Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: monkeyman on September 07, 2009, 07:41:11 pm

Title: dark nights?
Post by: monkeyman on September 07, 2009, 07:41:11 pm
been building up my round all this year and with the dark nights approaching was wondering how you guys get on most days i dont finish till 5,in a couple of months by that time its pitch black,how dark and what time is acceptable in the winter nights,dont wana fall behind with my round?
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on September 07, 2009, 07:45:54 pm
I'm new myself, but have wondered this too.

I came to the conclusion that start at first light (acceptable time) and maybe skip a lunch break (quick butty in the van jobfor din dins)
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 07, 2009, 07:47:33 pm
I wear a head torch. ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: dave.e on September 07, 2009, 07:50:38 pm
i do not have that problem i start at 9am and back home for 3pm god i love this job.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: simon knight on September 07, 2009, 07:52:45 pm
I use floodlights...can work until midnight ;D

Seriously though.  Mid-winter: 3.30..perhaps 4pm and it's stumps.

Mind you 4pm and it's shower time for me 365 days a year.

Fact: You won't do as much in winter as you would do in summer.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on September 07, 2009, 08:33:12 pm
I usually work saturday mornings 9am-1pm 3 times a month in the winter it seems to keep me on track.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Dean Taberner on September 07, 2009, 08:48:41 pm
Saturdays?

Go 5 weekly but dont tell your customers?

Dean
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: kenaltobelli on September 07, 2009, 08:58:08 pm
just miss out bathroom windows go wfp spray water about;
  rush a bit more when its cold you work better any way oh nearly forgot any net curtains
  up just give them a light touch be round on time :o
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on September 07, 2009, 09:11:16 pm
Thats a good idea dean :)
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: [GQC] Tim on September 07, 2009, 09:46:03 pm
Oh dear, totally forgot about this, bring on depressing winter.  :'(
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: tony talbot on September 07, 2009, 09:57:42 pm
start 8.30am finish by 3.00pm no prob, i hope my pole don't frezze this year
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: dazmond on September 07, 2009, 11:26:34 pm
i dont work til 5 most of the time.9 til 4ish normally.i usually just accept i wont earn as much in the winter months.i find that i earn nearly as much in winter as summertime anyway. ;D.always a bit of cathing up to be done.who wants to work after 4 anyway.just make sure ur quick off the mark in the mornings ;)i tend to do more saturdays cos of bad weather in the winter but no major loss of earnings unless snow and ice.16th winter doin this job and hope for many more.i love bein THE BOSS
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: sparklebright on September 08, 2009, 06:16:20 am
The dark won't slow you down as much as the cold....
You will find your muscles get a bit more tired in the cold. People know you will take longer to come round in winter
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: dazmond on September 08, 2009, 09:08:02 am
speak for yourself sparklebright.i find i tend to work faster when its cold.its the hot sunny humid days that slow me down.and scraping the ice off the car windows and defrosting the ladders,old women keeping me talking,waitin for custys to find their purse[its ALWAYS in their car],dodging washing lines,dog muck,toys,plant pots etc ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: NWH on September 08, 2009, 11:11:23 am
Does it ge dark at 1 o`clock then cos i`ve normally done my bit by then lol. ;D ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: martinsadie on September 08, 2009, 06:26:05 pm
been building up my round all this year and with the dark nights approaching was wondering how you guys get on most days i dont finish till 5,in a couple of months by that time its pitch black,how dark and what time is acceptable in the winter nights,dont wana fall behind with my round?
its not that much of a problem, worst it gets is four just before xmas for a week then it goes the other way
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: NWH on September 08, 2009, 06:27:30 pm
4 o`clock i don`t think so Stan,in deepest winter it can be almost dark by 2.30 if it`s cloudy.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: martinsadie on September 08, 2009, 06:42:54 pm
4 o`clock i don`t think so Stan,in deepest winter it can be almost dark by 2.30 if it`s cloudy.
the worst ive ever had for bad light is 3-30 we must be nearer the sun up here  ;D ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: sparklebright on September 08, 2009, 06:43:39 pm
speak for yourself sparklebright.i find i tend to work faster when its cold.its the hot sunny humid days that slow me down.and scraping the ice off the car windows and defrosting the ladders,old women keeping me talking,waitin for custys to find their purse[its ALWAYS in their car],dodging washing lines,dog muck,toys,plant pots etc ;D

I'm not talking about for resi work really, more for high level pole work, where you actually use your muscles  ;D
In the cold you do get more tired, but the heat does it too. I guess I like autumn and spring  :D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: pingu on September 08, 2009, 06:46:17 pm
I think most window cleaners (1 man bands) start around 08:30/09:00 to around 15:00/16:00 from previous polls we have had on here.

Cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: martinsadie on September 08, 2009, 06:49:51 pm
I think most window cleaners (1 man bands) start around 08:30/09:00 to around 15:00/16:00 from previous polls we have had on here.

Cheers
Dave.
before i started getting old and lazy it was 0800 till 1700  ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: kenaltobelli on September 08, 2009, 07:27:04 pm
must admit i find summers the hardest  to hot or rain or just humid ;
i recon i earn as much in winter.  :)
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: NWH on September 08, 2009, 07:51:53 pm
must admit i find summers the hardest  to hot or rain or just humid ;
i recon i earn as much in winter.  :)
Spot on.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: paulben on September 08, 2009, 07:53:46 pm
Prefere winter can put on extra jumper cannot stand heat .
summer start 8 ish finish about 1-30 to 2 .
winter just start first light and finish asap  try and build round with winter in mind
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: mark dew on September 09, 2009, 01:06:09 am
I prefer cleaning in winter and get through my work quicker than in summer.
The heat slows me down more than the cold. I only really feel the cold in winter when i ain't moving. Keep working and i'm fine. 
It focuses me as well. 9am - 3.30 is plenty of time to earn a decent crust. My 400 litres will only give me between 5 and 6 hours work time anyway.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Londoner on September 09, 2009, 07:03:33 am
I don't! 8am start every morning. Work till 6pm in the summer.
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Sunshine/Cleaning on September 09, 2009, 08:37:19 am
My full day starts at 9 and finishes at 3:30. Anything longer is a bonus. I have recently started doing a £30ish job at 3pm just to make the best of the day.

When I was younger and charged less I worked to 5pm. Now my prices are higher there is no need.

The only thing I hate about dark nights is that I cant get out on my road bike!
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Paul_Rolfe on September 09, 2009, 08:53:20 am
Isn't night meant to be dark?  8)
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: John Walker on September 09, 2009, 02:00:47 pm
speak for yourself sparklebright.i find i tend to work faster when its cold.its the hot sunny humid days that slow me down.and scraping the ice off the car windows and defrosting the ladders,old women keeping me talking,waitin for custys to find their purse[its ALWAYS in their car],dodging washing lines,dog muck,toys,plant pots etc ;D

I'm not talking about for resi work really, more for high level pole work, where you actually use your muscles  ;D
In the cold you do get more tired, but the heat does it too. I guess I like autumn and spring  :D


I like the Autumn - apart from it being SPIDER season.  I hate the bloody things - cobwebs everywhere and fat arrsed spiders falling on your head - Yuk!
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: martinsadie on September 09, 2009, 06:13:53 pm


I like the Autumn - apart from it being SPIDER season.  I hate the bloody things - cobwebs everywhere and fat arrsed spiders falling on your head - Yuk!
Quote
bet the spiders arnt happy either  ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 09, 2009, 06:26:46 pm
My full day starts at 9 and finishes at 3:30. Anything longer is a bonus. I have recently started doing a £30ish job at 3pm just to make the best of the day.

When I was younger and charged less I worked to 5pm. Now my prices are higher there is no need.

The only thing I hate about dark nights is that I cant get out on my road bike!

What bike have you got Sunshine?
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: tony talbot on September 09, 2009, 06:39:01 pm


I like the Autumn - apart from it being SPIDER season.  I hate the bloody things - cobwebs everywhere and fat arrsed spiders falling on your head - Yuk!
Quote
bet the spiders arnt happy either  ;D

my misses is afraid of spiders aswell but then she is a girl ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: dark nights?
Post by: Sunshine/Cleaning on September 09, 2009, 09:06:53 pm
My full day starts at 9 and finishes at 3:30. Anything longer is a bonus. I have recently started doing a £30ish job at 3pm just to make the best of the day.

When I was younger and charged less I worked to 5pm. Now my prices are higher there is no need.

The only thing I hate about dark nights is that I cant get out on my road bike!

What bike have you got Sunshine?Giant scr 3. Just been out with No.2 son quick 23km before tea. Tonights ride http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12954466 Doing a charity ride in Oct http://www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Webster/