Can you really do a good job, is pure water simply better?

[Ackroyd_82]

so I stopped cleaning windows six years ago, but had previously worked as a window cleaner for 17 years. I felt I knew everything about the job in regards to cloths, squeegee, rubber, technique etc
So starting my my new job as the the FOH manager at a new restaurant on the shore front, I noticed the windows had tried to be cleaned but done terribly.
I went with a fresh bucket, ettore liquid, applicator squeege and a brand new ettore blade, with clean scrims etc.
Everything looked fine after I did them, I didn’t tell anyone I used to be a window cleaner.
The next day, after the sun rose, you could see every line where I turned the blade.
It looked terrible.
So second attempt, took a wet cloth, wiped the window down, then applicated, then took wet cloth around edges to remove all salt. Cleaned, next day it looked a bit better, but not great. Was I cleaning windows for 17 years doing a bad job.
I still tried pulls from different directions, did the fan method, tried straight pulls, but when the sun shone, the mistakes were there.
When I was a window cleaner I hardly lost customers, but seeing my work the day after I did the restaurant, I’d have fired myself.

 

[P4dstar]

so I stopped cleaning windows six years ago, but had previously worked as a window cleaner for 17 years. I felt I knew everything about the job in regards to cloths, squeegee, rubber, technique etc
So starting my my new job as the the FOH manager at a new restaurant on the shore front, I noticed the windows had tried to be cleaned but done terribly.
I went with a fresh bucket, ettore liquid, applicator squeege and a brand new ettore blade, with clean scrims etc.
Everything looked fine after I did them, I didn’t tell anyone I used to be a window cleaner.
The next day, after the sun rose, you could see every line where I turned the blade.
It looked terrible.
So second attempt, took a wet cloth, wiped the window down, then applicated, then took wet cloth around edges to remove all salt. Cleaned, next day it looked a bit better, but not great. Was I cleaning windows for 17 years doing a bad job.
I still tried pulls from different directions, did the fan method, tried straight pulls, but when the sun shone, the mistakes were there.
When I was a window cleaner I hardly lost customers, but seeing my work the day after I did the restaurant, I’d have fired myself.

@Pjj is your man when it comes to cleaning by the sea. I think that is likely your issue, and if you were cleaning inland previously, even just slightly inland, it’s a completely different game. When you say they did a terrible job did they do a worse job that you felt you did on your first attempt at them?

 

[Pjj]

Sounds a bit strange are you using to much soap ? This can attract the dirt especially salt as it leaves an invisible sticky surface , we don’t trad windows generally but don’t get any issues with the ones we do do that way

 

[Part Timer]

I wonder if you've actually scrubbed enough when applicating. The salt can really stick to the windows and will take many attempts to remove totally.
We are east coast as well and if you have an easterly wind you will not be able to keep them clean. We can turn up some months and the windows are still clean from the previous wash. Turn up the next time and they're virtually opaque.
The customers tell us they can go to bed with clean windows and wake up with filthy ones, and if you are close to the sea you won't need a strong easterly to make yours dirty again.