[paul alan]

Evening,

I have some new customers, and plan on having many more this year!

I seem to take ages doing first cleans, scrubbing and more scrubbing. Going over top frames again and again.
Not sure where to stop without knowing if im going to leave a bad job and possibly lose a new customer.

Especially as ive had to cohearse some new customers into the wfp method as they have bad experience with it, reassuring them that i can do the job properly. Which i can, i just cant afford to waste time and water.

Any tips for me please? I have 9 new tomorrow and again on friday, kids to collect at 3pm.

Many thanks

Paul

[tlwcs]

I always say I wash the windows and frames every visit, the frames and sills get cleaner with each visit.
So long as you don't leave spots or runs on the glass, do you feel that you've got to make the weathered uvpc that clean, I don't. 
Tony

[bobplum]

get some cheap bathroom cream cleaner and apply to your brush for the upstairs windows and dab some on the sills of the bottom ones and then dab your brush in to it..............we found this a good way to get the dirt off and leave a great finish

[Shrek]

You can't rush a first clean . I defo wouldn't book to many in on one day either because they do take a lot of scrubbing and rinsing, spread them out over the month instead

[Dazzler3370]

I offer the next clean free if there are any problems after first clean.

Puts faith in you with the customer....

Dazzler

[paul alan]

I always say I wash the windows and frames every visit, the frames and sills get cleaner with each visit.
So long as you don't leave spots or runs on the glass, do you feel that you've got to make the weathered uvpc that clean, I don't. 
Tony

i see the first clean as a first impression, sometimes im even scraping paint spots from glass when i have time.
But time is important , i need to find the balance point.
I sell myself on being "better" than the others who come in and splash dash, i end up with their work.
It has to be bob on first time for me, were all different though.
Each to there ownni guess.

[paul alan]

I offer the next clean free if there are any problems after first clean.

Puts faith in you with the customer....

Dazzler

i offer the ffirst clean free if not satisfied, hence the need to get it right.

[paul alan]

You can't rush a first clean . I defo wouldn't book to many in on one day either because they do take a lot of scrubbing and rinsing, spread them out over the month instead

i agree, but ive set myself a goal! I need to push as many as possible each week.
£2500 new work by end of august, got £200 in last 10 days.

[tlwcs]

I always say I wash the windows and frames every visit, the frames and sills get cleaner with each visit.
So long as you don't leave spots or runs on the glass, do you feel that you've got to make the weathered uvpc that clean, I don't. 
Tony

i see the first clean as a first impression, sometimes im even scraping paint spots from glass when i have time.
But time is important , i need to find the balance point.
I sell myself on being "better" than the others who come in and splash dash, i end up with their work.
It has to be bob on first time for me, were all different though.
Each to there ownni guess.

To be better than others could mean, your regular, your pleasant, your honest and charge a reasonable amount.
But I accept your point that it's each to their own. 😊

[paul alan]

get some cheap bathroom cream cleaner and apply to your brush for the upstairs windows and dab some on the sills of the bottom ones and then dab your brush in to it..............we found this a good way to get the dirt off and leave a great finish

are you saying use cream cleaner on the glass?
We use it on frames etc
Weve used ecover and stardrops on glass, even bought virosol but its expensive stuff.
Just bought some cream cleaner by hg, found it good stuff but never tried the glass.
Does it rinse ok?

[Jays Window Cleaning]

Don't set your goals to high mate you may end up with an injury putting pressure on yourself . I do one or 2 max first cleans on a day on top of that days work . With first cleans I do go over the top to make a good impression . I always say to the customer and reasure them that anything they not happy with give me a call and I will come back and re clean the problem areas . Never been called back. Except one i Missed one window once because when the side gate was open it hid the little window . Customer sent me an email and politely said you missed a widows but totally understand as the gate was hiding it . I emailed back and went back there the next day and cleaned it . Do your best but don't do too many in one day you will wear yourself out . There really isnt quick easier way to do first cleans if you want to make a good impression good  luck tho

[paul alan]

I always say I wash the windows and frames every visit, the frames and sills get cleaner with each visit.
So long as you don't leave spots or runs on the glass, do you feel that you've got to make the weathered uvpc that clean, I don't. 
Tony

i see the first clean as a first impression, sometimes im even scraping paint spots from glass when i have time.
But time is important , i need to find the balance point.
I sell myself on being "better" than the others who come in and splash dash, i end up with their work.
It has to be bob on first time for me, were all different though.
Each to there ownni guess.

To be better than others could mean, your regular, your pleasant, your honest and charge a reasonable amount.
But I accept your point that it's each to their own. 😊

i agree there, its a big part of it. Cleaning the windows is one thing but you have to be likeable to all kinds.
Txt/ call the night before, uniforms, well spoken, respectful, polite, mildy charming works wonders!
Especialy having the wife on board,old dears feel safer, men bowled over, winning ticket all round.

[paul alan]

Don't set your goals to high mate you may end up with an injury putting pressure on yourself . I do one or 2 max first cleans on a day on top of that days work . With first cleans I do go over the top to make a good impression . I always say to the customer and reasure them that anything they not happy with give me a call and I will come back and re clean the problem areas . Never been called back. Except one i Missed one window once because when the side gate as open it hid the little window . Customer sent me an email and politely said you missed a widows but totally understand as the gate was hiding it . Do your best but don't do too many in one day you will wear yourself out . Good luck tho

Cheers! Been here before though so i know whats feasible like, im only doing 9 tomorrow beacause i have a full day.
I reckon on average 30-40 mins a job, shoukd be able to drop kids off at 9 get 4-5 done have a vape and a brew then finish off the rest by 3. Then repeat tomorrow. I missed a window once that i know of, because customer was asking questions. She wss fine about it and even acknowledged her part of it. Possibly missed others too in 6 years.

[Shrek]

I always say I wash the windows and frames every visit, the frames and sills get cleaner with each visit.
So long as you don't leave spots or runs on the glass, do you feel that you've got to make the weathered uvpc that clean, I don't. 
Tony

i see the first clean as a first impression, sometimes im even scraping paint spots from glass when i have time.
But time is important , i need to find the balance point.
I sell myself on being "better" than the others who come in and splash dash, i end up with their work.
It has to be bob on first time for me, were all different though.
Each to there ownni guess.

To be better than others could mean, your regular, your pleasant, your honest and charge a reasonable amount.
But I accept your point that it's each to their own. 😊

i agree there, its a big part of it. Cleaning the windows is one thing but you have to be likeable to all kinds.
Txt/ call the night before, uniforms, well spoken, respectful, polite, mildy charming works wonders!
Especialy having the wife on board,old dears feel safer, men bowled over, winning ticket all round.

Agree with that , whenever a bloke asks for a quote via txt / call / email . I always send the wife over to quote with her big cleavage , works a treat , always lands the job

[Stoots]

First cleans have to be taken on the chin. I take my time and make sure its all perfect before i go because hopefully it sets me up for months/years of quick maintenance cleans.

[nathankaye]

In one hand you say your a confident worker but on the other hand questioning your technique or ability because of being scared of loosing a new customer 

Do you really have to over sell yourself to get the new work,  as youve said in one of your posts, in order to stand out from your immediate competitors.
As alot have already said, you need to spend that extra time on a first clean, but that extra time is paid back in every other clean being easier and a whole lot quicker. All you can do is amend/add to technique with ubik or cif etc but mostly being confident in your own ability so you dont need to clean to death the frames n sills before you think they will be happy to keep you

[dazmond]

hot water and virosol helps if the windows and frames are really bad.you could charge double or at least half again than a normal regular window cleaning price?

dont rush first cleans and space them out over the working week so your not cleaning too many in one day.

[paul alan]

In one hand you say your a confident worker but on the other hand questioning your technique or ability because of being scared of loosing a new customer 

Do you really have to over sell yourself to get the new work,  as youve said in one of your posts, in order to stand out from your immediate competitors.
As alot have already said, you need to spend that extra time on a first clean, but that extra time is paid back in every other clean being easier and a whole lot quicker. All you can do is amend/add to technique with ubik or cif etc but mostly being confident in your own ability so you dont need to clean to death the frames n sills before you think they will be happy to keep you

but i am confident in my ability, i just know theres a wealth of experience here!
Im just tapping in, always room for improvement.
Doing a top job is standard, im just looking to bring the time down a little.
Thanks

[paul alan]

hot water and virosol helps if the windows and frames are really bad.you could charge double or at least half again than a normal regular window cleaning price?

dont rush first cleans and space them out over the working week so your not cleaning too many in one day.

i still have virosol on the van, was using to clean caravans in the summer.
Will give it a bash today!
I use my emty days in the week to first clean, i reckon 8-10 per day comfy!
2-3 on work scheduled days.
Cheers

[AuRavelling79]

First cleans "Generally" and First cleans if green with algae.

1. Generally I will scrub everything upstairs - top frame including vents - the lot. If one or two windows have a small amount of green algae on the sill from being near a tree I do them as I go. If algae or birds muck doesn't come away easily I leave it for the "next pass" (3 below) when it will be softened.

2. Then I will lower the pole and scrub everything downstairs  - top frame including vents the lot. As I go round the bottoms - if reachable - I use an old towel to wipe the top frame and patio door hinges where there may be grease.

3. Go back over the top windows glass only and also attack residual bird muck.

4. Go back over bottom windows glass only.

5. Any bottom sills with grit running out the join I wipe off with a towel at the end.

If the window sills are really bad with algae then I will heat up the water beforehand or use a bit of detergent on the brushhead only. I try to avoid detergent above the glass to minimise "runs".

If the UPVC is grey or there are streaks from rubber seals breaking down I find it is rare that you can do much about it without specialist cleaners and getting up close and personal and I warn the customer that I am unlikely to be able to do more than make a small improvement. (Manage expectations)

While I agree that a first clean is "an investment" for the future I will charge between 30 and 100% to partially ameliorate the cost vs time spent.