[dai]

Sarah, I am in the same position as Tosh. My mrs is only 4ft 9". a 25 ltr container would be more than half her body weight, having said that she can and does lift them ot of the van. Up ladders, no way! she has a small pointy ladder that I made out of a pair of old steps. Her lack of height means she has great difficulty doing big windows. If she can't reach the middle of the window from the side, she can't do it all.
My clients love her though, she does an excellent job, far too fastigious for my liking. I have told her many times that we only get paid for cleaning the window in a door, no need to do the frames, bottom panels, and the letter box.
She is a joy to have around, she even gets the really miserable ones to smile.
If She has a day off to catch up with houswork all my clients say "on your own today, wheres Mayah"
Drawbacks? Well theres always the loo problem. We guys have an anatomical
advantage as far as that's concerned. Male window cleaners become very adept
at finding places to pee. Taking time off to go and look for the nearest public loo can be a pain.
There may be some big strapping girls out there that could do the job as well as a guy but I aint seen any yet. A WFP setup built into a pram, and a light pole might be the answer, but at the moment she adds less than 25% to the days takings.
Conclusion. I would rather have her with me every time, she keeps me laughing all day. That's worth another 25%. DAi

[matt]

i would just use a sack truck and 1 25 L barrel in it

its only 25 Kg and the battery etc, so we shall say 35 KG, its not a great weight, if you think its too heavy, either get some smaller drums (20 L's P.haps) or only fill them to a certain level

the sack truck is designed to take the weight at the bottom of the truck, thus the wheel do all the hard work

as you have all your Gubbins (RO etc) you would just need a Sack truck and a pump, jobs a good un

now get back to the kitchen 

[gaza]

TOSH:YOUR MRS RUNS 17 MILES IN ONE MORNING IF i TOLD MY MRS TO RUN 5 MILES A DAY SHE WOULD BE 35 MILES AWAY BY THE WEEKEND
YOU GET WOMERN BUS DRIVERS[THANKS TO POWER STEERING] AND  LORRY DRIVERS.BUT W/C IF THERE ABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THEN WHY NOT?

 GAZA

[Moderator David@stives]

Remember window cleaning is a tough hard dirty job whether you use wfp ladders or just bungalows.
I think you have to be a certain type to handle it what with the dirt behind the nails getting spashed with dirty water ,having to wear work clothes .also you are on your feet all day and are lifting weight all the time ,even a bucket of water can weigh anything between 10 & 20 kilos and the same with an a-frame.

If you think you can handle it ,go for it but dont expect to keep your well manicured nails.

Dave

[Sarah Sarill]

Dave,

I take it you did not poll 'Its not hard work at all 'then ? 

Cos I dont have well manicured nails due to mopping the floor ,washing up all day and putting them down the toilets to clean them - does that mean I could not w/c then.

Nurses lift both sexes body weights every day, house cleaners get dirt behind their fingers every day and women in many industries like factory workers, traffic wardens, hairdressers etc etc etc stand on their feet all day.

What about women who carry children for long periods of time.  They weigh on the back and the bones too.

I assume David that you wont be employing women then (unless he-she will plenty of muscle).

Take on board what you are saying about being a 'certain type' who can put up with all of the aformentioned.  I could not see Jordan or Rebecca Loos w/c can you ?

Personally I think its all about attitude, apptitude and having the right tools for women w/c hence my questions about lighter equipment.  Just have to wat and see if I could manage all day though as at the moment I only help with several big commercials hotel jobs.

Any advice on lightweight sack trolleys etc Dave ?

Sarah

[Terry_Burrows]

 ;)Hi just to let you know we have a lady world record holder,check the Guinness Book out,I was with her this year and will be doing a photo shoot,soon with her and the book : so all you lady wc bring it on

[gaza]

Iwould never argue with a women whos initials are ss

 gaza gone into hiding

[busydaffodil]

Remember window cleaning is a tough hard dirty job whether you use wfp ladders or just bungalows.
I think you have to be a certain type to handle it what with the dirt behind the nails getting spashed with dirty water ,having to wear work clothes .also you are on your feet all day and are lifting weight all the time ,even a bucket of water can weigh anything between 10 & 20 kilos and the same with an a-frame.

If you think you can handle it ,go for it but dont expect to keep your well manicured nails.

Dave

EWWWWWEEEE....DAVE!  

I agree with the "you have to be a certain type of person to handle it" line.   But surely this applies to ALL people, not just  females.

As for " dirt behind the nails getting spashed with dirty water ,having to wear work clothes .also you are on your feet all day and are lifting weight all the time ,even a bucket of water can weigh anything between 10 & 20 kilos and the same with an a-frame.",  well,  what an assumption to make.  
Do you assume women are creatures, fit only to serve, look good & act weak?   Of course, many older men still believe this rubbish.  Thankfully this type of opinion is becoming rare.  

I for one can out work many men.  I run 2 businesses.  One being an industrial cleaning business.  This involved manually cleaning 4/5 storey blocks of flats with no machinery. No access to power, handballing all equipment & full water jacks up 4 flights several times per block.  We clean 5 blocks a week.  This is my part time business.  My other business, involves working 8/9 hours in an EXTREMELY hot environment(Which is extremely tiring), stood the whole time, Heavy lifting of water jacks, etc.  As for dirty nails!   LOL  Try being covered in grease for 8/9 hours a day, having to go home and shower 2 times to remove it.  I do this job 6 days a week.   Dirty nails, t shirts and clothing really fade into insignificance in comparison.
In addition, I still have a home to run, clothes to wash, dry & iron, shopping to do, food to cook, cleaning, polishing & dusting, finances to organise, etc etc etc

So please Dave, do not be so fickle as to assume all women  care only about their nails and clothes.   Some of us do more than our fair share.

I await the back lash & possible warning for stating my opinion in a forceful way.

[Sir Squeaky]

That sounds fair enough Lizzie.

Don't mess with South Wales' women Dave!
They're equal to, or above us up here.

In addition, I still have a home to run, clothes to wash, dry & iron, shopping to do, food to cook, cleaning, polishing & dusting, finances to organise, etc etc etc

Impressed!
You are already married aren't you?

Rog.

[Sir Squeaky]

Do you two know each other?

I guess you're in the same area. Newport(ish) I assume.

[Sarah Sarill]

and you know the saying about women in groups

'us sisters have got to stick together' particularly on a male dominated forum eh !!!

We need more so get your wives/partners/ cleaners involved.

Sarah

[Sir Squeaky]

Oh don't encourage my girlfriend.

She tells me what to write half the time as it is.

Anyway, fun as this is, we're going to get this locked in a minute, as we're "chatting"

[Sir Squeaky]

She works part-time in Threshers actually, (handy staff discounts).
I try not to let her near my pole...

Actually I'm still a squeegee man myself, and enjoy doing so.
No plans to change, as she doesn't want a water tank in the garden for a start. :

Roger.

[Sarah Sarill]

Whatever suits Roger - I'm not a wfp basher !!!

Thanks all,

Off work today as the little un is sick so forget any ideas about employing women w/c !!!!! Ironic aint it ?

Matt, Where did you purchase your sack trolley? Did you modify it to take the tank or did you purchase itlike that ?

Regards,

Sarah

Did you add the extra suport for the tank Matt ?

Sarah

[matt]

Whatever suits Roger - I'm not a wfp basher !!!

Thanks all,

Off work today as the little un is sick so forget any ideas about employing women w/c !!!!! Ironic aint it ?

Matt, Where did you purchase your sack trolley? Did you modify it to take the tank or did you purchase itlike that ?

Regards,

Sarah

Did you add the extra suport for the tank Matt ?

Sarah

sorry Ive not replied today, been working



the sack truck cost me about 20 quid, loads of places do them

the welding of the rear and front straps (to hold the barrel in) cost 30 quid

too be honest, the rear straps are a waste of time, i dont know what i was thinking at the time, they really have NO USE at all  : :, thus i could have saved myself 10 quid of the price

so sack truck converted to that about 40 quid all in

Ive seen plenty use bungy straps to hold the barrel in, but i thought this was would be easier

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks Matt,

Did you go to a welding company to get that done and did you ever price up an enclosed case to hold the pump and battery?

Sarah

[Moderator David@stives]

Busydaffodil  & Sarah

If people only want the replies they want to hear ,what is the point of asking the question.

As being fikkel ,no --i just know women.

My wife works with me and does a dam-n  good job


 and works full time .she is 5`8" and about 9 1/2 stone and is stronger than the average woman and it is a struggle for her at times.


About the nail bit ,most of the women we know would not do this work not just  the physical part ,it is thinks like being seen in dirty  work clothes ,having wind blasted greasy hair .dirty nails and the image of being a window cleaner  .as you can see all women are not the same.that is what i was trying to put across in my first post.   :

Many a time my wife as picked up the kids from school with muddy trousers and a wet patch down her right leg and feels embarrased about that .and a lot of women would rather die than to be seen like that.  

Remember why women have smaller feet ?

Anyway who let the women loose on here ?

[Moderator David@stives]

sarah

i welcome women on here

Women have smaller feet so they can get closer to the sink 

My wife only does ground floor windows traditionaly so i cant comment on wfp ,but i am sure she could do it.

I get a few aches and pains with wfp so i can only assume it would be worse her.

The ideal situation for women in my opinion is to do mostly bungalows or be part of a 2 man team.
Lets face it them 25l barrels are not light ,and maneovering a pole above a conservatory is not easy even for a man.

I will put mrs David on later so she can give her opinion,

oh better not i know what you women are like when you get chatting (is that stereotyping as well) i would never get my pc back

what have you done with will .is he tied and gagged in the corner of the room

Dave

[matt]

Thanks Matt,

Did you go to a welding company to get that done and did you ever price up an enclosed case to hold the pump and battery?

Sarah

yes a professional fabricating place, though its so simple any1 with a welder could do the job

i use a "jump-start" Battery, so didnt look into a case for the pump and battery, i just put the pump in a small ABS box (about 10 quid) it does a good job

[pjulk]

I think it would be good to have more woman window cleaners but better in pairs as there is some weirdo's about.

I used to take my wife with me and the customers love it.
She can do everything a regular window cleaner can.
My daughter leaves school next year and if she wanted to become a window cleaner i wouldn't hesitate in helping her get started.
But i don't think she is going to go into window cleaning but i wouldn't want her working for £7 per hour in an office/ shop or whatever when she could easily earn a lot more cleaning windows.

Paul