[Mike Halliday]

Just fitted a RO  system in my van to produce pure water for my carpet cleaning, I've also bought a full WFP set up.

not planning on window cleaning (only bought the kit as it tickled my fancy) but I do now have the capability to offer WFP window cleaning. Also got some high pressure gutter cleaning equipment and extending poles.

Anyone do any window cleaning?

[Frank pole]

Hi Mike

We do loads of WFP work - Its our bread and butter! Beware using pure water for carpet cleaning, you will save a few quid on chems as you wont need as much with pure, but your de-foamer bill will double!

[Robin Ray]

It can be lucrative if not a bit boring. And its very easy to get good work..

Sounds like quite an investment for just the interest of it though...

[Pureandclean]

I used to do both for years. I kept my ladders on top of van and had a number of comments when cleaning carpets about the ladders.

I used to say " I clean some big suites" 

[Griffus]

If you get yourself set up correctly you'll make more money for a lot less trouble with WC.

The frequency and volume also reaps benefits as you have a much bigger Customer Base so the more services you offer the more work you get, the more new customers you get.

It's a bit like a small snowball at the top of a very big hill.

Boring? No more so than CC or the majority of cleaning tasks.

Not sure about pure water for CC though? I don't think the principle requirements are the same. All I know is that when I'm in a soft water area and I take a shower, the soap never feels like it's totally rinsed off, whilst back home where our water is 50/50 with granite, one rinse and I'm de-soaped 

[Darran Pryce]

We started off cleaning windows 7 years ago (wfp). Still do it today along side other cleaning avenues.  WFP is very good money, specially commercially.

4040 setup with a 2000L IBC tank.  Summer is very good as we clean 18 schools around Yorkshire, so nice bulk of money once the LCC pay.

Great to add on to any business.

[Robin Ray]

Boring.... Yes

I have been cleaning some of the properties on my round every month for 14 years... good money but not much variety.

and some commercial jobs look identical all the way round and you literally spend all day just moving your arms up and down... so knackering and boring.

Carpet and upholstery cleaning on the other hand can provide a lot more variety requiring a lot more thought if done properly.

If money is the only consideration then a good high end residential and commercial window cleaning round is great though. The customers are easy to get and if you do a good job will stick with you forever.

[Darren O]

Must be bonkers to start window cleaning cleaning at your age the money is crap compared to carpet cleaning and pressure washing and a lot more hard work.

[john sliman]

Mike i do both and wf does bring in regular income as you build up a regular customer base on fortnightly or as i do 4 weekly basis so from that point you are not waiting on the phone ringing other than contact from new customers wanting your service. It is a good add on if you want to take it on board.
john  

[Len Gribble]

Mike

Mr B your man two vans but he cant decide! TM or Enforcer

[Mike Halliday]

Must be bonkers to start window cleaning cleaning at your age the money is crap compared to carpet cleaning and pressure washing and a lot more hard work.

What do you mean at my age??? I'm in the prime of my life!

The money only as crap as the price I quote, if i did get any quotes to do I would have to quote my normal hourly rate or theirs not point in me doing it.

I'm quite happy to do any type of cleaning as long I can get my price and like has been said offering different services gives me more oppertunities to gain new customers.

[stuart_clark]

Mike

you have too much money mate if you bought it because it tickled your fancy


Stuart

[Carpet Dawg]

Dont think you'd make anything north of £50 an hour. More like £20 - £30 an hour an that's good going.

Different story if you have other people doing the cleaning for you.

[Mike Halliday]

Stuart, the poles and brushes were a whimsical buy, I actually went to buy the RO kit for my carpet cleaning.

Dawg the guy I bought the kit from said commercial work could bring in a lot more than £50 an hour, although he said the domestic market was not such a good earner

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

mike if and when you get loads of window cleaning work you wont go back to cleaning carpets , easyer and faster money cleaning windows , 

[rycalshaw]

it,s swings and roundabouts mike, you will deffo make more per hr carpet cleaning, but on the window cleaning side, once you have a good book of customers you have a guaranteed monthly income, i do both and really enjoy both aspects , i don,t think there would be enough work around here to go solely carpet cleaning as we have loads of splash and dashers, so its nice to have the window cleaning for the guaranteed income..

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

it,s swings and roundabouts mike, you will deffo make more per hr carpet cleaning, but on the window cleaning side, once you have a good book of customers you have a guaranteed monthly income, i do both and really enjoy both aspects , i don,t think there would be enough work around here to go solely carpet cleaning as we have loads of splash and dashers, so its nice to have the window cleaning for the guaranteed income..

its not what you make an hour itswhat you have in your pocket that counts a good truckmount set up with new van ect cost over 50k and is worth pennies after five years yet you can set up a window van up for 15k new that's 35k in your pocket befoure you start working

[Darren O]

Buy a truckmount second hand i did best money ive ever spent and to say window cleaning is easier and faster is complete nonsense and iam coming up for my 25th year doing windows.

[Steve H]

Im mainly on the window cleaning forum, but just looking to set up on the carpet cleaning side of things as I have a decent set of customers that keep asking me if I can do the carpets for them. Why give this work and a hard earned customer to someone else? hence why im doing the carpet cleaning as an add on to start with and will see how it goes from there.
I cant agree with Susan with regards the cost of the carpet cleaning set up of 50K !!!! why would you want to spend that much money on it until you get some customers. You could get a machine (normal decent quality portable carpet cleaner) that will fit in the back of your van for a reasonable price, then as you progress and get more business, then put some more money into the equipment if you feel its cost effective to do it.
Window cleaning has been good for me, ive built up a decent round with some good customers (repeat business) and now im offering other services as well, so the customers are invaluable if you look after them and offer more than just window cleaning. I also get lots of referrals from them, which im hoping is going to happen with the carpet cleaning, we will see.
Cheers
Steve

[Ian Gourlay]

Mike perhaps its time for you to go Big BIG  You have your succession plan you have a large market , so you could easily start to diversify with multi van operation and use you Marketing , Creative thinking , Managerial Skills

Instead of spending your time at the Sharp End