[Ian_Giles]

At one point I would have said technique has a lot to do with it.
But I think it must be linked with hardness in the water.
If you were having that probelm in my area then I would blame your technique, but the water hardness is middling to soft around here (mostly) So it is tough to be able to comment on how you guys in areas of very hard water find things.

Give up the trad stuff, get yourself a WFP, and then even when you have to use traditional methods you will always have lovely soft water to with

Sorry, couldn't resist

Do you have a window cleaner local to you so you could compare notes, so to speak?
Maybe you could find out if you are doing something that causes the 'drag'?


Ian

[rosskesava]

Around here the water is about the hardest in the UK. The land all around for miles and miles and miles is chalk, chalk and nothing but chalk. It goes down to God know what depth and every reservoir is on chalk.

Kettles scale up here almost over night and that is not an exageration. My missus always moans about it because she loves her bubble baths (why do women want bubbles in the bath? ) and she has to use half a bottle to get enough bubbles.

We either have to add some good old fairy or salt to get slip. The problem with fairy  is it doesn't clean very well and the problem with salt is if you add too much, it 'streaks' very easily. Add too little and the blade sticks.

I've been on a constant experiment with this sticking blade thing.

My latest, which does seem to give really good results, is a small amount of fairy, some salt and some windscreen wash with Ettore stuff added as per the directions but plus 50%.

I feel like some nutty proffessor with my experiments. The other two I work with just accept that that is me and get on with the job and make the occasional grunt of approval or disapproval.

My next experiment involves glycerine. Can't wait.

[karlosdaze]

If you haven't tried water softner try it now. It might be called "Calgon" over there. It would be cheaper in the supermarkets. It is what we use over here to add to washing machines on each wash, otherwise our machines break within the year.
With a tds of 1400, count yourselfs lucky.
If you are "going over the dry part" more than a couple of inches you will get drag.
If you can't hack it use the "fairy".

[karlosdaze]

P.S. I don't use water softner & only use 2.5 mg of GG4 to 4 litres. If I can do it here you can too. Half the time its technique or faulty gear, rubbers etc.

[Ian_Giles]

Your kettle furred up?

Cillit Bang it!
Seriously, the stuff is the dogs boll*cks, I launder all my money with it (The copper anyway)

Amazing stuff with a kettle though, give it a try, really.

Ian

[rosskesava]

Hi Karlosdaze

To start with we tried adding the right amount of GG4, or was it GG3, then twice the amount and then tons of it untill we were spending a fortune on the stuff.

The complaints we had went through the roof so we added fairy to it. Then more fairy and then more and more.

We changed rubbers every day then twice a day.

It made no difference then we spoke to a well seasoned window cleaner who used fairy, vinegar and screen wash. So we tried it and it was a big improvement. Around here the subject of conversation when we speak to other w/c's is the topic of this thread.

No one seems to have a definative answer. Technique is not really the answer because when the squeegie sticks, it really does stick. We've used both hard and soft, cheap and expensive and it just sticks.

Last Friday we done a new first clean for a shop. In the end I used wirewooll which done the trick. The blade to start with was sticking so badly that I wanted to just give up.

So at the moment, we use at per my previous posting and that is the best we've discovered to date.

I'm surprised the big companies in window cleaning havn't looked more into seriously hard water areas.

Hi Ian,

Cillit Bang does do the kettle wonders. It's the best de scaler I've come across. It just around here it's a chore as it has to be done every few days but it's easier than the standard descaler stuff and cheaper too because you use less.

Cheers

Ross

[texas girl]

OK,

I am on my second beer now, so I am going to spill the beans on a question I have had, but was embarrassed to ask.

What is "fairy"?  I have no idea what you are talking about.
?

Hugs,

Texas

[Ian_Giles]

Hi Debbie,
'Fairy', or rather 'Fairy Liquid', is the top detergent for dish washing.
In the UK, it is a bit like the sort of thing that has developed with vacuum cleaners.
Everyone gets the 'Hoover' out, meaning vacuum cleaner, regardless of make.
'Fairy' over here is much  the same.

Ian

Oh, re above: As against 'the' best, I should have said 'arguably' the best

[texas girl]

Ian;
OK; NOW I UNDERSTAND!  Yes; I have used it for years, along with other cleaners.

I have also used "fairy" mixed with a  1/4 cup rubbing alcohol per gallon of water; works well and adds some smell.

[rosskesava]

Hi Texas Girl

What is 'rubbing alcohol'?

Also I have to be carefull living where I do (Brighton) when I use the term 'fairy liquid' when at work because around here it means something else.

One of the good points about windscreen wash is it adds some smell also.

[karlosdaze]

Last Friday we done a new first clean for a shop. In the end I used wirewooll which done the trick. The blade to start with was sticking so badly that I wanted to just give up.
Ross

AAhhh, that might be it. I always razor new cleans with a 6"er, takes alot longer but it works. Try it, the next time you go back no probs.

[Duke]

I think 'Rubbing Alcohol' would be surgical spirit over here....(bought from the chemist's)....used to harden up feet (in my case) in preparation for a sponsored walk or marathon etc...