my red one for years, and you cant see like you say

and yes black is more macho
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: ftp on July 18, 2008, 11:50:03 am
One black, and one white for me please. Don't put the two colours together because it will look like an Addis brush. Actually as long as it does the job it's fine. .........................
Although if you use a black one you won't know when it's filthy from black frame rubbers leaching. So, white it is. ;)
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company on July 18, 2008, 11:57:05 am
I've just received a 'cleaning spot' double trimmed brush with white bristles - and I kind of like the white bristles for the reason they so how much dirt is in the brush


So for me - I'd say white bristles.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: jaykie on July 18, 2008, 12:02:14 pm
I think black, because if white gets dirty custys may think your cleaning with dirty brush and you look tight for not buying a new one

Chris
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: p1w1 on July 18, 2008, 12:08:16 pm
i would have to say white mainly so i can see how dirty it gets more easily.

paul
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 18, 2008, 12:16:27 pm
I would have to say black aswell so it wouldnt show the dirty bits so much
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on July 18, 2008, 12:48:28 pm
i would have to say white mainly so i can see how dirty it gets more easily.

paul
I would have to say black aswell so it wouldnt show the dirty bits so much
I agree with both reasons.

Can I have grey?. ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: pjulk on July 18, 2008, 12:55:10 pm
Black will look like any old cheap broom you get in the shops.

I think if you want to look professional you need a colour that would not be so popular in the high street shops otherwise the customers will think he using a cheap broom from wilkinsons.

I say blue or red but white will do at a push
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: clean on July 18, 2008, 02:10:02 pm
I`d defo say white,easier to see if your brush is dirty  ;)
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: john tomkins on July 18, 2008, 02:22:21 pm
Don't tell me the elusive brush is almost ready for sale? ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on July 18, 2008, 02:24:43 pm
I've silver bristles on my DIY brush!  ;D ;D

I'd go for black,.. looks smarter IMO.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Pittmonkey on July 18, 2008, 02:56:51 pm
LOL.....My wife was just looking over my shoulder while reading this post and in her usual no nonsense manner she yelled out BLACK!!! while walking off.

"Why I said"?

"Cos you dont want a dirty white brush scrubbing windows, people will think you're using dirty water" ::)

Umm! from a customers poit of view she may have a point.

Me personally would also go for Black. I've been using the Ionics multipole brush for a while now ( same as V8edds) and it still looks and performs as good as the day I bought it, but still dieing to try one of Alex's new brushes.

I presume costing comes into the equation to have a batch of each made.

Wayne
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: gary999 on July 18, 2008, 03:02:12 pm
black without a doubt :)
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 18, 2008, 03:37:54 pm
White so I can see the muck easily.

Tho' a nice shade of gold or copper might be nice ...

Or perhaps as Chris Straker wouldn't say .... "I like my brushes like my women ... strong and black!"  ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: d s windowcleaning on July 18, 2008, 03:41:22 pm
ive been using the black bristle facelift brush for sometime and dont have a problem with the bristles and not seeing if its holding dirt , but white would be better at least you can see if its holding dirt straight away .
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: darragh windows on July 18, 2008, 03:44:14 pm
id say anything but black for same reason as you alex ease of seeing dirt in brush
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: prestigeclean on July 18, 2008, 03:58:11 pm
has to be white so you can see the dirt regards alan
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: gsw on July 18, 2008, 04:29:09 pm
definitely black,


if you have white you will be able to see the dirt but it wont stay white for long it will end up a dirty grey.

used a salmon for while and the white top part looked dirty after it had a few scratches on it, the ionics multi stay looking good.

why do you need to see the dirt anyway???

just give it the occasional wipe on a sill or with your hand and its fine.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Jeff Brimble on July 18, 2008, 05:12:30 pm
Cream is/was an excellent group and is a good compromise colour.
But so is sky blue pink  ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: jouk45 on July 18, 2008, 05:46:20 pm
definitly white,  8)
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 18, 2008, 07:55:33 pm
Thanks everyone. It looks like white is the winner.....
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Wayne Thomas on July 18, 2008, 08:12:28 pm
Mrs A likes black because it looks macho (her words not mine!). I am leaning towards white because it allows you to see the level of dirt on the bristles whilst working. This can be useful if you think you need to rinse more, scrub more or even wash the brush head. Also I think that at height it is easier to see the white bristles on the glass. Any thoughts?

Completely agree with everything you just mentioned. Also, it's easier to see the white bristles when cleaning brown wooden framed windows that are close to the sofitts.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Wayne Thomas on July 18, 2008, 08:15:31 pm
Would prefer to see a white stock rather than black because at height it's more visible so as to avoid knocking the brush against the walls when cleaning the window frames at height.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: NWH on July 18, 2008, 08:18:22 pm
Mrs A likes black because it looks macho (her words not mine!). I am leaning towards white because it allows you to see the level of dirt on the bristles whilst working. This can be useful if you think you need to rinse more, scrub more or even wash the brush head. Also I think that at height it is easier to see the white bristles on the glass. Any thoughts?
Exactly the same reason as me,i have a black ionic commercial brush converted and you can`t see if it`s holding dirt because it`s black.At height white would also be better,i take it we should get it soon  then. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: NWH on July 18, 2008, 08:21:52 pm
Would prefer to see a white stock rather than black because at height it's more visible so as to avoid knocking the brush against the walls when cleaning the window frames at height.
I would have a black stock,i think it`s a must on a brush as after a short while the brush looks tired and cosmetically awfull,when the edges get worn on a black stock you can hardly see it.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Wayne Thomas on July 18, 2008, 08:32:12 pm
White stock is more practical simply because it's more visible. I'm not worried if a stock looks cosmetically tired, what matters is how it aids one's vision to perform the job it is intended for. Ionic brush stocks wear down quick whereas Tucker stocks look good even after several years. They are pricey but have outperformed the competion and given better value for money than most other brushes.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Wayne Thomas on July 18, 2008, 08:49:24 pm
I can wear a Bentley brush out in 2 months easy. The bristles end up falling out and the stock scratches the sills with the sharp edge on the stock. I stopped using Bentley brushes because a few customers were moaning about scratched sills. Tested the brush for myself, sure enough it does scratch sills so I'll never use one again as I don't like losing customers because of tools not suited for the job.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on July 18, 2008, 08:53:42 pm
I can wear a Bentley brush out in 2 months easy. The bristles end up falling out and the stock scratches the sills with the sharp edge on the stock. I stopped using Bentley brushes because a few customers were moaning about scratched sills. Testd the brush for myself, sure enough it does scratch sills so I'll never use one again as I don't like losing customers because of tools not suited for the job.
I reckon they've changed them.
I was going to ask Alex about this.

My first Bentley had strands falling out after a few months and went all angles.
When I got another one I wore it down after 6 months, but no strands at all came out or lost shape.

Then I found an old one that I'd never used.
Sure enough that one is disintegrating like the first one. ???

Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: windowwashers on July 18, 2008, 08:59:47 pm
I would be most appreciative of your input on this question. If possible could you post your reason for your choice as well. It would be on a black stock.
White would be far better imo so you can see trapped dirt black you can hardly see anything, you could always go for light grey  ;D
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 19, 2008, 09:51:42 am
I have locked voting now. Thank you for all of your input and comments. I think that there are actually good points for each colour.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: [GQC] Tim on July 19, 2008, 09:57:20 am
Alex, for practicality, like you mentioned, absolutely white, I've been struggling to see any bits on my black Ionics brush (unless it's paint flakes lol)


I suppose Tucker brushes are white because of that very reason.

Black looks by FAR the best though.


I would like to see it in Dual trim though, but I appreciate that might take some while, or not at all (?) I do a lot of brush on rinsing, and I have this thing in my head that with Dual trim there is less bristles on the window when ur rinsing brush on (not applying pressure so it doesn't splay). I suppose Dual trim would also help with gliding over georgian panes easier as well?
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 19, 2008, 10:08:50 am
Dual trim is my preference as well, they just seem to work better.
Title: Re: Black or White Bristles?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 19, 2008, 11:10:28 am
How about a hi-vis stock? It'd catch the eye as you swing it toward that powerline...