Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:21:43 pm

Title: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:21:43 pm: evening all ;D

i am into my 19 th year of window cleaning ( did a few yrs partime prior to this )

the last 3, i have been wfp.

how long have you lot been at it ? both trad and wfp.

will be interesting to find out whos beem in window cleaning the longest.

i am in the lead at the moment ;D

daz
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: clean on November 20, 2008, 07:23:04 pm: 21 years for me last 4 wfp and loving it ;D ;)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dd on November 20, 2008, 07:24:49 pm: 20 years

2 1/2 years wfp
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:30:30 pm: damn i've lost the lead now ;D

daz
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: clean on November 20, 2008, 07:36:05 pm: Quote from: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:30:30 pm
damn i've lost the lead now ;D

daz

Don`t worry it wont be long before the proper wrinklies appear bosting they`ve been at it for 100 years ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: trike on November 20, 2008, 07:37:14 pm: im 41,25years cleaning windows 6months wfp
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:42:23 pm: Quote from: trike on November 20, 2008, 07:37:14 pm
im 41,25years cleaning windows 6months wfp

is window cleaning the only job you have ever done ?

daz
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on November 20, 2008, 07:44:39 pm: Wow you guys are the OAP'S of the window cleaning world lol, but with a wealth of experience im sure.
4 1/2 years wfp since day i started.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: RSWindows on November 20, 2008, 07:45:46 pm: no i dont think it is, arn't you one of the guys from the 118 118 commercials? :D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: trike on November 20, 2008, 07:46:48 pm: Quote from: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 07:42:23 pm
Quote from: trike on November 20, 2008, 07:37:14 pm
im 41,25years cleaning windows 6months wfp

is window cleaning the only job you have ever done ?

daz

yes and love every bit of it
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: trike on November 20, 2008, 07:47:40 pm: Quote from: RSWindows on November 20, 2008, 07:45:46 pm
no i dont think it is, arn't you one of the guys from the 118 118 commercials? :D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: CLEANGLASSUK on November 20, 2008, 07:48:56 pm: Started as wfp - Bin doing it for 8 yrs
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dd on November 20, 2008, 07:50:18 pm: Can we include past lives in our calculations?
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: RSWindows on November 20, 2008, 07:52:33 pm: Quote from: dd on November 20, 2008, 07:50:18 pm
Can we include past lives in our calculations?

:o
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: AJ on November 20, 2008, 08:05:27 pm: 21 recession proof yrs :)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: darragh windows on November 20, 2008, 08:12:42 pm: 12 years tra 1 year wfp full time 5 years part time till i left school, was taught by a tra window cleaner who cleaned from he was 10 years old till he died at the age of 70.
60 years will take some beating, all his brothers where window cleaners too
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on November 20, 2008, 08:15:31 pm: 11 years this week actually.
I started in the cold, but put up with it!
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 08:22:44 pm: i started in jan 1990, we had a bad winter that year , 3 wks of snow , ended up going out and doing bottoms only , didn't put me of though

daz
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: CLEANGLASSUK on November 20, 2008, 08:26:26 pm: Quote from: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 08:22:44 pm
i started in jan 1990, we had a bad winter that year , 3 wks of snow , ended up going out and doing bottoms only , didn't put me of though

daz
Sounds like you should come down to Brighton if you do bottoms ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Oakley Windows on November 20, 2008, 08:27:02 pm: In my 11th year of window cleaning, WFP 8 months.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: birdymiller on November 20, 2008, 08:53:15 pm: Started helping my brother-in-law whilst i was at uni at the age of 22. I started a little round but then jacked in after a while and went back into retail. Lasted a year before the lure of self-employment tempted me back. Been at it for the last nine years now im 35.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: ok cleaning on November 20, 2008, 09:12:06 pm: i am 44 and been cleaning windows for 15 years last 4 of these years been with wfp 8)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: mr D on November 20, 2008, 09:22:50 pm: 28 years old

8 years w/c 3 months wfp.

5 years infantry.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Roy Harding on November 20, 2008, 09:30:24 pm: On the first of Dec it will be 26yrs, last 5yrs wfp.

And love every day :)

Roy
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Londoner on November 20, 2008, 09:33:07 pm: I could say 36 years because I started part time with my mate Steve when we were 18 cleaning windows in South Ruislip. I'm 54 now so thats 36 years.

Mind you there have been very long gaps in between. Decades in fact but its always been there if I needed it. Thats whats so great about it really, one a window cleaner.............
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on November 20, 2008, 09:50:19 pm: Quote from: CLEANGLASSUK on November 20, 2008, 08:26:26 pm
Quote from: dmlservices on November 20, 2008, 08:22:44 pm
i started in jan 1990, we had a bad winter that year , 3 wks of snow , ended up going out and doing bottoms only , didn't put me of though

daz
Sounds like you should come down to Brighton if you do bottoms ;D ;D ;D
;D ;D
Funniest thing I've read on here for ages!
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: steve a on November 20, 2008, 09:57:44 pm: Started helping my dad when i was a nipper. Did fabricator welding apprenticeship from 16 till 20 at 20yrs 6 mths went full time window cleaning been at it ever since, added WFP to business about 6 yrs ago, do both trad and WFP.
Family business been trading since 1946. Grandfather , father, me. My two sons show no interest.

So Iv'e been full time for 29 yrs and company trading for 62 yrs. Had some jobs for over 30 years. ( and I don't think they've gone up in price much either.) LOL

was doing an asian newsagents, only 1 window, done it for about 8 years and never increased the price from 75p then 3 years ago I said I would have to increase it to £1 and he sacked me. before you peeps say it was too cheap, job only took less than 1 min and between other shops I do.

Town is dead now as far as shop work goes, too much competition and undercutting. Thank god for WFP as I am getting too old for ladder work now.

Steve a
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: brett walker on November 20, 2008, 10:43:33 pm: 18yrs, 15 trad 3 wfp

Brett
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 20, 2008, 11:02:28 pm: 1997 - 2000 P/T ladder
2000 - 2005 F/T ladder
2005/2006 F/T Trolley wfp/ladder
2006 F/T wfp - tank in estate car
Nov 2006 til now F/T Van wfp
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: windowwashers on November 20, 2008, 11:07:47 pm: Just started ;D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: pjulk on November 20, 2008, 11:15:43 pm: started 22 years ago in january for me but i did have a 3 year break not by choice 8 years ago and restarted again 5 years ago.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: mustafa on November 20, 2008, 11:25:48 pm: 25 start 2 year trad last 3 year wfp
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Paul Coleman on November 21, 2008, 06:38:05 am: 17 years - just as the last recession was starting to bite hard. Last 3 years with WFP.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: cottonbud10 on November 21, 2008, 04:18:45 pm: i was chatting to an older guy the other day, just as he was about to do a 3 story town house trad, he,s been at it 40 years, he was 79years old...bloody hell
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Dean Aspects on November 21, 2008, 04:35:38 pm: I am in my thirteenth year with the last three being wfp a novice compared to some on here
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: simon knight on November 21, 2008, 05:13:24 pm: A baby me...4 years :(
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: trevor perry on November 21, 2008, 07:20:36 pm: 26 yrs but my dad has been doing it 52 years he is now 70 but only does the window cleaning side occasionally now.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: foxy on November 21, 2008, 07:28:43 pm: 16 years off and on, last 5 proper full time, :) another winter on its way ;)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: suds window service on November 21, 2008, 10:53:18 pm: 8 months full time :D it is the best job in the world ,but we need to keep it secret shhhhh...
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: elite mike on November 22, 2008, 09:43:04 am: Quote from: Paul Griffin on November 20, 2008, 11:15:43 pm
started 22 years ago in january for me but i did have a 3 year break not by choice 8 years ago and restarted again 5 years ago.

hi paul ime being nosy here, ;D ;)

what did you get 3 years for ;D

i have been full time window cleaning etc since 1982
mike

was part time with a few firms before that
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Londoner on November 22, 2008, 05:18:13 pm: Quote from: elite mike on November 22, 2008, 09:43:04 am
Quote from: Paul Griffin on November 20, 2008, 11:15:43 pm
started 22 years ago in january for me but i did have a 3 year break not by choice 8 years ago and restarted again 5 years ago.

hi paul ime being nosy here, ;D ;)

what did you get 3 years for ;D

i have been full time window cleaning etc since 1982
mike

was part time with a few firms before that

Well it all started when somebody asked him a nosey question....................

If he had wanted us to know he would have told us.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: elite mike on November 22, 2008, 05:23:10 pm: Quote from: Vince Green on November 22, 2008, 05:18:13 pm
Quote from: elite mike on November 22, 2008, 09:43:04 am
Quote from: Paul Griffin on November 20, 2008, 11:15:43 pm
started 22 years ago in january for me but i did have a 3 year break not by choice 8 years ago and restarted again 5 years ago.

hi paul ime being nosy here, ;D ;)

what did you get 3 years for ;D

i have been full time window cleaning etc since 1982
mike

was part time with a few firms before that

Well it all started when somebody asked him a nosey question....................

If he had wanted us to know he would have told us.

yeh your right vince

i must not be so nosey ;D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Tom on November 23, 2008, 07:33:19 am: 28 years and i still love every day
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Londoner on November 23, 2008, 07:39:56 am: Quote from: Tom on November 23, 2008, 07:33:19 am
28 years and i still love every day

Every day? Wish I could say that.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Llaaww on November 23, 2008, 04:34:27 pm: since 1988. 18 months wfp and love it.
Best bits about the job are that I always have a few quid in my pocket, mostly got somebody who owes a few quid, bills are paid and I can come and go as I please. 8)
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: spark1 on November 23, 2008, 06:23:05 pm: Ive been at it for 16 yrs been wfp for 6 yrs.

I was a scaffolder before that .I'm now 41 yrs old and still fighting fit and can run rings around the fella who works for me,hes 31 and been with me for 2 1/2 ;D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: Gordon Saunders on November 23, 2008, 06:50:37 pm: i am 38 now. been 12 yrs window cleaning now. before that i had more jobs than i could hope to remember mostly in drug support and youth work which i still do part time.
If i am honest i would rather go back to this fulltime as its more rewarding but i does not pay as well .
G
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: groundhog on November 23, 2008, 09:52:01 pm: Quote from: spark1 on November 23, 2008, 06:23:05 pm

I'm now 41 yrs old and still fighting fit and can run rings around the fella who works for me,hes 31 and been with me for 2 1/2 ;D

Snap I'm 41 as well, and still feel exactly the same as when I was 21!! And I win the Dad's race at my son's School sports day every year against many Dads half my age!!! ;D ;D This job certainly keeps you fit! and I started window cleaning about 10 years ago with a part time round, and have been wfp for 4 years now, I love it!!! :D
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on November 23, 2008, 10:52:43 pm: Started window cleaning in spring of 1976 and other than 2 years off due to a badly broken ankle in 2000 and related surgery in 2006, have been a shiner ever since. 30 yrs 6 months. Last year been WFP
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: pjulk on November 23, 2008, 11:02:33 pm: Quote
what did you get 3 years for

3 years off sick and unable to work.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: CLEANGLASSUK on November 23, 2008, 11:05:43 pm: Quote from: M & C Cleaning Services on November 23, 2008, 10:52:43 pm
Started window cleaning in spring of 1976 and other than 2 years off due to a badly broken ankle in 2000 and related surgery in 2006, have been a shiner ever since. 30 yrs 6 months. Last year been WFP
I was 6 when you started,Did you use shammy leather or were squeegee's invented then.
Title: Re: how long have you been at it ?
Post by: elite mike on November 24, 2008, 06:00:10 pm: Quote from: Paul Griffin on November 23, 2008, 11:02:33 pm
Quote
what did you get 3 years for

3 years off sick and unable to work.

sorry to hear that paul, glad your ok now :)

must of been pretty serious :(

regards
mike