[Richy L]

I did my first full day of WFP on my domestic round today. The results - not so good.

It slowed me down so much! I was earning much less per hour using my  backpack/trolley system. In fact, one customer said, "it takes a lot longer using that machine doesn't it. you're usually done in a few minutes."

I know that WFP is great for comercial work. But i just dont think its all that practical for normal, 3/4 bedroom houses.
A house cleaned normally will take about 10-15 minutes usually traditional method(including collecting money), with the WFP about 20 minutes. Thats a lot of time wasted throughout the day. I did the last four houses traditional, and i noticed the difference.
All in all, for me, its faster cleaning trad!

[Moderator David@stives]

Get a van and get rid of the backpack then you will see the difference.

Backpacks take far too long

[steve k]

think back to your first ever day cleaning trad...I bet you were very slow!!
I actually think trolleys are a bit counter productive in terms of time...all those barrels...I have a 400 litre van mount with hose which I just pull off and walk to each window...a van is just a BIG trolley really with 1 x 400 litre barrel!!...seems very simple to me.
You will speed up amazingly over the next few months with WFP...but don`t throw the towel in on your FIRST full day.

[Richy L]

yeah, but the actual cleaning takes longer. For me, i can put my ladders up , climb the ladder, clean the window, climb back down again, quicker than it takes for me to brush.

[Sir Squeaky]

 


 

[Richy L]

i have used WFP before on the odd job, from my dads van mounted system. so i know how to do it, and im not slow at it either, its just not as fast

I see ive made squeaky happy!

[steve k]

by the way, I agree with you about time on some houses...I really don`t stress about it... if I know the house can be done quicker trad...it is done trad as long as I know it is safe to do so.
I use WFP where it is much quicker and more practical and safer to do so...I love doing trad on some of my round.
My van is a big toolbox...I use them all when appropriate.

[ronaldo]

Been on wfp for two months now and its knocked a full day a week off my round definatley no regrets.

All the houses i have which are unsuitable for pole work i just give them away with every new one i picked up, get the right sort of houses and you will notice loads of difference.

I agree that some house you can clean as quick traditionaly as you can wfp and in my case that was only because of acsess ie garages or back gates to go over, so i just gave them up and i earn lots more now than i ever did on my ladders.

[brett walker]

I would sooner take 20 mins to do a house knowing at the end of it both feet are safely on the ground, if you fall off your ladder youll be off work a lot longer than 20 mins.  I know what your saying weve all been there just stick with it

best of luck

Brett

[callum macleod]

hi my round is all domestic and i use a pole for nearly everything i have as ronaldo has just said knocked 1day off in working time per week and i think my safety comes above any time advantage in time you will get faster

[Terry_Burrows]

try using a backflip you will be much faster,than up a ladder or wfp

[Paul Coleman]

yeah, but the actual cleaning takes longer. For me, i can put my ladders up , climb the ladder, clean the window, climb back down again, quicker than it takes for me to brush.

I've certainly found WFP to be slower on the first clean with it and sometimes the second.  Although it has taken me a while, it seems that things are now getting quicker and easier.  Maybe you are exceptionally fast with a squeegee?  I used to make sure that water was covering every inch of the glass and brush it too much.  I've now found that I was being too picky with it.

Having said that, I do find some jobs quicker by trad method too - particularly if access is tricky.

[carl stanton]

i have never used a back flip but often pole, i find it slowish and not always a good clean prehaps you cpuld show us some tips at the next windex terry!!  any tips

[squeaky-clean 1]

you cant judge your speed on wfp untill you have clean these houses 3/4 times
you wait.

if your customer blinks they will miss you.

[Richy L]

the thing is, im 21 and have been window cleaning since 14(when i made my own saturday round - cleaning bungalows around my house), so i can move quite fast now. even if i dont clean the frames WFP, it is still quicker for me to clean them by hand. I use two hands for trad, left to put soap on, right to take it off.

[windows_chepstow]

I got my backpack in September last year and it's really speeding me up now.

In fact this has been my HIGHEST earning week and my previous record has been broken by £120.

Today has also been my highest earning day and I managed to break the £200 barrier that I've been trying to do for ages (I've been window cleaning for 3 years and started from scratch; so I think that's good).

The thing with the back pack is, is takes time to learn where's the best place to position it for maximum effect.

And first WFP cleans will slow you down; as will lack of experience.

Also, I recommend using a pole with the hose outside, since this gives you extra reach.

Not only that; if you don't cough up your dues to the tax man, he starts chasing you, which also increases your work-rate speed!

Leekson, I'm in Caldicot on Monday if you want to pop round and spend an hour with me.

[windows_chepstow]

Sorry, Tuesday; Monday is a Bank Holiday or Public Holiday or something.

[Richy L]

Yeah ok, I might do that. I might be doing some jet washing that day though. If i do though, i'll give you a ring to let you know. Cheers mate.

by the way tosh, i had someone come up to me that lives at shakespeare drive. Asked me if i wanted to clean his windows, because you had stopped coming, is this right? i didnt want to just take him on, incase you were behind on your work.

[ronaldo]

£200 in a day!!!!!!!!

You cant argue with that Tosh,

[windows_chepstow]

by the way tosh, i had someone come up to me that lives at shakespeare drive. Asked me if i wanted to clean his windows, because you had stopped coming, is this right? i didnt want to just take him on, incase you were behind on your work.

I can't think who this is.  I've about five customers there and I'm only a few days late.

However, believe it or not, there's another WFP who works there (Ben), and I remember getting mistaken for him (God knows how, since I've got slanty-eyes and a Geordie accent), so I think that's one of Ben's customers.

Take them on.

From what I know of Ben, he tends to underprice, find the job difficult, then not turn up again.

Nice bloke though.