[toydestroyer]

Afternoon.

I'm new but instead of hiding in the background thought I should make myself known. I'm starting a window cleaning business but first I plan to practise on friends houses and businesses to make sure I can do a good job instead of embarrassing myself in front of a perspective client lol. I have an office job in the city during the week so will only be window cleaning at the weekends

So here's a couple of questions, sorry if they may sound stupid but if you don't ask you don't get.

1: Is there one piece of equipment that's made your life that much easer? (please keep in mind I will be going the traditional route).

2: Can you still clean residential clients if its raining?

3: What's the best way to clean a window that you can't get a ladder to? (extension pole?).

Like I said all just simple things but I might as well learn the basics first. Bye the way my real name is Lee

[Dean Aspects]

Welcome to the forum Lee
When i am working trad the pieces of equipment i have found handy is a pouch for your cloths and a bucket on a belt so you dont waste time going back to your bucket

As for working in the rain personally i will work in light rain but as it gets heavier then i will stop as i dont like getting wet its uncomfortable

And if you cant reach a window with a ladder if it is safe to do so then yes use an extending pole but stay safe on the ladders and dont try something that is dangerous just to clean a window you are more important than any window

One last thing practice practice practice 
Any other questions just ask away their are plenty on this forum that are willing to help out

Dean

[Ian W]

Hi Lee,

Welcome to the forums. You will find some good info here. Have a search through the archives too.

To answer your questions.

1 - a ladder    Seriously, microfibre cloths - I like the Unger cloths.
2 - I always tell my customers I will clean in drizzle / light rain, not heavy. Not had a complaint yet.
3 - Use an extension pole (more difficult than it looks) or leave it. NEVER put yourself at risk. There isn't any window worth killing yourself over.

[windowwashers]

Hi Lee,

Welcome to the forums. You will find some good info here. Have a search through the archives too.

To answer your questions.

1 - a ladder    Seriously, microfibre cloths - I like the Unger cloths.
2 - I always tell my customers I will clean in drizzle / light rain, not heavy. Not had a complaint yet.
3 - Use an extension pole (more difficult than it looks) or leave it. NEVER put yourself at risk. There isn't any window worth killing yourself over.

I have to say Ian Just covered everything I would have said.
IMO I would not go for the brass handles as they are very cold in the winter, unger would be my choice.

[toydestroyer]

Cheers guys really appreciate your answers . Going to start practising properly this weekend so should toughen up my girly office hands in no time with this weather lol.

Is there any preferred concentrate? I was going to buy a few small bottles use them for practice then buy a bigger one of whatever worked the best for me.

Don't worry I wont be putting myself in any danger, I'm not a big fan of ladders so was thinking 'ah my area is perfect lots of bungalows', until I realised the majority of them have dormas or strange loft conversions going on hence the extension pole question.

Lee

[paul saunders]

Do you know any windowcleaners in your area ?

If you do, ask them if you can go with them for a few days training, an offer of free labour usually helps.

There is a DVD out called "windowcleaning esentials" (I think) well worth the money. Cant remember where I have put my coppy.

The best tip I can offer you is, buy the best set of ladders you can afford .............. you won't regret it.

[Ian W]

I like Ettore Squeegee Off. I bought a small bottle ages ago and you really don't need a lot to get a good finish. Think less is more. 

The DVD that bbdl recommended is worth buying too. It helped me when I first started. And also agree with buying the best ladders you can afford.

Like Ian (windowwashers) said, Unger is always good quality, although don't dismiss the other manufacturers.

Buy the basics first then progress onto more specialised equipment as you find a need for it. Unlike me who bought loads of stuff that has never been used... :

[toydestroyer]

One of my grandad's friends used to do window cleaning and is rather generously going to spend a Sunday showing me how to do things 'old school'. Ha ha that sounds like the kind of thing I would go and do, but I'm going just to get the basic equipment and practice with that first, no point me getting some clients and doing a bad job, think I'll be better off spending time getting good and having clients that'll want me back.

Cheers for the advice about the ladders, hopefully I can get enough low level work so I don't have to go up any lol.

Just had a funny conversation discussing it with my mum (yeah 24 and she still nags). She was saying I should just use washing up liquid, then said I shouldn't do it, its a bad idea, I'll be invading other peoples patches and they wont like it! I think she thinks everyone is like the Mitchell brothers!

[Paul Coleman]

One of my grandad's friends used to do window cleaning and is rather generously going to spend a Sunday showing me how to do things 'old school'. Ha ha that sounds like the kind of thing I would go and do, but I'm going just to get the basic equipment and practice with that first, no point me getting some clients and doing a bad job, think I'll be better off spending time getting good and having clients that'll want me back.

Cheers for the advice about the ladders, hopefully I can get enough low level work so I don't have to go up any lol.

Just had a funny conversation discussing it with my mum (yeah 24 and she still nags). She was saying I should just use washing up liquid, then said I shouldn't do it, its a bad idea, I'll be invading other peoples patches and they wont like it! I think she thinks everyone is like the Mitchell brothers!

Fairy liquid is fine if you're cleaning the traditional way.

[Ian W]

The only problem I find with fairy is it dries your hands out. I don't find this with squeegee off.

[Rob.Hall]

Best idea and worked for me.

Get  the dvd and see it a few times.

Go out with a window cleaner in your area for 1/2 day to a day.

See what kit he has and try it out if he/she will let you.

I did the above and it was the best thing I could have done.

Then I went and bought my gear.

For trad it cost around £450 with ladder.

All the best.

Rob

[gary999]

if using ladders buy the best set you can afford no price to high for your safety
ladder safety gear like stoppers and mats also come in handy for slippy and
uneven surfaces

[Ravensford]

Lee,

As others have said buy the best quality ladders you can afford. If you can afford it buy window cleaners (pointed) ladders from the outset. Can be a little unnerving the first few times at height because they twist a little in use but with three points of contact they are safer on sloping or uneven ground. You will also find you can access more windows (safely) that you can't with 'ordinary' ladders.

[supernova77]

Lee,

Welcome to the forum!

It'll be interesting finding out how you get on... I started out at this time of year 2 years ago.

Andy

[Ian W]

Andy, did you start off full time straight away? How long did it take you to build your round? Are you at a good level of work now?

[supernova77]

Andy, did you start off full time straight away? How long did it take you to build your round? Are you at a good level of work now?

I'm one of those people that works best under pressure. I left my fulltime job with no customers and about 2 months worth of money to live off in the bank.

I canvassed canvassed canvassed like mad (door knocking)... After about 9 months I would say that I then had enough to live off of without scrimping by all the time. I did have my cousin working with me, but now that he's gone I've got more than enough work for myself.

I think the thing that really paid off was persistence when canvassing... On many days I felt like giving up - but you just have to carry on.

Andy

[Ian W]

Thanks Andy. It is always interesting to hear how others have got started.

I want to take the plunge and go full time one day, but without any savings to back me up I would struggle. So I will continue with my part time efforts until I have built enough business to make it a success.

I think you are right, canvassing is the only way to go. Persistence always pays off.

[Small but perfectley formed]

try sorbo 3/4 squeegy with 12 inch chanel very good ,also for ladders try www.ladders999.co.uk,microfibre instead of scrim