What about windows? - Cleaning Talk - Professional Cleaning and Restoration Forum

MDM Cleaning & Sanitizing · 07-03-2006, 11:01 PM

I've been trying to get into windows what the best way to go. I do lots of them on const. cleanup but cant get them perfect.

Thad · 07-04-2006, 12:12 AM

I do a lot of windows.
Do you have some specific questions?

MDM Cleaning & Sanitizing · 07-04-2006, 12:19 AM

always have to many steaks I use plamolive and water and a squeegee. them buff all the streaks off with a microfiber rag. is there any way easier.

Karvonen's Pro Clean · 07-04-2006, 12:27 AM

Ditch the dish soap and get an actual window washing product.Ettore's Squeege Off works great and can be purchases at the big box stores.1 bottle will make about 20 gallons of usable cleaner.

Karvonen's Pro Clean · 07-04-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

I do a lot of windows.
Do you have some specific questions?

Thad,
You want to come do our route?I hate doing windows.....the only plus is fast, easy money.Average bi-weekly route makes us a couple hundred bucks for a couple hours work.

Thad · 07-04-2006, 12:39 AM

Tempting, Scott. Tempting.

I'm about Katrina-ed out and ready for a change of scenery.
My kids ask me every day if we can move.
I don't think they mentioned Georgia, though.

They are lobbying heavily for FL.

Thad · 07-04-2006, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDM Cleaning & Sanitizing

always have to many steaks I use plamolive and water and a squeegee. them buff all the streaks off with a microfiber rag. is there any way easier.

Order J. Racenstein's catalog if you don't have it.
It has lots of really good information in there in addition to all the products you would ever need.

Do you do straight strokes and wipe after each stroke?
You really need to learn to squeegee windows without lifting your squeegee.

And like Scott said- get some commercial window cleaning concentrate.
Leave the Palmolive to Madge.

Karvonen's Pro Clean · 07-04-2006, 12:49 AM

Thad,
I'm not sure you could handle the pace here in the land of peanuts and cotton.Rush hour is a real bear...can you imagine actually riding behind a 6 row cotton picker for over a mile before you can pass.

Thad · 07-04-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karvonen's Pro Clean

Thad,
I'm not sure you could handle the pace here in the land of peanuts and cotton.Rush hour is a real bear...can you imagine actually riding behind a 6 row cotton picker for over a mile before you can pass.

I grew up in small town MS and can handle the cotton pickers and combines.

I'm sick of riding behind an overloaded debris truck with crap flying off and busting my windows while psychos soccer moms tailgate me and try to run me off the road.

mvwallyworld · 07-04-2006, 04:29 PM

If you contact your local janitorial supply house, most good ones will occasionaly have seminars including window cleaning as well as vidios on many many cleaning topics. Your salesman should be able to teach you how to use a squeege correctly.
Randy

Sherrie · 07-06-2006, 07:17 AM

There is a lot of good information to be read on window washing if you go to http://www.iwca.org/.
The Ettores Squeege Off is the best money that you will ever spend.

Duke · 07-13-2006, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad

Order J. Racenstein's catalog if you don't have it.
It has lots of really good information in there in addition to all the products you would ever need.

Do you do straight strokes and wipe after each stroke?
You really need to learn to squeegee windows without lifting your squeegee.

And like Scott said- get some commercial window cleaning concentrate.
Leave the Palmolive to Madge.

or you could simply invest in a water fed pole system, same as the majority here in the UK are doing these days...forget soap and ladders...

Thad · 07-13-2006, 07:21 AM

Where I am you need soap, ladders, and most importantly a scraper for initial cleanings. There is generally a lot of tree sap and bits of junk that have to be scraped the first time.
After that, if the homeowner will agree to maintenance cleaning then a waterfed pole is great.

**Nathan** · 07-13-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

or you could simply invest in a water fed pole system, same as the majority here in the UK are doing these days...forget soap and ladders...

Welcome to the site Duke... Great to have you here!

Thad · 07-13-2006, 09:13 AM

Do you use DI water or soap dispensers with your waterfed pole?

What brand of pole do you like?

Duke · 07-13-2006, 10:51 AM

No, no soap...just gentle jets of pure water...first through an RO...then through a DI, for the final polish and to get the TDS reading down to zero. I use a variety of poles...depending on the height I'm working at...but it's mainly a fibre glass 18 footer...mostly domestic 2 story work. I rarely need a scraper...soak any crap for long enough with pure water...it'll come clean. Anyway, it's twice as fast as conventional methods (like with a squeegee and applicator)...loads safer too...since I converted to WFP...it's doubled my income. Now I can make a good day's wage in 5 hours or less. Much as I love the job, there's other things I want to do with my time as well...like ride my bike...go diving...or just chill out at my local bar...it's the best job in the world.

Duke · 07-13-2006, 11:01 AM

PS: I may not make any further replies for the next 2 weeks...I'm off to Gozo on my hols (vacation)...catch a plane tonight...see you all soon.(it's next to Malta..off the north coast of Africa)

**Nathan** · 07-13-2006, 11:10 AM

Have a great time Duke... thanks for stopping by.

jeff · 07-13-2006, 11:33 AM

Hi Guys
Just joined today,and am a professional window cleaner here in the UK, and still useing the traditional methods, at the moment, but sometime in the future, I will be changing over to the water fed pole system.

I would just like to say that when you buy your product from your local suppliers, they are not always clued up to your type of work.

the sales guy, may be able to show you how to hold your squegee, and he may be able to show you how to use it. but it takes months to master it, if your new to the squeegie, then I would suggest to you that you use the straight down method, and after each stroke, wipe your blade (squegee) this will stop the line's you can get, I don't know if you guy's use scrims for the final deatailing, but if you do try to keep down the amount you put it on the window. you will end up with bits all over the windows and a white cloudy residue, the only way to get rid of it, is to wash the window again. I hope this little bit of info helps.

Keth · 07-13-2006, 03:51 PM

Can anyone point me to a link to learn about these water fed poles?