Any advice/thoughts on working with "er in doors" will be greatly appreciated
I've worked with my Missis ('Wor Lass' - pic in the avatar) for the past two years. We've a school aged little un'; so it works out well.
She only does the bottoms and is a shorty; so needs an A-Frame for most jobs. Don't be a tight-wad like one local window cleaner who works with his missis. I've seen her carting 3 foot step ladders around with her. Apparantly (so I've read) they're the most dangerous ladders in a window cleaners repitoire.
We wear the same clothing; a sort of uniform; which gives us a professional look, so I'd like to think.
When working on residential properties; always make your Missis start cleaning the door, while you do the top left window. Once she's done the door, and you've moved to the top right window; she starts bottom left. In this manner you'll never be cleaning above her, (assuming you use ladders). Therefore, if you fall, you won't squash her. And there'll be less chance she'll step off her A Frames and knock you off your ladders.
Within a short period of time you'll have your own systems going. You getting the ladders off the roof rack; she getting the bucket out. One knocking to collect the cash or leave a 'chit', and the other heading off to the next property.
Remember though; it's a physical job. Wor Lass is a marathon runner; fell runner; (extreme fitness nutter); yet a five hour window cleaning shift really drains her!
She adds around £40 to £70 a day to our earnings though, which is better than a kick in the bottom, but not as much as a fit-strong bloke would clean.
Oh, toilets can be a problem. I'll have a sneaky wee in some back-alley or customer's garden. Wor Lass won't (although she has done in the past - and got caught - oh did I laugh).
Oh, also, I'll work quite happily in the drizzle and rain. But I always feel sorry for Wor Lass, so tend not to work in the wet stuff when I'm with her. I take her home.
Oh, when going to to quote for a commercial property, take her with you; both of you dressed in a 'uniform'. Always push the fact that there's a female window cleaner as part of your business. It's a definate
positive.