[AuRavelling79]

What do you wear:-

1) For the weather:-   hot/cold/damp etc

2) To "look the part" Logo's, Writing etc, Colour coded what have you

3) To hold Practical items:- scrim, sill cloth, money, receipts, pen, phone etc

I'm generally like an unmade bed (but warm) and need to work on this - any ideas?

[zeusjazmin]

dont bother too much about the look
top class thermals for winter,t-shirt in summer
unger bags for carrying scrim etc,thats about it
i really should be more proffesional but...............

[windows_chepstow]

Some window cleaners look like scare crows, and to be honest, I've probably been one of them; now and again.

But we've smartened up and wear the same polo shirts, fleeces and shower proof jackets.  It doesn't take much to cobble up some sort of 'uniform'.

Recently we had to quote for a large posh hotel, and we both turned up in polo shirts, jeans and polished boots.  Shaven and clean.  We got the job (after we jumped through hoops, ate fire and juggled) - but I'm sure our image helped some.

Other (local) window cleaners have made friendly fun of us though!

I think as long as you look clean, shaven and non-threatening, you're half-way there.  Would pensioners ask you to clean their windows if you have facial peircings and tatoos and owning the 'heroin chic' look?  Some would, but plenty wouldn't.

As for keeping warm - you need to do the 'layering effect'.  Lots of thin layers - that you can remove - one by one - if you get too hot.  Keep the layers hidden under an outer shell - like a fleece.  One thick and heavy item of clothing might be 'too warm' and if you remove it, you'll be too cold. 

Wear a wooley hat too (although I haven't had to so far this Winter) - preferably without a bobble.  They say you lose 70% of your body heat through your head!

For gloves, see the gloves thread.

Thermals are good too.

Oh, for holding money, phone, pen, invoices, nicotine chewing gum, head phones etc - I use a bum bag.  Jeans pockets are a pain to get stuff out of - especially while wearing gloves.

As for scrim, I use an unger belt with two pouches.  One on the side, and one on my back.  Just load them with scrim and off you go.  Some of the guys on here will only use one or two scrims a day, but I'm not that good yet.  Give me a few more years.  Me and the missis can still get through a bag full a day and we've been at it for a couple of years.

For my sill cloth, I cut a towel into smallish squares and tuck one into the loop on the side of my pouch - it stops it from making my scrims wet.  I tend not to use it too much these days as I squeegie the sills!

In Summer we wear shorts and polo shirts and I can't wait to get in them again!

[rosskesava]

Hi Malc G

I agree 100% with windows_chepstow and he has basically said it all.

When I was window cleaning a few years ago, I used to have the roll up hanging out my mouth, cloths tied to my ladder, a real workman type image, etc, and I guess you must get the picture. That was ok for then but for today, I think people expect a different approach.

We also wear (3 of us) a uniform.

Everything we wear is black and the jackets have our name and 'window cleaning' transfered onto them. Again, the posting above says it all especially with regards keeping warm.

Good quality clothing, I think, is a must though. After last winter (I'm pushing on a bit - 47) I bought a really expensive 'proper' wind proof/waterproof jacket for rock climbers. It's very thin, very flexible and strangely enough, very warm and full of zips and has zips under the arms for some odd reason. It cost the alarming sum of £225 and I had kittens when I bought it because of the price but boy oh boy has it prooved it's worth time and time again and it's also rip and tear proof.

The other two prefer fleece type black jackets but by and large - we all look the same and we shave everyday which I think is important.

I think to be professional - you have to look professional.

For the hot weather and like windows_chepstow, and also I can't wait for it to come, we all wear shorts, t shirts etc all exactly the same.

Our vehicle is sign wriiten and kept clean and as we often leave the back open all the equipment and cloths etc are always kept tidy. Also, we do not tie a cloth onto the ladders like so many windows cleaners. I think that looks a bit naff albeit practical. We got 'clip on' triangular hazard signs that say 'window cleaners etc' but in black with fluroscent yellow and red. They cost £30 for 4 but they also look professional.

When we're using ladders in anywhere public we have proper 'window cleaning in progress' cones  and hazard ribbon that we use and believe it or not, over the last 6 months, we've got 5 commercial contracts from them because business is corncerned about health and safety and doing things correctly. The cones show a correct approach in that reagard.

I think anything that goes with 'professional' is what todays world expects.


Don't know about the unmade bed - my missus does that every morning when we get up. It's all I can do to just get up let alone make the bed. All I have to do is make sure there's no T shirts, socks, etc left in the bed and that I put dirty washing where it 'SHOULD GO BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT GOES AND I'M NOT YOUR SERVANT' as I'm well trained. On the odd times she's not here, I couldn't careless.

[texas girl]

Hey Dudes!

I think that appearance is very important! Being clean cut, with proffessional clothing is a must!  Everyone that works for me dresses well.  

When bidding a job, appearance is the first impression the customer is going to be judging. We wear polo shirts, jeans or khakis, and we have name tags and jackets with our company name. I get nice shirts that have my logo and my company name embroidered on them.

I usually dress up in a corporate manner; business suit,(skirt), perfect makeup, hair done; I  try to look my best (and I love the looks I get from men in general) . Yes, I do like to turn heads! And I do!

Anyway, appearance is very important. Doing houses is a bit more rugged but still the bidding is an occassion to impress with proffessionalism in every area.

 Also, having a proffessional bid sheet is a must. And, I always carry proof of insurance to assure the customer we are covered in case of an accident.

Being a female, sometimes I have to be convincing to some that I can do the job.  Not so much anymore, but some people look at me and say"are you going to do the work"? I weigh 105 lbs but I can carry a ladder and I know how to use a lot of tools. I work out a lot. I train by running,bicycling,lifting weights(light) and other exercises to stay in shape.

I would suggest always to  overdo verses underdoing when it comes to appearance.  

Be careful out there!

Texas Girl  (Debbie)

[Real Clean Guy]

Hi Debbie, starting out here in Vancouver Canada would you mind sending me a copy of your bidding sheet?  Would be much appreciated.  In word format if you can.  Thanks

[AuRavelling79]

Hello Texas - so you turn heads when you're out and about eh?
I can top that - I turn stomachs!

[windows_chepstow]

Wor Lass (that's my good lady to Texas) runs marathons, runs for the local running club, cross trains with bikes, does a million(ish) sit-ups a day.  But give her a set of light industial ladders and she falls over! 

All she'll carry is the six foot A Frames and the bucket if it's not too full of water.

Do you think she's pulling the wool over my eyes?  I hate skivers!

Texas, when she comes in from her 'Candle Party' (what-ever that is for an excuse to get drunk to) I'll show her your post and say 'If a Yank can do it - so can bloody well you'.

If I am still alive tomorrow, I'll let you know her response.

[windows_chepstow]

Oh, Texas, sorry, when I refer to you as a 'Yank', it's not really in a derogatory sense.  It's just a Geordie colloquialism.

It's got nowt to do with the only reason you lot got your independance from us, was because France joined in during the American War of Independance (against the 'old enemy'), on your side obviously, and England ended up fighting a war on two fronts. 

I did actually spend a Thanksgiving with American soldiers and the turkey was very dry.  Like their company.  I'm not anti-American mind.  I couldn't be, because we're now part of the 'American Empire' - (bloody Tony Blair).

And the bottom line is, I'm really joking.  It's good to have a bit of the exotic here.  And a Texan window cleaner, to a Geordie window cleaner (or Brighton, Birmingham or where-ever here) - is very exotic.

[AuRavelling79]

Tangent time!

Texas wasn't part of the USA in the American war of independence. It was a Spanish possession!

Texas was part of Mexico (hence Spanish empire until the Mexican war of independence in 1810 - 1820) then it was independent between 1836 and 1845 and didn't become part of the USA until December 1845.

So whose side was Texas on in 1776?  Spain's

My wife says I'm incredibly boring and she should know!

[windows_chepstow]

I bow to your knowledge, but I'm still bloody sure we lost it because the bloody Frenchies joined in!

[karlosdaze]

Just go and read the names & nationalitys of the people that defended the Alamo in that big brown book they keep at the entrance! All of them were either English, Irish or Scottish - I kid you not.