Before this turns into another age old battle between trad & water fed, i’d like to point out that both methods have their positive & negative aspects, i use both methods and favour not one more than the other.
For first cleans, especially domestic including UPVC frames etc, i believe that water fed is vital. In combination TFR or not, the brush bristles reach nooks, crannies that simply cant be got at by hand, & also for removing loose dirt it is simply quicker and more effective. There aren’t many cons to this method of window cleaning, if you use hot water it is even easier to remove encrusted on bee pollen, poo etc etc. (I dont have a hot system)
However, when cleaning upstairs pvc sills, TFR is very good on a first clean for removing green grime and algae. But, can you rely on it 100% when you cant see what youre cleaning? I would say no. Many a time have i got the ladder out to touch up an upstairs window sill, even after UBIK. Also, how are you going to magic sponge greys off an upstairs sill as a ladderless window cleaner? I am fortunate enough to work as part of a pair, so i always have someone to foot the ladder if necessary. I completely understand why many lone window cleaners wont use them. The ladder is also handy when it comes to removing glues, silicones, egg, paint blobs etc from upstairs windows, especially if at the bottom near the seals,. You simply can not get a good angle with a scraper off a trad pole in these situations, it needs to be removed by hand with a scraper or otherwise. When it comes to removing paint, i find it far easier to remove by using an applicator to soap the window, it gives it more slip for the glass scraper because there is no surfactant in purified water to give slip. Especially handy if working on hydrophobic glass. Im sure weve all tried removing paint using wfp on hydrophobic glass, constantly having to wet the window only for the majority of the water to bounce back off. Its annoying no?
Also, trad at ground level. very handy for shops e.g hair dressers where they want the inside & outside done, and no excess water for customers to step in as they walk in and out of the shop. Also no trailing hoses (a big safety plus) and if youve got a garden full of plant pots, rose bushes, tight enclosures etc, trad is simply easier. The downside is that the windows get dirtier quicker as the surfactant left on the glass attracts pollution in the air to stick to it. But hey ho, a sacrifice for practicality. Also, the finish on the glass is instant, whereas with purified water the finish is reliant on the window to dry (not a big deal at all) but if you miss something wfp, tiny things like encrusted pollen etc, you may not see it due to water being present on the glass as you leave. With trad there is also the plus that if you leave streaks, you see them instantly. Trad is more practical for front doors especially “under shelter” porch areas on the old victorian terraces. And if the door isnt air tight at the bottom or has old wooden frames that you wouldnt want to touch with a wfp. Also there is very little if any water left on the floor, in winter there is no excess water left to “freeze” over. Before i started any trad work i regularly took a day off when it was too cold and i knew the water would freeze. I dont want any of our customers or members of the public slipping due to my excess water freezing. There are many out there who take some real risks regarding this subject. I charge high for first cleans and do whatever it takes to “get the job done” regardless of method. I dont want anyone to think this is a mandate for “how to clean” but more to provide insight if it can be of use to anybody, before you think of abandoning your ladders and squeegees.
I am still relatively new to this and only been going for four years. Im constantly learning but want to provide the best results using the most appropriate methods for various tasks.
Sorry if it’s been long winded! Hope its a good read for somebody
Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums mobile app
For first cleans, especially domestic including UPVC frames etc, i believe that water fed is vital. In combination TFR or not, the brush bristles reach nooks, crannies that simply cant be got at by hand, & also for removing loose dirt it is simply quicker and more effective. There aren’t many cons to this method of window cleaning, if you use hot water it is even easier to remove encrusted on bee pollen, poo etc etc. (I dont have a hot system)
However, when cleaning upstairs pvc sills, TFR is very good on a first clean for removing green grime and algae. But, can you rely on it 100% when you cant see what youre cleaning? I would say no. Many a time have i got the ladder out to touch up an upstairs window sill, even after UBIK. Also, how are you going to magic sponge greys off an upstairs sill as a ladderless window cleaner? I am fortunate enough to work as part of a pair, so i always have someone to foot the ladder if necessary. I completely understand why many lone window cleaners wont use them. The ladder is also handy when it comes to removing glues, silicones, egg, paint blobs etc from upstairs windows, especially if at the bottom near the seals,. You simply can not get a good angle with a scraper off a trad pole in these situations, it needs to be removed by hand with a scraper or otherwise. When it comes to removing paint, i find it far easier to remove by using an applicator to soap the window, it gives it more slip for the glass scraper because there is no surfactant in purified water to give slip. Especially handy if working on hydrophobic glass. Im sure weve all tried removing paint using wfp on hydrophobic glass, constantly having to wet the window only for the majority of the water to bounce back off. Its annoying no?
Also, trad at ground level. very handy for shops e.g hair dressers where they want the inside & outside done, and no excess water for customers to step in as they walk in and out of the shop. Also no trailing hoses (a big safety plus) and if youve got a garden full of plant pots, rose bushes, tight enclosures etc, trad is simply easier. The downside is that the windows get dirtier quicker as the surfactant left on the glass attracts pollution in the air to stick to it. But hey ho, a sacrifice for practicality. Also, the finish on the glass is instant, whereas with purified water the finish is reliant on the window to dry (not a big deal at all) but if you miss something wfp, tiny things like encrusted pollen etc, you may not see it due to water being present on the glass as you leave. With trad there is also the plus that if you leave streaks, you see them instantly. Trad is more practical for front doors especially “under shelter” porch areas on the old victorian terraces. And if the door isnt air tight at the bottom or has old wooden frames that you wouldnt want to touch with a wfp. Also there is very little if any water left on the floor, in winter there is no excess water left to “freeze” over. Before i started any trad work i regularly took a day off when it was too cold and i knew the water would freeze. I dont want any of our customers or members of the public slipping due to my excess water freezing. There are many out there who take some real risks regarding this subject. I charge high for first cleans and do whatever it takes to “get the job done” regardless of method. I dont want anyone to think this is a mandate for “how to clean” but more to provide insight if it can be of use to anybody, before you think of abandoning your ladders and squeegees.
I am still relatively new to this and only been going for four years. Im constantly learning but want to provide the best results using the most appropriate methods for various tasks.
Sorry if it’s been long winded! Hope its a good read for somebody
Sent using the Window Cleaning Forums mobile app
