[steeley]

Anyone else fed up of wfp window cleaning, I have been doing this a long time and more recently have really thought about just going back to cleaning the traditional way and maybe downsizing the round and replacing jobs that require wfp system with ones that can be cleaned traditional, why im fed up is a mixture of reasons, equipment (there always seems like there is something to buy), this includes poles and filters etc and hoses lol, poles (anyone else fed up with either getting glass fibres everywhere on your hands clothes or the alternative black hands and I do wear gloves now too lol, dog/ cat mess on your equipment, back and neck strain pain!! a bucket of hot soapy water sound attractive and a smaller van, let me know what you are all really thinking?

[dazmond]

i have days when i get a bit fed up with any form of window cleaning which is only natural when your doing it day in/day out!!

using extreme poles makes wfp so easy.its a doddle with these poles.ive had a few issues with my gas heater/reel etc but not anything to resort to thinking of going back to the ladders!

im making more money than ive ever made in window cleaning before so that helps.

finally im getting to the stage where i can take more holidays abroad and enjoy the finer things in life once in a while!

[keyser soze]

i get like that at times . it doesn't last long ... take some time off . alternatively get a part timer to help .

[steeley]

Ok thanks for your response however you say that your making more money than ever? If you worked out how much you spent out on equipment and water bills etc do you still think it would be massively different from traditional cleaning in a day? Just a thought  

[Clever Forum Name]

I hear where you are coming from, i have been window cleaning since 1999/2000. When i hit water fed pole, it was CONSTANT buy this, buy that! This leaks, that leaks.

What i did was sit down one day and write a list of everything that i hated about trad and WFP.

Water Fed Pole had less hates, so i stuck with it.

I then looked at every single problem i hated about WFP and how to fix it.

I have so far fixed almost every issue i had with WFP. I now love work!

Someone said to me last week (another wfp cleaner)

" I hate my first job of the morning in the winter, the pole hose is sooooo stiff and curled up from the night before "

Right ok i said, i know the answer to this....let see if you can guess it mate.....

You hate the first job coz of cold, wrinkled up pole hose.....

You drive to work and put the heaters on in the van........

It was like he had won the lottery!

" yeah mate!!!! What i could do is take the pole hose into the cab of the van, and when i drive to work i can use the feet air vents to heat the hose up "

I came across him today and he slipped me a tenner for the tip, i said no and instead we had two fry ups lol (he paid )

What you have to work out is the following!

Is it easier to live with the problem or easier to fix it?

Chin up mate, and good luck

[dazmond]

steeley im earning over 12 grand more a year than i was 4 years ago and spend roughly 3 grand more a year than trad so im still 9 grand up a year. less after tax but still worth it for me.

im working LESS than i was 4 years ago and finish earlier and have a week off at the end of most months.

there is still room for improvement as my round was in pretty bad shape 4 years ago after years of neglect but its defo going from strength to strength every year!


best wishes


dazmond

[Simon Mess]

I've never done traditional, so don't miss it.

I have however, looked at times enviously at a guy in the town I live who uses a bike to do his window cleaning. Uses his ladder like a trailer, it is hooked on to the back of his bike, and has an axle made with a couple of bike wheels at the back. His bucket, a rudimentary wfp system, and a 25l container sits on the ladder.

The problem for me, apart from the fact that I have never done trad, is how far and wide my round spreads, so not really viable for trad. Yesterday and the day before, I dove an hour and 10 minutes to get to my 1st house!.

[tom20001]

I hear where you are coming from, i have been window cleaning since 1999/2000. When i hit water fed pole, it was CONSTANT buy this, buy that! This leaks, that leaks.

What i did was sit down one day and write a list of everything that i hated about trad and WFP.

Water Fed Pole had less hates, so i stuck with it.

I then looked at every single problem i hated about WFP and how to fix it.

I have so far fixed almost every issue i had with WFP. I now love work!

Someone said to me last week (another wfp cleaner)

" I hate my first job of the morning in the winter, the pole hose is sooooo stiff and curled up from the night before "

Right ok i said, i know the answer to this....let see if you can guess it mate.....

You hate the first job coz of cold, wrinkled up pole hose.....

You drive to work and put the heaters on in the van........

It was like he had won the lottery!

" yeah mate!!!! What i could do is take the pole hose into the cab of the van, and when i drive to work i can use the feet air vents to heat the hose up "

I came across him today and he slipped me a tenner for the tip, i said no and instead we had two fry ups lol (he paid )

What you have to work out is the following!

Is it easier to live with the problem or easier to fix it?

Chin up mate, and good luck

fair play pure , ur a gent

great to see lads helping each other out both on here and out in the big bad world

id be lost without this forum!

[windowswashed]

Don't miss trad as I still do a little bit for inside a factory once a month and several communal areas on housing association properties

[steeley]

Nice to hear every ones opinions, thanks I do need to focus on the more positive aspects that wfp cleaning brings and dazmond you are right about more money for less hours I can finish at half 2 3pm some days and when I think back to traditional cleaning you wouldn't catch me home in the summer time till about half 5- half 6 and probably with less money!

Anyone else found that the fibres of the poles seem to get everywhere?   I use gardiners poles used to use clx now using slx, did have a really heavy pole I used to use was like a scaffold pole but it never had the horrible fibres but was very cold to use in the winter and heavy was its downside

[Clever Forum Name]

Only really every used carbon poles, so not noticed fibres.

Used a clx for all of a week

[rosskesava]

The really good thing about trad was absolutely no complaints, simplicity with minimal equipment and apart from the van, almost no running costs.

However, with wfp, I reckon it does a better job over all, faster, less physical strain, more money and the real bonus, you can take on a much wider variety of work.

Steely - what type of pole are you using?

Also, if you're getting back and neck strain you need to do stretching exercises each evening. That pain is a warning so don't ignore it.

[steeley]

My main pole I use is a slx 22 yes I hear you about the back pain being a warning, I think it came to a head a while back when I couldn't put socks on, I have tried osteopaths, pysio therapy I have an over active neck muscle, I have definatly got inflammation in my neck and back inflamed vertebrae what stretches would you suggest? A customer suggested yoga would be good??

[PoleKing]

My main pole I use is a slx 22 yes I hear you about the back pain being a warning, I think it came to a head a while back when I couldn't put socks on, I have tried osteopaths, pysio therapy I have an over active neck muscle, I have definatly got inflammation in my neck and back inflamed vertebrae what stretches would you suggest? A customer suggested yoga would be good??

No wonder your back hurts, you have to wear socks.
And if your budget stretches to it. Shoes.

[Clever Forum Name]

My main pole I use is a slx 22 yes I hear you about the back pain being a warning, I think it came to a head a while back when I couldn't put socks on, I have tried osteopaths, pysio therapy I have an over active neck muscle, I have definatly got inflammation in my neck and back inflamed vertebrae what stretches would you suggest? A customer suggested yoga would be good??

If you have LOWER back pain, then i suggest you buy this book ASAP!!!!!

After doing the exercises in this book, i have lost all my back pain.

I can honeslty say it changed my life.

Not being tight, but buy it from ebay Costs about £3

[Clever Forum Name]

Link would help 

Read the reviews, and i can HONESTLY say this book will change your life!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Own-Back-Edition/dp/0958269289/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386191668&sr=8-1&keywords=treat+your+own+back

[steeley]

Thank you will definatly get the book 

[rosskesava]

I'm going to order that book as well. All the reviews seem very positive.

[Pro-Smart]

I've never done traditional, so don't miss it.

I have however, looked at times enviously at a guy in the town I live who uses a bike to do his window cleaning. Uses his ladder like a trailer, it is hooked on to the back of his bike, and has an axle made with a couple of bike wheels at the back. His bucket, a rudimentary wfp system, and a 25l container sits on the ladder.

The problem for me, apart from the fact that I have never done trad, is how far and wide my round spreads, so not really viable for trad. Yesterday and the day before, I dove an hour and 10 minutes to get to my 1st house!.

Jeez Simon - where do you live to have to drive for that distance to get to your custies?!!

In a previous life I worked at a company that took 1.5 hours to get to. When I considered what I wanted to do as a living after a well-earned break, the one thing I thought was I ain't gonna do that amount of driving no more! Back in the day I was driving c. 45,000 miles per year. Now I'm doing c.7500 business miles. Boy does it feel good! 

[H20cleaning]

the way i see it is... health and safety is only going to get worse over the years.
imagine sitting behind a desk answering phones?
or been a copper on the beat for 9-12 hours a day dealing with a-holes?
or stacking shelves and having to work the night shift to make a half decent wage?
our job is great!!

best thing to do is prepare your van early on a night ready for the morning.
have a nice breaky and a berrocca.
headphones in tell yourself you want to be done by 3.30 and work like a Mexican!!