[Granny]

Hi
First time in 4 months got a call back on a first clean!
TBH there were some spots and a couple of runs on the window but you had to look for them - got two neighbours who I don't think like the system geeing each other up.
The single unit windows were fine.
The problem was the units with a fanlight or crossframe.
The top panes were ok it was the bottom ones under the fanlight or crossframe that were spotted or had runs.
I wash all the frames and windows all around.
Then go back around washing the glass again but not the top of the frame then rinse at least twice.
Do you rinse the frame at the bottom of the fanlight?
Cos that is the only thing I can think of that is causing the runs down the bottom pane.
Either that or it is coming out from the back of the closed fanlight.
G.

[colin purewater]

Could be perished seals/gaskets causing the runs
If so there is no answer with wfp

[g.brookes]

you cant clean every window perfectly every time.  just clean it again and see if the same thing happens again.  just explain to the customer that you are human, that you will always come back if theres a problem, and everybodys happy

[richard jagger]

i ALWAYS TAKE IT LIKE THIS: If they tell you there is a window to redo be happy they told you as you cannot see all the glass and will have problems from time to time.\its better than them telling there mates.I welcome calls to fix its not a sin its human.First cleans are always a pain I invite them to call me when they have checked the results and I would even call to hear if they happy.IT shows the service you offer is flexible and in the customer`s interest.

[Granny]

Hi
Thanks for the positives.
What gets me is the total $!!t state the frames were in and the amount of crud I have washed out but they were happy to pay and have paid for years to a c**p window cleaner who never touched the frames - they were minging - but then they start bitching about a few spots on the window.
I even cleaned UNDER the sills on the upper windows cos I couldn't stand to leave them in the state they were in.
The great british public don't you just love working for them?
This business would be O.K. if it wasn't for the customers!

[G Griffin]

You say it was a first clean. As Slumpy dog says, that could be the reason. I'm no expert but frames can be the problem, particularly if they haven't been cleaned for a while.
There's all sorts of snakes hiding in those dirty frames, especially the type you described.
A stiffer or sturdier brush could help (though I don't know which you're using now).

Sorry, Granny, just seen your latest post.

[magic moments]

I have a perished seal,I do take a little longer ,but it aiways runs down after about 10 mins,so after I finished house ,I just use a trad pole and straight pull down ,had no complaints.

[P @ F]

In my view , this window will always be a pain , my mother in law has the same type in her front room , 2 thin long top openers and a large pane across below , i always tackle this window first , even before the tops ?

I give it all a good scrub then after all the other windows are done i go back and clean glass only on bottom pane of front room , and every time without fail i end up with a milky run straight through the middle of the bottom pane , trad is the only way to combat this style of window in my view .

Rich

[dazmond]

what you need to do on them windows rich is just clean the glass on the top openers and side and bottom of the frames NOT the top frames on the little openers!!then you wont get that run right down the middle of the sheet of glass below them!! .

i learnt this lesson over 2 years ago in my first few months of WFP as i have loads of windows with 2 top openers with a large sheet of glass underneath them.make sure no water goes between the  middle of the openers!

i had loads of complaints about this in the first few months!!no problems now!!i might clean the top frames and above once a year but i make sure i rinse them really well.leave em and come back to clean the sheet of glass underneath when ive cleaned a few more windows.


best wishes


dazmond

[Bay View WCS]

what you need to do on them windows rich is just clean the glass on the top openers and side and bottom of the frames NOT the top frames on the little openers!!then you wont get that run right down the middle of the sheet of glass below them!! .

i learnt this lesson over 2 years ago in my first few months of WFP as i have loads of windows with 2 top openers with a large sheet of glass underneath them.make sure no water goes between the  middle of the openers!

i had loads of complaints about this in the first few months!!no problems now!!i might clean the top frames and above once a year but i make sure i rinse them really well.leave em and come back to clean the sheet of glass underneath when ive cleaned a few more windows.

best wishes

dazmond

Exactly this

Also, on a first clean I always, and I mean always, explain that they may very well see some amount of spotting on the glass after it has dried.  I explain that in most cases it is inevitable because of the special attention that is now being given to cleaning the frames and rinsing of the seals around the windows.  I explain the guarantee and that I really want them to   call me and let me know if this happens (this can also be useful for me on future cleans as I may use this knowledge to alter the order in which I clean the windows to give the best possible clean).

Some clients have called me after the windows have dried to tell me of some spotting and I have gone round very quickly to put it right - this then reinforces my guarantee and that I want to get it right.  Other clients have mentioned on the second clean that there was some spotting on the first clean but they didn't want to bother me and because I had explained that it may happen so they were not thinking that I had done a sub-standard job.

Cheers,

Tom

[richard jagger]

Good answer Tom.

[Londoner]

I tend to find that the few customers I have had that were not happy with first cleans never make good afterwards.

Your card is marked, or they are too pedantic, whatever, you can't win them all. Its always a game of percentages

This time of year I would be inclined to blade off first cleans or just go round with a bit of microfibre and check before you go. This time of year its essencial to check every clean, with the hot sun on the windows I have found lots of spots.

[Granny]

I tend to find that the few customers I have had that were not happy with first cleans never make good afterwards.

Your card is marked, or they are too pedantic, whatever, you can't win them all. Its always a game of percentages

Thinking the same the first woman was giving it - "And the nieghbour is not happy either."
If she hadn't had the flea put in her ear I bet there would have been no problem  - plus I think the window they are complaining about is a very high one that I suspect the previous cleaner never did anyway!!.

[Londoner]

Sure there can be problems with WFP on some types of windows - especially on first cleans.  Going around twice the way you did usually eliminates these problems but not always.  I also tell them that sometimes first cleans are imperfect.
In the case of dodgy windows that won't come up right even after a few cleans, I do have a final fall back position though.  It goes something like, "In order to avoid working unsafely, sometimes the customer needs to be aware that on some types of window, there will always be imperfections.  If you would like me to put you in contact with someone who still cleans from a ladder, please let me know and I will do so."  Obviously that only applies to upper floor work.  The customer can't argue with that line.  You've tried to put it right a number of times.  You've admitted that you are unable to do so.  You've offered to put them in contact with someone who can resolve the problem - albeit someone who works in a less safe manner.  Whatever they choose, you are still the good guy.  If you've shown that you care about the job and you are fine in other ways, most will tolerate the imperfection and let you get on with it.

Its nice to be the good guy but I tend to be more cynical these days and just say you won't win them all and walk. I would say 50% of any new customers you pick up are some other window cleaner's rejects anyway. Not like there is a shortage of window cleaners so to find two togeather who don't have one must ring a little alarm bell. Not always, of course but its always there to bear in mind.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

As has been said, when you have to openers above a single pane you will find that the bottom glass is likely to spot.  The way of overcoming this is not to do the frame where the 2 openers join, or just go over with a damp brush no water otherwise you will wash dirt out and it will spot the bottom pane.

You will find that you can clean these windows without spotting in future, if they still complain then you just have an annoying customer on your hands, but in all honesty when these types of windows spot it's right where someone would look through the glass so it will attract complaints.

Simon.

[Granny]

Hi
Went back this morning.
The second phone call yesterday (when I was having my dinner was after I had given them a second clean.
Way the bloke was talking I was expecting a right mess.
The runs down the middle had gone with the second clean - there were about 10 or 12 spots in the bottom corners on TWO windows- think probaby too much pressure rinsing splashing dirty water up from the sill or bottom of the frame.
And really hard to spot from outside with all the paw marks from the kids on the inside of the patio door a - "Really horrible mark left from when a bird flew into the window."
Tiny streak bout 3 inches long.
OMG FFS!!!
G.

[Ian101]

Hi
Went back this morning.
The second phone call yesterday (when I was having my dinner was after I had given them a second clean.
Way the bloke was talking I was expecting a right mess.
The runs down the middle had gone with the second clean - there were about 10 or 12 spots in the bottom corners on TWO windows- think probaby too much pressure rinsing splashing dirty water up from the sill or bottom of the frame.
And really hard to spot from outside with all the paw marks from the kids on the inside of the patio door a - "Really horrible mark left from when a bird flew into the window."
Tiny streak bout 3 inches long.
OMG FFS!!!
G.

Some may say dump but if you can please these then you can please 99.999999% of all your customers .. sometimes good to have 1 of these on the round ... I have a lady who has a thing about her top cills but cos of her I know that all of my upper cills are mint on every job. .... so long as they dont get nasty then fine .. if they do double tap em