[Dan91]

Hi Guys
I recently decided to start up in WC as part time work to fit around my studies. I did some canvassing yesterday in a local area because I don’t have transport and apart from screwing up the pricing everything was OK, I got about 10 people and will be doing my first cleaning within 10 days.
I used this forum to help me on the way but there are still some questions I could not find the answer to. If anyone could help, it would be much appreciated.

1. What ladder size do I need to comfortably clean all 2nd story and maybe 3rd story houses? Some people say 28 feet others just 8 feet. What should be the extended length of the ladder for me to be able to do these things and what if I want to do guttering?
2. How do I clean leaded windows? Some people say without a squeegee, but I thought the whole point of using it was to dry the windows evenly as opposed to cloth and thus there won’t be crappy water marks?
3. I am willing to work for free for a day or two. Is somebody willing to take me on to show me some basics anywhere in Berkshire, Essex or ideally in London, before the 30th of April?

Thanks.

[dmlservices]

hi

make sure you have not gone in to cheap, it will take longer than you think, as you are a newbie,
the 10 you got ,prob bit your hand of cause you were cheap,
dont forget although partime will still insurance.

ideally you would want a few ladders, but as you have no transport you are limited, you would not want to carry a triple around all day, a double 15 rung is a good choice , you will need something to stand on to reach taller downstairs windows.

if you try using a squeegee on leads , you will leave crappy water marks,

some use a spray bottle with gg3 or similar , and buff with micro.
i used to use a leather rag tail mop, and dry buff with scrim.

daz

[Dan91]

Thanks for the reply daz! 

So what should be the extended length of the ladder?  I found a good deal on a 3 x 12 rung ladder, which has maximum extension of 7.20 or 23'7", which is 20.5 kg. Is that enough to clean ALL second story windows, because some of the houses looked much higher than other and some had windows on the side of the roof and one guy asked me to do his guttering  . Will it be sufficient?

And as for a free worker...anyone interested?

Thanks.

[jonnyald]

3 x 12 rungs will cover you for anything you ever would need, mostly you will only carry around 2of those sections as not need the third ,just on gutters need the third section .

[supernova77]

Dan,

Whereabouts in Berkshire are you?

Andy

[williamx]

Dan

Have you ever used ladders? if not don't even think, let alone clean windows that are hard to reach, its a long way down and when you hit the ground it is going to hurt or kill you.

Buy yourself a wfp trolley and adapt it, because you don't have transport, its easy to do.

[Dan91]

Thanks for the replies guys! I really appreciate it! 

Andy, I'm in Reading, I live in the student halls (don't ask where I'm going to store the ladder  ), but I am prepared to travel including London or even Essex if its close to my parents home.

Pure HYDRO Cleaners Ltd, I have used ladders before because i have some weird love for DIY around the house, but not too much and this is why I wanted to know what size ladder I will be comfortable with and not having to step on the last 2 rungs in order to clean.
And I will make a not of your advise - will not do 3 story, but what about the houses where they have roof only on two sides and two sides are bricked up with a window? Its almost like doing 3 story.

Thanks again to all. I'm doing my first cleaning in 10 days and ordering tools and ladder tomorrow and have no experience what so ever so any MORE advice or invitation to work with you is WELCOME!

[williamx]

If you insist on using ladder, only use them if the window is within easy reach DO NOT try for the window that is difficult to reach.

Do not rush, at first you will find it could be taking you an hour to clean 1 house, don't worry about it and do not try to increase you speed, when you get more practice you speed will creep up, don't force it.

Invest in a unger pole, you can use this on some 3rd storey work, you will not get a perfect finsh but at least you will be alive for you finals.

The rest is experence, you have 10 days before you start on you first fee paying customer, so for the next days and nights, practice then practice then practice some more, clean the windows at your sudent digs and parents home and any other window you can get to clean, and kept on cleaning them, you will be able to see what the results are from the inside. 

Also for many newbies the first mistake they make is the price, find out what the local windies are charging and match it.