Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: poleman on October 31, 2012, 11:15:01 am

Title: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: poleman on October 31, 2012, 11:15:01 am
cleaned windows in the rain today and customer cancelled  :-\

thing is...do windows get dirty when it rains  :-\










Title: Re: does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: gto on October 31, 2012, 11:35:42 am
only if its dirty rain.

lots of dust and dirt in the air, will be brought down by the rain.
but generaly rain is clean.
Title: Re: does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave Willis on October 31, 2012, 11:35:57 am
Window cleaners will tell you not.
My own windows get filthy after rainy weather, even worse when it's windy too.
Do you wash and polish your car when rain is imminent?
Title: Re: does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave. on October 31, 2012, 11:38:12 am
Generally not, at the time of cleaning.

because you should have removed all the dirt on the frame and glass,

the rain is almost as pure as your pure water, in most of the country,

On a maintenance clean - the windosw are generally still clean after 4 weeks,
you are removing the small build up of dirt, dust, grime, insect crap and bird mess that has taken 4 weeks to accumulate

But some customers will still not understand, better off without them - let somebody else pander to them  
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Ben wood on October 31, 2012, 12:38:48 pm
I've been out all morning in rain and high winds not had any complaints yet.  I just tell them it could rain ten mins after I call at the end of the day your still cleaning the dirt off them each time you due like was arranged
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Craggs on October 31, 2012, 01:54:11 pm
I've clean my own windows two weeks ago and it already really dirty.

Last week ago we had cold wind where I work in London , it been very windy which cause the rain to hit the windows hard.

It very rare my windows get dirty within a week, it usually stay clean for a month at least
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave. on October 31, 2012, 02:41:46 pm
I've clean my own windows two weeks ago and it already really dirty.

Last week ago we had cold wind where I work in London , it been very windy which cause the rain to hit the windows hard.

It very rare my windows get dirty within a week, it usually stay clean for a month at least

We had that 'blood rain' as the BBC called it - thrown up in the atmosphere by storms in the Sahara
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: formb on October 31, 2012, 04:00:59 pm
Of course rain makes windows dirty.

That's not to say it's pointless cleaning windows in the rain though. The cleaner the glass and frames the less effect the rain will have.

If a window is cleaned on a monthly basis with WFP they will tend to be pretty clean all year round, barring exceptionally bad weather.
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: keyser soze on October 31, 2012, 04:18:15 pm
some windows definitely get effected by rain depending on how it comes down so its up to you if you risk it. i did mine when it rained and all but one side was good but it did effect one side of the house , if i was paying i wouldn't be happy tbh. i think you could run a risk of a cancellation
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: poleman on October 31, 2012, 07:09:28 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OowPpJX5Dw
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: robbo333 on October 31, 2012, 07:20:12 pm
Thanks Poleman for posting that video link. Very well explained.
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave66 on October 31, 2012, 08:14:50 pm
it rains every couple of days in britain, just get on with it!!
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Window Washers on October 31, 2012, 09:29:25 pm
some windows definitely get effected by rain depending on how it comes down so its up to you if you risk it. i did mine when it rained and all but one side was good but it did effect one side of the house , if i was paying i wouldn't be happy tbh. i think you could run a risk of a cancellation
that wayvifbthinking will be costing you more money than it would if the odd customer canceled, it's a total mindset change.
I have been cleaning in the rain for a long time rain water if you tested it is very low in tds when it mixes with pure water even less thought that say it makes them dirty tend to be the ones that don't clean in the rain
On the odd occasion there can be a problem the red dusk we had a few years back I remember being a nightmare then again it was a nightmare when it wasn't raining educating your customers to why it can be cleaned in the rain is one of the steps having confidence in delivering it to you customers is another.

Or those don't don't clean in the rain, makes no odds to me I just can't see the point in losing money for no good reason getting wet is not a good enough reason.
I employ people they to work in the rain I have had maybe one call back in a very long time I would rather give them back their money then losing out on not working.

Marketing your thoughts now ?
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave Willis on October 31, 2012, 09:41:49 pm
Who me?
My thoughts? yes rain does make windows dirty - not so much the water but what it brings with it. The question was not about cleaning in the rain.
Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. I don't employ so if it's raining hard I'll take the day off that's my choice. Very few customers have complained when I work in the rain but some do. I have so much work that inevitably I have to work in the rain. But I still don't like it.
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Window Washers on October 31, 2012, 09:45:01 pm
Who me?
My thoughts? yes rain does make windows dirty - not so much the water but what it brings with it. The question was not about cleaning in the rain.
Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. I don't employ so if it's raining hard I'll take the day off that's my choice. Very few customers have complained when I work in the rain but some do. I have so much work that inevitably I have to work in the rain. But I still don't like it.
thanks good honest reply  :)
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave Willis on October 31, 2012, 10:11:38 pm
Which reminds me of a little story.
Last month I stopped work in torrential rain, pulled into a public car park to use the loos and have my lunch. It was absolutely hammering down. Woman pulls up along side really close and opens her car door "you don't recognise me do you?" "nope" I said. "I'm mrs X from ....... manor - you promised to clean my windows last week, when are you going to do them?"
"Oh I'll do them now" I said all sarcastic.
"That would be great" she said.

So off I went to clean the manor for the afternoon in a monsoon.
Nowt as Queer as folk!
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Window Washers on October 31, 2012, 10:16:10 pm
Which reminds me of a little story.
Last month I stopped work in torrential rain, pulled into a public car park to use the loos and have my lunch. It was absolutely hammering down. Woman pulls up along side really close and opens her car door "you don't recognise me do you?" "nope" I said. "I'm mrs X from ....... manor - you promised to clean my windows last week, when are you going to do them?"
"Oh I'll do them now" I said all sarcastic.
"That would be great" she said.

So off I went to clean the manor for the afternoon in a monsoon.
Nowt as Queer as folk!
:)
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: keyser soze on October 31, 2012, 10:46:46 pm
some windows definitely get effected by rain depending on how it comes down so its up to you if you risk it. i did mine when it rained and all but one side was good but it did effect one side of the house , if i was paying i wouldn't be happy tbh. i think you could run a risk of a cancellation
that wayvifbthinking will be costing you more money than it would if the odd customer canceled, it's a total mindset change.
I have been cleaning in the rain for a long time rain water if you tested it is very low in tds when it mixes with pure water even less thought that say it makes them dirty tend to be the ones that don't clean in the rain
On the odd occasion there can be a problem the red dusk we had a few years back I remember being a nightmare then again it was a nightmare when it wasn't raining educating your customers to why it can be cleaned in the rain is one of the steps having confidence in delivering it to you customers is another.

Or those don't don't clean in the rain, makes no odds to me I just can't see the point in losing money for no good reason getting wet is not a good enough reason.
I employ people they to work in the rain I have had maybe one call back in a very long time I would rather give them back their money then losing out on not working.

Marketing your thoughts now ?

i work in the  rain , id be a hypocrite if i said i didn't but there could be a chance i could be giving a service that isn't 100 per cent so my point being is don't be surprised if you get a cancellation , you cant be sure until it dries and im 3 jobs down the line when that happens. i did mine in the rain and on one side it blemished. i know this cause i was taken back by how much . i think that custys forget you've been an hr after and it doesn't cross their mind to scrutinise how good a job you have done
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: geefree on October 31, 2012, 11:09:50 pm
The first answer is correct...rain is roughly 0.18 tds ... pretty pure, unless it brings down dirt and dust with it in certain conditions.

its like anything else,.... for instance wind will dirty the windows the day after a clean.....if its dirty wind.

Thats why we are here though.....

To clean dirty windows.
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: Dave66 on October 31, 2012, 11:19:52 pm
tis true its a never ending circle!! if a custard cancels because of rain they are not worth having  ::)
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: king marko on November 01, 2012, 08:22:12 am
Totally agree with window washer on this one
Just make sure you inform your customers old & new that you offer a guarantee - As long as they contact you within 24hrs or so with any problems they might have regarding the window clean, then you'll happily return and rectify

I offer this and can honestly say I've never had a call back  :)

Being polite, courteous and getting to know your customers works wonders too  :)
Title: Re: Does rain make the windows dirty!
Post by: H2GoKent on November 01, 2012, 08:52:43 am
My favs are the ones who say its about to rain.
I sometimes smile sweetly and say. 'this is England it's always about to rain, that's the peril of living in the temperate zone'
Some laugh, some smile some think I'm mental. But no one argues usually.

Fact is if you want to make a regular living and they want a regular service then you almost have to work in the rain. you have to train your customers up.