[Mike George]

I've just taken on a new customer with lots of 'real' leaded windows that haven't been cleaned properly for a long time.

The customer is happy because they are already looking better, but the previous cleaner didn't go right into the points so there's quite a build up of dirt there and I'd like to get them up to standard. They are too dirty for misting and I've used as much water as I dared on a microfibre sleeve, rubbing very gently.

On one window I went into all the corners with the scraper and it's come up pretty well, but it will take forever to do them all that way.

So what's the best way to do this - should I be using some kind of brush?

[Trevor Knight]

Hi Mike,

The best way to clean these windows is with a bristle brush head, speak to gardiners.

We have one for our WFP system and its brilliant. I have recently just taken on a manor house that is completely leaded. When we had finished the windows were top dollar and the customer was over the moon.

Had I done this traditionally I would still be there now!

Best wishes,

Trev

[windows_chepstow]

Trev,

Mike is trad and lives on a boat, therefore I suspect he may have problems getting set up with WFP.

---------------

Anyway,

Mike, it may be better avoiding jobs like this if you're trad.

Real leaded windows are difficult to do to a reasonable standard using scrim or miro-fibre.  They're hard work and time consuming.

Real-leaded windows differ from their modern counter-parts in that the lead used is much much thicker, therefore deeper, therefore the glass is set further back.  It can be fragile to.  I 'popped' a few small panes of the stuff out of a real-leaded hotel I clean while cleaning the inside (outside we use WFP).

Your options are:

1.  Charge extremely well, and I mean well, so that you can take the time required to do a reasonable job.

2.  Charge well, and 'manage your customer's expectations'.

3.  Dump the job.

4.  Underprice, do a top notch job; then dump it in six months when you've had a belly full of doing it.

I'd suggest option 2!

[jeff1]

You can buy little flat square plastic scourers (green ones), they clean the point and bring the lead up very nicely.

but if I was you, I would tell the customer you can do it over a period of time. this way they are normaly happy, and you dont have to spend hours cleaning a whole house.

[Mike George]

Thanks Trev, but Tosh is right, wfp is out of the question for me.

I'm currently taking Tosh's option 2, which is easy after their experience with the previous guy.

Jeff, I've got some of those scourers that I use on grubby frames but I hadn't thought of trying them on the leaded - they might need a bit too much pressure but I'll give it a go.

[Londoner]

Try a garden sprayer and a dish washing brush. Effectively WFP by default. You don't need pure water as long as you scrim afterwards.

[Archy136]

If you live on a boat you should have any problems with water supply if you went WFP

[Mike George]

Try a garden sprayer and a dish washing brush. Effectively WFP by default. You don't need pure water as long as you scrim afterwards.

I have been wondering about something like this, but I'm not sure it would look very professional!

[Mike George]

If you live on a boat you should have any problems with water supply if you went WFP

Well, there's always plenty of water around - but it's not very clean!

[jeff1]

But you would need an extraction licence, even if you own a well in your own garden, you will need a licence. or a £3,000 fine