Recommended traditional starter kit

Hey folks,

I wrote this list for another member but have since seen a couple of other people asking what they should get - so am copying and pasting into a new thread.

This is just my personal opinion, but it's also what I go out to work with when i'm doing trad stuff. It's all from the same shop too so you can get it all delivered in one go.

Here's a list of stuff I'd reccomend to start off with from wintecs. I like wintecs because they don't charge for p&p and their customer service is good.

This is all kit I own and would reccomend..

Unger bucket- £7.61 - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=28

Unger Ergotec Handle - £5.78 (this will be your 'main' handle) http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=64

10 inch channel w/ soft rubber (this and the handle above I use on 99.99999% of trad jobs. Smaller channel = easier to work with = faster = better.)- £2.58 http://www.wintecs.c...roducts_id=1041

Unger S squeegee handle - £4.09 - (this is for the 6 inch channel below, I use this handle because its smaller and the 6 inch channell only gets used on openers and such where the 10 doesnt fit. They are the perfect combination.) http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=522

6 inch channel - £1.92 - see above - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=54

Unger T bar for applicator, 14 inch - £2.75 - http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=96

Ettore porcupine applicator sleeve - £8.61(has bristles that take off dirt and **** really well - saves me using a scraper a lot. I am the envy of all my friends! Really worth getting.) http://www.wintecs.c...&products_id=83

Pulex bucketonabelt - £10.64 (you can't really trad without a boab, well - you can, but it's a nightmare.) http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=112

Unger 15cm scraper - £7.85 - Have never needed or wanted a smaller scraper since I bought this and the porcupine glove. http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=923

Jumbo microfibre - cut in 2, so it's easily pocketable. £3.03 - http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=641

(Maybe get 2 or 3 if you think you will need to do a lot of detailing?)

Unger soft rubber - 42 inches - My personal favourite rubber. £2.29 - Nothing worse than starting trad work, finding there is a nick in the rubber, and not having any spare. Worth getting. http://www.wintecs.c...products_id=237

Only other thing I think you'll need is a 'sill cloth - I just use whatever, an old teatowel, £1 microfibres from the pound shop, my favourite is a carlsberg beer rug towel thing from the local pub - it's just for sills so it doesnt really matter much.

Now, other people will prolly prefer different brands and items - but this is pretty much the exact kit I use when I do trad work now, these are the 'essential items' that get taken out on the road while a lot of the other stuff - different size scrapers, channels, different handles, etc etc - all get left at home. This is good quality kit, will last, and will do a good job. It is, in my opinion, a worthy investment and well set you off well for learning and mastering trad cleaning!

Total for all above is £57.15, then you have to add on VAT which at 20% is £11.43 giving you a total price of £68.58.

That might seem a lot but consider it is good kit that will LAST and do a good job and it's really not so bad.

Only thing I would add is a pole & afold away step. The amount of houses I go to that have high bottom windows. Good list. When you think about it it's quite cheap to start up. I also use 10 inch most of the time as I find it easier.

I read this list with interest last time it was on. I thought it was a good comprehensive list for a new starter. However, my list would probably differ quite alot from yours, only because of personal preference. I dare say that there would be many differing lists, and that they would all work pretty well. This would be a good item for the "Tradders" topic at the top of the forum.

Hi Kips,

thanks for taking the time to advise on a start up kit. I see most of the items are by Unger. Its just that I have a shop near me that sells Ettore products. What do you think of this brand ,could I just use your startup kit ideas but use the Ettore products instead?

Cheers

Hi Mike - Ettore and Unger are the 'top' brands, so to speak. I've never used any of their squeegees but my BOAB is ettore and I use an ettore porcupine applicator sleeve and am very happy with them both. They have a very good reputation so I'd say there'd be no problem kitting yourself out with their stuff.

Hi Kips,

whats a BOAB, remember im new to all this :wacko:

Cheers

Bucket on a belt. For yer squeegee & applicator

cheers Posh, be patient /emoticons/biggrin.png

No prob. We were all there once.

Just ordered every item on your list - looking forward to getting it all and having a good practise on my own windows!

Same, although I subbed the Pulex boab for the Unger Ninja boab, like a 50p price difference, and it looked a bit snazzier. I think the prices might have changed slightly since that list was compiled, Pulex was 12ish quid for me instead of the 10 in the list.

Just in process of starting up (add on to my carpet cleaning business) brought all of the above recommended kit upgraded bucket to one with lid and went for more expensive Ninja bucket on a belt. Ordered my ladders from Ladders 999 with artic feet, ladder pads, ladder clamps for roof rack, just need to get roof bars which i'm getting tomorrow and i'm ready to go, just need customers :Image14:

Well bit disappointed ordered my start up kit from wintec on tuesday but had still not received anything by Thursday so sent an email to see what was happening and having no reply to my email by Friday afternoon I gave them a call to be told by girl on reception that whole firm was closed for training and she could not help me.

The BOAB makes me laugh, years ago I had a leather holster type thing, but these are a bloody good idea though

Iv found wintecs postage to be worse than pi55 poor! I even payed extra on a second order to get it next day and received it three days later

HI

I thought I would update this, I am a new starter to this Window Cleaning game & have just bought my first lot of kit, I have a 3 stage plan on purchasing kit. The first stage, which I will tell you about below, was Starter kit the very basic stuff, Enough to practice with & start doing a few friends & family's properties, the second stage will be all the kit to do any home (98%) & most retail units, my third is basically to splash out on a nice pole kit

OK so before I start I will advise you not too use wintecs for your start up, more expensive 98% of the time, They are a good company for your one of bits due the free postage, lets say you want one 10" blade it is 20p more but they will post it free! if your spending over £50 you will save by going else where.

I highly recommend http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop I placed my order Saturday night, had email Monday morning to say it was processed, lunchtime it had been dispatched & it arrived on Tuesday, all fantastic. I all so found the range of traditional tools very good, sign up for a free account & you can wish list your order then when your done (I spent a few hrs looking!) you can easily add it to your basket

So my list is very similar to the first one: (prices without VAT)

• Unger Microwipe Ultralite (sill cloth) x2 - 0.75p each - I like these cloths a lot, could not see them on other sites!
  
• Unger Small Bucket 1.8L x1 - £7.20 (wintecs are asking £12.63!!!)
  
• Unger Rubber 42" Soft x1 - £2.25
  
• Unger Ninja Microwipe x1 55cm -55cm - £4.95 - Great size, worth every penny, Quality cloth, when your new & your detailing this is a must!
  
• Unger Liquid x1 1L - £3.05 - I got this to try, I am now mixing 8/9L water, 50ml Unger Liquid & squirt of ecover, good glide & great results
  
• Unger Ergotec Handel x1
  
• Unger S squeegee Handel x1 - £4.05 NOTE: not worth it spend £3 more get another Ergotec!
  
• Unger S channel 6" x1 - 1.85
  
• Unger S channel 10" x1 - 2.45
  
• Unger ergo T Bar 10" x1 - £3.70
  
• Unger Monsoon 10" sleeve x1 - £4.99
  
• Unger Ninja Bucket on a Belt x1 - 12.05 (feel like dirty harry when I pull out my squeegee!)
  
• Unger Safty Scraper (metal) x1 - £1.75
  

Total with VAT: 68.21

I hope this is of use to others & happy window cleaning to you all :Image7:

View attachment 2223

HI
I thought I would update this, I am a new starter to this Window Cleaning game & have just bought my first lot of kit, I have a 3 stage plan on purchasing kit. The first stage, which I will tell you about below, was Starter kit the very basic stuff, Enough to practice with & start doing a few friends & family's properties, the second stage will be all the kit to do any home (98%) & most retail units, my third is basically to splash out on a nice pole kit /emoticons/smile.png

OK so before I start I will advise you not too use wintecs for your start up, more expensive 98% of the time, They are a good company for your one of bits due the free postage, lets say you want one 10" blade it is 20p more but they will post it free! if your spending over £50 you will save by going else where.

I highly recommend http://www.windowcleaningwarehouse.co.uk/shop I placed my order Saturday night, had email Monday morning to say it was processed, lunchtime it had been dispatched & it arrived on Tuesday, all fantastic. I all so found the range of traditional tools very good, sign up for a free account & you can wish list your order then when your done (I spent a few hrs looking!) you can easily add it to your basket /emoticons/smile.png

So my list is very similar to the first one: (prices without VAT)

• Unger Microwipe Ultralite (sill cloth) x2 - 0.75p each - I like these cloths a lot, could not see them on other sites!
  
• Unger Small Bucket 1.8L x1 - £7.20 (wintecs are asking £12.63!!!)
  
• Unger Rubber 42" Soft x1 - £2.25
  
• Unger Ninja Microwipe x1 55cm -55cm - £4.95 - Great size, worth every penny, Quality cloth, when your new & your detailing this is a must!
  
• Unger Liquid x1 1L - £3.05 - I got this to try, I am now mixing 8/9L water, 50ml Unger Liquid & squirt of ecover, good glide & great results /emoticons/smile.png
  
• Unger Ergotec Handel x1
  
• Unger S squeegee Handel x1 - £4.05 NOTE: not worth it spend £3 more get another Ergotec!
  
• Unger S channel 6" x1 - 1.85
  
• Unger S channel 10" x1 - 2.45
  
• Unger ergo T Bar 10" x1 - £3.70
  
• Unger Monsoon 10" sleeve x1 - £4.99
  
• Unger Ninja Bucket on a Belt x1 - 12.05 (feel like dirty harry when I pull out my squeegee!)
  
• Unger Safty Scraper (metal) x1 - £1.75
  

Total with VAT: 68.21

I hope this is of use to others & happy window cleaning to you all :Image7:

Click to expand...

Hi there my names Jason and i have just decided to start my own window cleaning business.

I noticed you posted back in Oct 2013 and hope your business is doing well.I do however wonder if you could give any advice.I have a pack from the HMRC on the way so i can get the self-employed bit going, have liabilty insurance and have some business cards on the way and currently making some flyers.That said i would love any advice you could give.

Kind regards, Jason.

Hi

I have not stopped by here in a while! Well will have to try more often.

Firstly HMRC!

OK it can be hard going out there when you start, but your starting at a better time of year (Jason77 if you have just started) I started in the winter not the best idea, not the weather I do not mind that but the customers... lets say there largely a funny lot (look after the old ones they will often bring you biscuits with your Tea!)

Advice ok, start with as much Kit as you can afford, buy at least a decent squeegee, mop & bucket, Bucket on a belt is highly advantages in my eyes, see my list above, some things you can do on the cheap for the start for example need a bag for cloths? try this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MONEY-BELT-PHONE-POCKET-MARKET-TRADER-MONEY-BAG-6-POCKET-MARKET-CAR-BOOT-NEW-/271393037567?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f30491cff £2.49!!! The one thing I will say buy a new set of ladders you put your life in there hands, I have a Titan ladder from Midlands ladders http://www.midlandladders.com/products/Triple_2_5m_8ft2_Trade_Light_Industrial_Ladder-21-7.html

Customer getting them is hard (good costumers) keeping them is easy as long as you set yours self a code, being smart, polite, regular, doing the job paid for (never missing windows!) etc. If like me your not from a sales background door knocking can be hard, I am going to do it as it is the best way when your new, but up to now I have posted fliers, put up adds in my local shops, florists, takeaway, hairdressers and so on. Another great tool I found is Facebook I have page on there and I post often on local Buy & sell pages which is free

I hope you find somthing useful in that lot, I do go on /emoticons/smile.png anything specific post it up and I will try to answer it.

thanks kips bit peeved all the lists seem to be cheaper than what i usually pay.....grrr.....and me likes free postage...dont really care how long it takes as long as it gets here....thanks james81 i well need a new money belt and for that price canna be moaning...hope its not like the last stupid one i got off fleabay...the belt ran around the middle of the money bag as soon as i put the money in it just kept turning over.....grrr....

chepncheerful, the one reason I like Window cleaning warehouse for orders over £50 (before vat) Free Next day postage! I ordered on Wed night (late) it was packed Thursday & arrived Friday, I think it was 4th or 5th order I have had with them, perfect every time, Price is very competitive on the majority of items.

hi i am using the windowcleaningcentre at the moment and i have to stay with them for a while because i am determined to get my loyalty credit...of course i keep losing the tokens they send me grrrr still as soon as i get my discount i will try that place..i think i may have used them once before...thanks james81 i hope i am still cleaning windows at 81....:rofl:....let you off your only 32