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Window Cleaning

How To Do a First Window Clean Using WFP Only

 When you do a first clean using water fed pole for a new customer, you want everything to be perfect. At the same time you want to do the job as efficiently as possible.

The main problem when doing a first clean is that even if the customer previously had a window cleaner they probably weren’t cleaning the frames properly. This means when we come to clean the windows we have to pay particular attention to the frames especially the top frame and the corners of the top frame. If we don’t flush away the dirt properly then it’s possible that the windows could look fine when we leave the property but later a little bit of pure water mixed in with some dirt can drop onto the glass and leave spotting.

Don't Leave Customers Disappointed

If this happens the customer will not be impressed, obviously they will be looking because they will be expecting lovely sparkling clean windows and if that’s not the case they will be disappointed.

With many years of experience we have settled on what I feel is the best way to do a first clean just using the pure water.

The basic method we use is to go over the windows twice. On the first pass the main focus is to get the water on all of the surfaces we are going to clean. The second pass is all about removing any ingrained dirt that has been released by the pure water, making sure we are left with sparkling frames and glass.

Pure Water is Brilliant But...

It is important to note that pure water is a brilliant cleaning medium but it does take a little time as any cleaning chemical does to do its job. With this in mind it is important to get plenty of water where it matters at the start of the clean. So make sure your water is on a high flow rate, above 70 on our controller, we always use a high flow rate even on a maintenance clean but it is especially important on a first clean.

The First Pass

We start by doing an initial pass of all the windows targeting the areas where it counts the most. So on the first pass we are really focusing on the frames. We will be applying pure water to all of the windows including the sills but the focus will be the frames and giving them a really good scrub and trying to flush out and release as much dirt as possible as when it comes to spotting on the glass this is the culprit that needs solving.

Once we’ve done the initial pass the frames should be thoroughly clean and the flushed away but it is important to note that any ingrained dirt on the frames could be gradually being released by the action of the pure water after we’ve moved on to the next window. This may need dealing with later.

Also any areas where there’s ingrained dirt on the glass such a bird poo or snail runs will be loosened and softened by the action of the pure water. On the first pass we will give a light scrub to these areas so that pure water is applied. However we will not linger on them as we want the pure water to have time to act on them so that on the second pass they will be a lot easier to deal with. So potentially saving a lot of time.

The Second Pass

So once we’ve completed the whole house we then go back to the first window we started with and we go over all the windows again. This time it’s not so much about the frames although we will go over any areas that we feel need it but it is much more about the glass and getting that perfect. Also this is the time where we make sure that the sills have been cleaned thoroughly.

Pure Water Window Cleaning VS Traditional

At PK Cleaning we do get asked quite often what are the differences between pure water window cleaning and what many people call “traditional” window cleaning.

Here at PK Cleaning we are almost 100% pure water window cleaners but the truth be told pure water window cleaning might not be the best fit for you, in fact traditional window cleaning may be a better fit.

This article is going to explain the pros and cons of each type of window cleaning method in an honest and transparent way. By the end hopefully you’ll be able to identify which is the best fit for you. 

In all cases the below assumes that the window cleaner is very good at their job and knows how to get the best out of their tools.

Traditional Window Cleaning

This is the kind of window cleaning most people are familiar with. The window cleaner uses a ladder where necessary, an applicator to apply soap, a squeegee to remove the dirty soap and cloths to smarten up any edges.

Pros

  • Does a excellent job of cleaning glass. You can see the end result right away as no drying time is needed.
  • Perfect for inside window cleaning as there is little water run off and it can be caught using the applicator.
  • Can be used on leaky windows.

Cons

  • Doesn’t clean the frames well. Some people may say you can just use a cloth on the frame but this doesn’t work well in practice. A window cleaner would need an unlimited supply of clean cloths which is not practicable, also a quick wipe with a cloth does not seem to get in every nook and cranny the way a pure water brush does.
  • A thin microscopic layer of solution is left on the windows which becomes sticky and attracts dust and dirt. This means that the glass tends to get dirty quicker than would be the case with pure water. 
  • Safety issues with some windows. Third storey windows as well as velux can be problem. Window cleaner may climb on roofs which can sometimes lead to damage.

Pure Water Window Cleaning

  • The tools used in this type of window cleaning are a brush at. the end of a carbon fibre telescopic pole which is supplied with purified water.

Pros

  • Much better for cleaning the frames of the windows in fact with this type of cleaning it is important that the frames are cleaned thoroughly otherwise it can lead to spotting on glass
  • No sticky layer is left on windows so they stay clean for longer
  • With the extension pole many windows which would be impossible or difficult to clean with a ladder can be cleaned
 
Cons
  •  Not ideal for builders cleans. Anything with tape, render or glue patches on would be difficult if not impossible to clean with a pole.
  • Upstairs sills can be cleaned with a sill brush but ingrained dirt might be better removed with a cloth.
  • Not suitable for some older leaky windows
  •  Can’t be used for internal window cleaning unless water run off is not an issue
 
 
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