[joshem]

Hi all,

This is my first post and no doubt it's been covered already so sorry in advance. I've started canvassing my local area and it's going really well. I bought a cheap squeegee and t-bar from Tesco's and have been practising on my house but I would like to know what equipment I will need to start properly? I visited www.windowcleancentre.co.uk and this is what I think I need:

Bluewater Bucket & Lid 20 Ltr (£17.50)
Bluewater Bucket Sieve (£4.95)
Double Denim Pouch with Belt (£7.75)   
Ettore Golden Glove 14"   (£5.28)   
ProGrip Squeegee Complete 6" (£8.31)   
Ettore Pro Grip T Bar 14"   (£4.28)
Pro+ Scraper 6" (£6.35)   
Pro+ Squeegee 14"   (£11.75)   
Ettore Pocket Scraper 1.5" (£1.80)   
Replacement Blades    Pk 10 (£1.10)   
Ettore Medium Soft Rubber - Per 10 14"   (£12.00)   
Grade B Unwashed Scrim - per 10    36"   (£24.79)   
Unger Bucket on a Belt & ErgoTec Tool Belt  (£16.95)


Total:     £128.24     (ExVAT)


Most of you are probably laughing! Is this too much? Anything else I'd want? The money doesn't bother me too much as I'd rather buy one decent product than two rubbish ones. Also, what do I need to be doing with regard to starting up in business (tax, NI etc?)


Any help much appreciated, cheers!

[darren clarke]

do u have any custys yet

[darren clarke]

tax put away 20% of what u make

ni  phone ni office and tell them you are self employed and they send you a bill works out tobe less than £2 a week

keep petrol receipts and any thing you buy for when you do your tax return

[bobby p]

save a LOT  of time and buy a WAGTAIL FLIPPER from www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk     and then "google" Wagtail flipper and then watch how that tool is used on various videos.  personally i would buy the 14" or 12" wagtail  if i was you

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

tax put away 20% of what u make

ni  phone ni office and tell them you are self employed and they send you a bill works out tobe less than £2 a week

keep petrol receipts and any thing you buy for when you do your tax return

To be honest I would get used to living off 60% of what you earn the other 40% should be put into a separate or business account for tax and expenses.

[R W C™]

Bluewater Bucket & Lid 20 Ltr (£17.50)   Standard Bucket - Blue      15 Ltr  £3.39
Bluewater Bucket Sieve (£4.95)
Double Denim Pouch with Belt (£7.75)   
Ettore Golden Glove 14"   (£5.28)      Unger Monsoon Sleeve  14"  £6.50
ProGrip Squeegee Complete 6" (£8.31)   
Golden Pro Squeegee Complete  10" £7.64
Golden Pro Squeegee Complete  14" £8.24
Golden Pro Squeegee Complete  18" £8.96
Ettore Pro Grip T Bar 14"   (£4.28)
Pro+ Scraper 6" (£6.35)   
Ettore Pocket Scraper 1.5" (£1.80)   
Replacement Blades    Pk 10 (£1.10) 
Ettore Medium Soft Rubber - Per 10 14"   (£12.00)   
Grade B Unwashed Scrim - per 10    36"   (£24.79)   Go to www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk for microfibre cloths rather then scrims £4 each.
Unger Bucket on a Belt & ErgoTec Tool Belt  (£16.95)
You may want to buy a extension pole..


B&Q for scraper as ive tried the ones for window cleaners but  find the ones that take stanley blades better and easy to buy replacements.


Also maybe a extension pole.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Might need ladders if your doing ups. An extention pole is a good idea. And microfibres rather than scrims. A good solution like squeegee off rather than washing up liquid.

Simon.

[Ian101]

Might need ladders if your doing ups. An extention pole is a good idea. And microfibres rather than scrims. A good solution like squeegee off rather than washing up liquid.

Simon.

Yes definately forget scrims BUY some big blue microfibres from WCW order number is WCWM 80X60 @ £5 EACH.
Could never get my scrims to work even though I washed them a few times .... in fact you can have them for free if you want them (email me your address) ..... you will be best to get at least 5 if your just starting out.

Also agree with Ettore Sqeegee Off you just need the little 1litre to begin with as lasts ages.

Also buy 2 buckets not 1 in case you kill one on the job also handy having spare water ready to go with Squeegee Off already mixed ... saves time !

[Susan @ MB Window Cleaning]

Hi all,

This is my first post and no doubt it's been covered already so sorry in advance. I've started canvassing my local area and it's going really well. I bought a cheap squeegee and t-bar from Tesco's and have been practising on my house but I would like to know what equipment I will need to start properly? I visited www.windowcleancentre.co.uk and this is what I think I need:

Bluewater Bucket & Lid 20 Ltr (£17.50)
Bluewater Bucket Sieve (£4.95)
Double Denim Pouch with Belt (£7.75)   
Ettore Golden Glove 14"   (£5.28)   
ProGrip Squeegee Complete 6" (£8.31)   
Ettore Pro Grip T Bar 14"   (£4.28)
Pro+ Scraper 6" (£6.35)   
Pro+ Squeegee 14"   (£11.75)   
Ettore Pocket Scraper 1.5" (£1.80)   
Replacement Blades    Pk 10 (£1.10)   
Ettore Medium Soft Rubber - Per 10 14"   (£12.00)   
Grade B Unwashed Scrim - per 10    36"   (£24.79)   
Unger Bucket on a Belt & ErgoTec Tool Belt  (£16.95)


Total:     £128.24     (ExVAT)


Most of you are probably laughing! Is this too much? Anything else I'd want? The money doesn't bother me too much as I'd rather buy one decent product than two rubbish ones. Also, what do I need to be doing with regard to starting up in business (tax, NI etc?)


Any help much appreciated, cheers!

What about your ladders?



Matt

[darren clarke]

go wfp as u will want to in a few months anyway

[joshem]

Thanks for your replies! I've got 64 houses at the moment and am aiming for about 100 to start (allowing that some people will probably change their mind).

Are these the ones you mean: www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop/cloths/wcw-microfibre.html, Ian101 @ H2o? Also, thanks for the offer with the scrims, that's really good of you but seeing as everyone says microfibre I'll just go and get some of them

So it looks like you all use WCW then?

How many microfibre cloths am I likely to go through in a day (say 10 houses a day for now)?

Ladders might help! What do you lot recommend? So far all the houses I have are 2 storey but I'll go up to a third. Also, I'm a shorty (5'6") so what do you reckon for the bottoms?!

Thanks again for all your advice, really great forum!

PS. With the ladders is that really all I'll need to get going? Will I need a 'rag' for filthy frames?

[R W C™]

There the right cloths £4 ones as the others are to small, go to pondland and theyve got some good micro cloths for sills, For trad gear I use window cleaning centre but warehouse will price match, as for ladders I recommend pointers,

http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=187&SectionID=27

http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=188&SectionID=27

I got the alloy but wish I got timber as better in winter...

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Might need ladders if your doing ups. An extention pole is a good idea. And microfibres rather than scrims. A good solution like squeegee off rather than washing up liquid.

Simon.

Yes definately forget scrims BUY some big blue microfibres from WCW order number is WCWM 80X60 @ £5 EACH.
Could never get my scrims to work even though I washed them a few times .... in fact you can have them for free if you want them (email me your address) ..... you will be best to get at least 5 if your just starting out.

Also agree with Ettore Sqeegee Off you just need the little 1litre to begin with as lasts ages.

Also buy 2 buckets not 1 in case you kill one on the job also handy having spare water ready to go with Squeegee Off already mixed ... saves time !

Operator error in my opinion, learn to use them.

[Ian101]

Might need ladders if your doing ups. An extention pole is a good idea. And microfibres rather than scrims. A good solution like squeegee off rather than washing up liquid.

Simon.

Yes definately forget scrims BUY some big blue microfibres from WCW order number is WCWM 80X60 @ £5 EACH.
Could never get my scrims to work even though I washed them a few times .... in fact you can have them for free if you want them (email me your address) ..... you will be best to get at least 5 if your just starting out.

Also agree with Ettore Sqeegee Off you just need the little 1litre to begin with as lasts ages.

Also buy 2 buckets not 1 in case you kill one on the job also handy having spare water ready to go with Squeegee Off already mixed ... saves time !

Operator error in my opinion, learn to use them.

Stuart u r correct operator error but once I used them big blue microfibres didnt feel the need to continue with a scrim but apart from washing them and trying to detail with them what else ru supposed to do ?

[RO-Sheen]

look on the Business link website. Great free advise courtesy of the Government. You can also make an appointment to see a rep in your area and they also run free courses on starting up. They cover everything from Marketing to tax and everything in between.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Might need ladders if your doing ups. An extention pole is a good idea. And microfibres rather than scrims. A good solution like squeegee off rather than washing up liquid.

Simon.

Yes definately forget scrims BUY some big blue microfibres from WCW order number is WCWM 80X60 @ £5 EACH.
Could never get my scrims to work even though I washed them a few times .... in fact you can have them for free if you want them (email me your address) ..... you will be best to get at least 5 if your just starting out.

Also agree with Ettore Sqeegee Off you just need the little 1litre to begin with as lasts ages.

Also buy 2 buckets not 1 in case you kill one on the job also handy having spare water ready to go with Squeegee Off already mixed ... saves time !

Operator error in my opinion, learn to use them.

Stuart u r correct operator error but once I used them big blue microfibres didnt feel the need to continue with a scrim but apart from washing them and trying to detail with them what else ru supposed to do ?

You mean you haven't tried to make boxer shorts out of them? 

[Ian101]

lol 

[steveo22]

Hi Ian, i was gonna put in an order for some more scrims, i'll have them off you if u no longer use them! What make are they/or grade? How many you got? Just pm me and let me know what you want for them.
Cheers -
s.coxwindowcleaning@gmail.com

[Ian101]

Hi Ian, i was gonna put in an order for some more scrims, i'll have them off you if u no longer use them! What make are they/or grade? How many you got? Just pm me and let me know what you want for them.
Cheers -
s.coxwindowcleaning@gmail.com

Will count them tomorrow and post them can you email me your address ian_hornby13@hotmail.com u can have them for free as I dislike them.

[steveo22]

Have sent e-mail
Many thanks Ian
Steve.