[wrighty]

Hi,

I have tried my new WFP today on my own house and it does seem easier and quicker but the results where aweful on some windows (spotty).

Also I am thinking of writing a small letter to all my customers explaining why I am using a WFP etc.

Has anyone done a template of such a thing and if so could I take a look at it,

Cheers

from a disapointed WFP user (thats what I am today)

Craig

[WavieDavie]

Craig,

Easy for others to say, but don't worry, it does come good. The thing is - learn from the mistakes. Hunt out Justin's post on How To WFP - anybody got the link?

Search for "WFP" and "Letter" - there's a few been done.

[Ian_Giles]

Hi Craig,
Practice and more practice, keep trying it out on your own home.

Clean some of your family and friends house for free. As they are friends you can at least go inside and have a coffee and a chat, wait for the windows to dry to see how they have turned out and go over them again until you are happy.

Friends and family should be only too happy to get a free clean, and they can hardly complain about a few spots!

Don't rush out and start on the paying customers until you are comfortable with all aspects of the equipment and its usage.

First time cleans will always take longer, use more water (A lot more!!)  and be harder to get perfect.

Thoroughly wash the frames and then the windows on first time cleans. I personally have a higher than normal flow rate and will do all of the upstairs then go back over it again before I start on the lower windows.

If the windows are aluminium or wood framed, wet a figer and check that the frames are not oxidized, if your finger comes away white then that will be a real problem clean, and always will be until the windows are repainted or replaced.
Either do them the traditional way or drop them.

Best of luck! Once you get in the swing of things you will never want to climb a ladder again

It is early, it is dark, it is hammering down with rain and the wind is howling outside ............I am going to get very wet
The weather so bad I think I will have most of the day off
The rain isn't the problem, it is the wind that will mess up the windows
Not often the conditions will stop me doing my shops and pubs

Will today though

Ian

[wrighty]

Ian,

Thanks for your reply I need all the help I can get - I am like a kid with a new toy though.

Cheers

Craig

[Ian_Giles]

I was the same Craig, a thoroughly enjoyable learning curve, have fun dude

Ian

[Glen]

For someone with a bad upper back how does the physical strain of a WFP compare to using a ladder?

[karlosdaze]

I've found it strengthens your back & less bending than traditional window cleaning.
The high jobs get my neck more.

[williamx]

Wrighty

I would recommened that after you have wfp cleaned the windows you should then blade the windows, as this gets rid of any spotting problems which normally comes about because the windows have been cleaned withn soaps and windolene.

You will find that after about 5 cleans it gets harder to blade and the windows don't spot anymore.

I still blade the Front bottom windows which is only a few minutes work but the customers like me doing this.

The only other problem you will find is customers will ask where the suds are or do you put any cleaning chemicals into the water, and after you have explained all about purifing water and that you don't need chemicals anymore and the windows will last longer between cleans etc ect they still are not impressed that you are only using WATER.

So now I tell them that the water has been passed though a RESIN which I show them (always carry a small bag with you) and it is not normal WATER anymore and it they don't believe you then offer them a glass to drink but do warn them that it will do strange things to the lining of there stomach.

Also try wearing safety goggles which are tinted to protect you against the sunlight.

Hope this is helpful

[Glen]

Williamx, When you say you blade the front downstairs windows, does that mean you WFP the back downstairs?

Has anyone ditched the squeegee and now WFP all of the windows?

Is a WFP system a complete change of procedure i.e.do the WFP users no longer carry a ladder at all?

[Ian_Giles]

Glen,
I use WFP on virtually all windows, but there are occasions when you still need to do things the traditional way.
Insides to name but one.

Most of my work is commercial, and there are some windows that simply won't work out properly with WFP, not many to be sure.

And there are occasions when I have bladed off the odd pane of glass.

Some windows cannot be cleaned effectively with WFP, those with oxidised frames are a no, no. You will not do as good a job by a long way. You either ditch such accounts, or continue to carry around your ladders and clean them manually.

Personally I have dropped these accounts or passed them on to other window cleaners.

I only use traditional methods if I have no option, getting the ladders out to clean an upstairs is out of the question, just not interested.


Ian

[Timmy Boy]

Ian
I have just invested in a washpole system to do mainly commercial work. I have sold it to my my new customers mainly on the whole ladderless = no accidents on your site deal. The problem is a lot of them are modern type buildings with large sheets of glass in them. It is all great on the outside using the washpole but what do you do about cleaning the inside after you have sold your system as a ladderless alternative ?!!
Regards
Tim

[Ian_Giles]

obviously you cannot use WFP on the inside, if they point out the fact that you have been extolling the virtues of WFP and asking how you are going to do the insides, look at them askance and point out in a manner that doesnt imply they are stupid (but does, if you see what I mean) that you can hardly use a system like this on the inside of buildings :

WFP is only for external cleaning. You will get very few who will even question you.
Though I have had a few that look at you in a puzzled way and wonder who you are going to use it on the insides! This is when I give them my; 'Askance' look!

On insides I will use one of my extention poles with my traditional equipement. With sheet glass this is easy enough to do, though occasionally you do have to drag out a ladder if the window panes are of a size and style that means you will be quicker and do a better job by using one.

Ian

[advanced]

listen wrighty  i have been using wfp for two weeks  and have had no complaints, in fact most customers are very impressed with it as a number of them said that there last window cleaner never asked for fresh water, you have to  educate them via a letter  explaining all the usual things  possible spotting , a bedding in period   ect ect  and dont forget to stress  about the frames being done for free they love it.
all my jobs are first cleans as i have two good canvassers getting me work , and on these first cleans i am taking twice as long  as normal using loads of water, this is all ground work for  future months when i can then take half the time of doing it the  ladder way  i see the extra time i am taking now as an investment for the future.
just practice dont rush  and all will come good

best  of  luck

[elfords]

Ian,

I know Ionics do a system for using wfp on the insides which is basically a vacuum assisted pole system which basically sucks away the residual water as you clean. I have played with it at an exhibition but I cant say how good it is.

[empire_cleaning]

Has anyone been on the 'waterfed pole course' by the window cleaning academy. My business partner and I were thinking of going on this before getting our system.

Is it worth it, will it get us into it all quicker?

E

[Ian_Giles]

Gary,

I would be a little dubious about dragging a hosepipe through someones house
Though I can see that there would be occasions when it would be useful, ie, the inside of receptions or foyers with sheet glass going up 15ft and above and so on.

Would be interested in seeing one in operation though.

Ian

[elfords]

Ian,

I was not suggesting you use it inside a house thats for conventional 100% but as you say large commercial work then there is a possibility it would be useful there

[davidh]

i've just started using wfp and most of the jobs have come out ok, but there's one job right on sea front that hasn'ne been done for ages(high windows)  i had to laugh it was still dark the other morning when we were cleaning it, the lad i work with went round side to wfp the windows when i went round to see how he was doping he said he coulnt really see very well what the job was like when i looked up he was cleaning the shutters not the windows, ha!
it will take quite a few times to get a lot of my prom work right cos of all the wind and salt and sand that'son them, but if at first you don't succeed try try again!!!

[R.O.M Cleaning]

I have been using W.F.P system for 2 Years and wish I had it 16 years ago when I first started, we experienced all of the same problems but with over a 1000 customers we have only lost 3 or 4 they just could not except the new system, we have now found a faster way of cleaning by a simple placing of a Y connector at the end the Hose we can now work two men off one hose, one doing tops and one doing the bottoms, We had two vans with 600ltr but we have sold one van and placed both tanks in a twin wheel brake trailer giving us 1200ltr and two reel with Y connecters this can allow four men going all day,
 We have moved the purification unit out of the vans in to the shed filling 2500ltr tank while we are working then if we ever run out we can go back to the yard a refill using 800ltr a minute pump. This has meant one less van to run and made us more efficient and kept costs down. Hope this can help

[replacement]

800 litre per min Pump? You sure you typed that right?

Sounds good thou well done.