[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Although I'm mainly WFP, I still like to use the squeegee for certain jobs.

The problem I'm having, and probably always had, is that when I come across the top of the frame,with my blade, and make the motion to turn the squeegee to then make the first downward/cross stroke. I would say 70% of the time leave a mark when the squeegee has turned.

Most of the time this drys clear, but if the window is dirty then it drys as a smear.

It's only a very thin line type of smear - but a smear , and any smear is a smear too much

I've tried many different methods of eliminating this , but I'm struggling - and want to perfect it!

I've tried different amounts of water.
Different concentrations of detergent
Blade angles, and pressures
New rubbers ( Ettiole)

But I can never get a level of consistency that I'm happy with.

What I want to achieve is to be able to blade the window once, without having to go over areas twice. So all I have then do is detail if needed.

I'd appreciate any help

Thanks

[Xline Systems]

have you tried pulex rubbers with ungers liqiud? find this works well

[[GQC] Tim]

It's got nothing to do with your tools, but all with your technique.

If I understand you correctly :

Hold the squeegee at a 45 degree angle, move from top left to top right and when you come to the top corner, don't hesitate in that corner, go straight down with your hand, whilst keeping the 45degree angle. And immediately when you've cleared the top corner, start rotating your wrist clockwise to get a reverse 45 degree angle to make the pass to the left.

This all has to be done smoothly, don't stop in the corner (no hesitating). Do not bump the blade against the rubber in the corner, that might skip the rubber, leaving that diagonal line. Think before you move, then move. Do it slow, speed will come.

Also what is very important is the base distance when your making turns like that, the distance between the end of the squeegee handle to the glass should be round about two fingers. If you have a greater angle, then the rubber might flop when turning the blade. It's difficult to keep that base distance throughout the pane, but it essential for a good finish.

Oh yea, and always cut the edge first, meaning use the tip of your blade to create a horizontal gap at the top edge, bout half an inch wide or so.

[[GQC] Tim]

Oh and make sure you perfect it first with a smaller squeegee, this makes things much easier, a 10" blade will do nicely, and let's you fine tune your technique.

Always keep as close to rainbow shapes as you can, even though a 14" squeegee does the job fast, on a small pane you have a lot of twisting to do, leaving more chance of marks. On bigger panes of course you have a more rectangular motion, but you get the point.

I use Squeegee off, 15ml for 10l, and SYR rubber, and Ettorre quickgrip squeegees, I found the Unger Ergotech utter rubbish, and had a less then perfect finish, channel doesn't hold the rubber that nicely I feel.

[Xline Systems]

i agree a worker should never blame his tools. hope you get on alrite

[RPCCS]

2 things you can do
1: when you soap the window,don't wet right to top of glass, leave about 3-4mm gap so when you squeegee off,you don't leave a streak as the blade will collect water and wash the top few mm anyway.
2: when squeegeeing start at the bottom of the window and work up keeping the blade close to the  edge ,wipe the whole of the outside in one swipe before moving in on the rest of the frame, that way the blade only touches the frame once

[birdymiller]

I always mop up all the window, with a mop that i have rung out well with side of bucket or in most cases by hand. Too much water on your mop causes detailing problems. You can get away with leaving top of window on fortnightly work but on monthly work you will leave dirt. Tops of the window is the dirtiest part so i always mop up the full window and i dont get any drips or runs. Just make sure that your mop is not dripping wet.

Seven bays, it sounds like some part of your technique is causing the rubber to lift of the glass. Practise makes perfect, i still leave occasional marks after 10 years. This time of year sunlight is a major problem, roll on autumn

[[GQC] Tim]

Same here, leaving a gap between window and frame doesn't work for me, maybe on fortnightly work, but definitely not on monthly or 6 weekly, scrub the whole window, the top is where the most dirt collects and needs the most attention.

Please not that that doesn't relate to your problem Seven Bays, your technique has to be slightly adjusted. 
 

[NWH]

Nothing to do with the detergent or the rubber,the idea is to go back over every pass only slightly.

[pjulk]

Take it slower when you do the first turn and keep the blade moving.
Its when you stop just for a split second whilst turning the squeegie that gives you the marks.

Its all to do with technique.

[Ian Lancaster]

It also helps if you wipe round the frame and the edge of the glass before you sqeegee.  That way there's no excess water to  splash or run near the top and sides of the pane.  When you get good at it there's no need to detail either.

[windowwashers]

I find most new untrained  staff/people tend to push the squeegee on the glass to hard.

With a new rubber the pressure from hand to glass should be minimal.

relax your arm let the blade do the work, and practice


Ian

[RPCCS]

I find most new untrained  staff/people tend to push the squeegee on the glass to hard.

With a new rubber the pressure from hand to glass should be minimal.

relax your arm let the blade do the work, and practice


Ian

I 2nd that only very little pressure needed

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Brilliant advice thanks.

Definitely the sunshine shows up any errors in your technique.

I've taken on board all the comments and will give them a try tomorrow.

Thanks

I also feel that even though I'm probably 85% WFP, I still want, and need to squeegee windows, and for that I want a perfect technique.

[*foxman]

angle the squeegee blade as much as is comfortable when cutting in. 9 times out of ten you wont need to go back and detail if you get it right.

[vision tech]

How often would you change rubber ?

[[GQC] Tim]

How often would you change rubber ?

I change mine about every 2 days, depends on the windows seal. Every day I flip the rubber around.

Sometimes I change it at noon if they are bad wooden windows. When the edge is leaving lines, replace it. Usually the rest is still good, so you might get away with re cutting the tips.

Always use a blade, and guillotine the rubber, put a bit of solution on the blade and rubber to make it easier.

[mci services]

have to say everything eoc tim says is right so no point in trying to advise

good advice there mate

[[GQC] Tim]

have to say everything eoc tim says is right so no point in trying to advise

good advice there mate

Thanks pal.

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Thanks for the advice folks.

Got it sorted now.

I found a number of factors where working against me.

1/ change my water as soon as it gets dirty.

2/ Have my thumb ontop of the handle ( before I was using my index finger) giving me better flexibility in my wrist.

3/ Change rubbers more othen

4/ Don't stop, or change blade angle as change from a horizontal  to vertical stroke


So far, getting perfect windows each time, with minimal detaining afterwards.