Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 12:33:34 pm

Title: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 12:33:34 pm
Hi All

Been practising with my new equipment that arrived yesterday (woohoo) but struggling with correct way to clean the windows.

Keep getting the streaky lines around the edges. Use the scrim to wipe it but just seems to make it worse.

How do you experts or dab hands do it. Windows dont look to bad but want them to look absolutely perfect as im starting out and want to be seen to know what im doing from the off.

Cheers guys
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: SteveAllan on August 11, 2009, 12:48:34 pm
Dogear your channels matey and use microfibre instead of scrim its much better.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 01:03:43 pm
Really,

Thats a kick in the teeth, I bought 10 of them.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: paul beckett on August 11, 2009, 01:10:39 pm
i try to keep telling the newbies to get microcloths instead of scrim there much better

paul
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 01:17:30 pm
Wish I knew. I got them from cleaining spot, they were more expensive so I assumed better (foolish I know) There pre washed ones to. Is there no way or technique to stop the streaks so I can use them for now and get some micro cloths later
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: Craig 72 on August 11, 2009, 01:19:46 pm
I find scrim perfectly acceptable although I like microfibre as well.I had the same problems as you describe mate when I started.I thought a quick wipe round the edges was all was thats required but you might need 3 or 4 wipes along an edge to get it clear.Make sure the cloth you use it totally dry.I'm a relative newbie myself but this is what works for me.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: SteveAllan on August 11, 2009, 01:23:04 pm
Dont take your mop to the top, stop just short, if you dogear that will also help. Go nice and slow until you perfect your squeegee technique then you should have minimum detailing to do. You can get some microfibres from the poundshop mate, there ok to get ya going.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: Robin Ray on August 11, 2009, 01:24:32 pm
Wash your scrims on a few hot washes or even boil them for a while. Then air dry them out on a line or rack this will make them more "crisp" and absorbant.

Use water on the glass spairingly. When the windows are past the initial clean dont mop all the way to the edge.

Wipe the squeege blade before use. And always have a decent blade.

Practice your squeegy technique so you limit the amount of water left on the glass then you will not have to detail much.

Hope this helps

Then when youve mastered the squeegy get a wfp setup. ;D
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: JSMC on August 11, 2009, 01:41:36 pm
scrim needs broke in.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: cozy on August 11, 2009, 03:34:08 pm
Hi, is there any chance of getting a local trad WC to take you out for a day or two?
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: tomy jackson on August 11, 2009, 04:59:42 pm
i dont like mirow ,your srims ned a boil wash em no mater if ther ready washed
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: gerard mcmanus on August 11, 2009, 05:26:16 pm
I started with microfibres and found scrims much better. Microfibres get soaking very quickly, but scrims seem to last longer. Definitely keep them dry, if you use them wet you will leave a mark. The ones you bought come quite large, if its the ones I buy. I prefer to cut them into four pieces and stitch new hems in them to prevent strands coming out, I find them easier that way. Also yeah, new scrims are a bit useless, so again give them a few cycles in the washing machine.

You should only have to give it a run once though, use a dry pre-washed scrim, use one finger to press it into the edge and run it round. Have a look at the edging, then walk away and come back in 10 mins and see if you can see any marks. Ohh, and do the bottom run last, as that's where all the water gathers, so if you start there your scrim will be soaking and you will drag the water round the window. I actually use a different cloth for the bottom edge because of that.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: landy2 on August 11, 2009, 05:33:47 pm
were are you based if your near me will take you out and give you a few tips
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: martinsadie on August 11, 2009, 05:55:51 pm
Really,

Thats a kick in the teeth, I bought 10 of them.
nothing wrong with them
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 07:26:04 pm
Im in Kent Pure Vision but can travel. Thanks for all help guys, its invaluable it really is.

Will get there in the end. I bloody hope so anyway
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: Roy Harding on August 11, 2009, 08:10:24 pm
Also you can wet the window and wipe around the edges first, then squeege off this may help you till you get full control of the squeegee.

Roy
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 08:13:30 pm
Cheers Roy will try that, and to answer your earlier question Cozy, dont think I can. My local window cleaner is never around, I always seem to be at work when he is here. Will try catch him or maybe look further afield for a trad w/c that can spare me a day
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: Gordon Saunders on August 11, 2009, 08:13:34 pm
 I find scrims need to be slightly damp to work the best, especially in hotter weather.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: jonnyald on August 11, 2009, 08:19:57 pm
 i second that ,scrim must be slightly damp to be at its best .   those 10 scrims u bought will be one of the very best things uve bought,trust me .
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: tony talbot on August 11, 2009, 08:31:45 pm
i had the same problem ( nobody to show me how ) had a look on utube, saw how they did it, then cleaned my conservatory about 50 times over the weekend until i had ironed out all the problems. conserv was so clean i rekon you could see the shine from space  8) 8) 8) but there really is no short cut to practice. most skill problems will sort themselves out, so stick with it.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: ryanst1982 on August 11, 2009, 08:36:36 pm
Well I think tomorrow il have a day of practising then. Il let you know how it goes.

Cheers Guys
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: wizard on September 02, 2009, 11:38:20 pm
I had the same problem when I started and I found if I down the edges with micro fibre first things would work much beter Good luck 
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: mark dew on September 03, 2009, 12:22:24 am
i second that ,scrim must be slightly damp to be at its best .   those 10 scrims u bought will be one of the very best things uve bought,trust me .

I find this also. Nothing wrong with scrim, though i mainly use microfibres now. The biggest complaint i ever had with a scrim was that it leaves fibres behind. But this is solved when it been used a few times and is slightly damp.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: drwindows on September 03, 2009, 12:56:45 am
I never got on with microfibre cloths.  Give me a nice scrim anyday.

ALSO the smell of scrim is the definition of window cleaning.
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: Ross G on September 03, 2009, 05:53:06 pm
hmmm the window cleaning smell association
i can't get the smell of labrador keek out ma nostrils especially on the trip down the rungs.
Know what you mean about the great smell of scrim though.


Ross
Title: Re: techniques
Post by: PCNW on September 04, 2009, 01:33:49 pm
micros are awesome (Im going american)
Scrims always broke up wheni used them - little grey bits of fluff on the glass