Getting Pains in the Neck from using Poles? Some Exercises To Help.

If you're new to using Water Fed Poles Systems and specifically long range poles, looking up to 2nd/3rd/4th storeys no doubt you'll soon experience some feelings of discomfort  from looking up for sustained periods of time. Often the neck will begin to hurt or you may be experiencing discomfort or even pain in the neck of some kind, but most commonly is the feeling of a stiff neck. In this case, there are some simple exercises you can do to alleviate what I call, SSS (or stiff neck syndrome). For more information on the kinds of exercises you can do I'd recommend conducting a Google search for 'stiff neck exercises' and visiting a few of though free resource sites.

For me I find the front to back tilt the most effective exercise and side to side rotation. It's important to remember whilst doing these exercises to go slowly and avoid any sudden jerks in movements.

Let me know which exercises work best for you to relieve you of a stiff neck or cramp, by commenting on this post. 

Good to see more and more Water Fed Pole Systems in use

Having just returned from a holiday in Cornwall, it was refreshing to see window cleaners out doing mostly larger domestic and business properties using Water Fed Pole systems. In fact, dare I go so far to say that it almost seem to be the standard. It was also great to see the fantastic results water fed pole systems have on a sunny day. If only I had a camera with me at the time, I would have shown the pics of how clean those panes were to all the naysayers.

Apart from it's distinct better results WFP systems produce, they of course also offer a much safer alternative to climbing up ladders and performing a circus aerial routine. Also, sometimes there's no other option but to use WFP when it comes to cleaning conservatory roof tops and skylights especially - which IMHO can only be a good thing.

Also, if you're considering a little purchase for a new brush this Summer and Autumn, I'd recommend buying the following, it's great for 1st floor/storey and tops of conservatories/skylight work:

So Much For The British Summer

Typical, just as soon as you're ready to get the shorts and t-shirts on and start cleaning those windows, the sky turns grey and it starts pi*s*ng it down. Bloody typicall. Still, this is what you get when you choose to live in the British Isles. Oh well. For us window cleaners it's not just the fact that we can't take our shirts off and try to get a bit of tan during the summer, we may also face problems for the custies, mostly new ones, not wanting to have their windows cleaned when it rains. This is a common objection, especially from customers not familiar with Water Fed Pole Systems. Once i take the time to educate them, and explain that it really doesn't make a difference if it's raining or if it's dry - the outcome will still be the same; nice clean windows.

Aside from the crappy weather and explaining to customers, I like to monitor my water consumption rates during the summer and compare with spring or winter over the same time period. Invariably I find, fairly obviously, that my water consumption rate is higher in the summer because of too things: I usually have more work on, and 2. on the rare days it is hot those first and second cleans require more water to be squirted on the glass. Id be interested to know your experience and if you do any monitoring and seasonality comparisons. Also, do you change your gear during the summer months or set-up completely?

Summer's Here

So finally the sun is shinning, well a little if you glimpse hard enough, and there's plenty of windows to be a cleanin'. This summer, Ive got a new van mount set up, and hoping to cut down on my daily water consumption, by using some "recycled" water that I've collect in a large rain butt and then pump out and process through my RO. Simples.
With growing concern these days for environmentalism, and conservation of water I'd be interested to know how other WFPs are making their systems more efficient and cutting down on their water use on a daily basis. Its definitely an important issue. But, probably more important is the billions of gallons that private water companies waste as well. So, when custies start moaning about how much water WFP uses, it really gets my goat. Oh well, rant over. Let's get cleanin' dem windows.

This week's top 3 of my Playlist for washing the windows:

Come Rain or Shine we'll always be there

Lately, I've been having some really good feedback from my customers regarding the Water Fed Pole Systems that I've been using for the past 3 years now. Often with the first couple of cleans, customers will complain of "spotting" or it not being as good as traditional ladder cleaning (highly dangerous and non-conforming to UK safety standards). But, I always tell them give it a few more cleans and you'll see the difference. If they're still not satisfied, I offer a full refund for the past months cleans. This usually does the job nicely. Often it's all in their head and completely psychological. We only see what we want to see, and usually when something new comes along there's always gonna be some skepticism. But I find it's really best to defend your point, show them photos, tell them the reasons and explain it to them properly, and they'll have little to object about after that. Keep on WFP'ing! :)

WoHoo Back In Business

Apologies to all those of you who have been reading my blog on a regular basis, and noticed it's not been updated in a while. It's been hard to keep it updated whilst running the business at the same time, but I'll try my best from now and before the Christmas mad rush, to post some useful information.

Speaking of Christmas, I was wondering if any window cleaners have any great tips that they'd like to share for either getting some extra ££££s, by offering additional cleaning services perhaps gutter cleaning, or conservatory cleaning of roofs etc. Or perhaps people would like to share, how they're going to make sure they collect their Christmas tips and round money whilst they're off for the festive period. I'll put a poll later on in the week about Christmas cleaning and how what ways we're going to find to bring in the extra dosh.

In other news, I've upgraded my van mount system to a 400L Streamline RO system complete with all the following:

Heavy duty cage (with pre-drilled mounting holes ready for installation)
1 x 10" Carbon filter
1 x 10" Sediment filter
1 x 40" Reverse Osmosis Membrane
11L DI Vessel full of Resin
100 psi Flojet delivery pump
Variflo+ Digital pump controller
Auto shut-off (Automatically prevents overfilling the tank)
85Ah deep cycle battery. 1 X TDS meter
1 X set of spare filters ( 1 x 10" Carbon filter & 1 x 10" Sediment filter)

Whilst it wasn't on the cheap side setting me back close to the 2 grand mark, it had to be done, to satisfy the bigger more industrial jobs im getting at the moment. It suits me just fine. Pictures to follow soon!

What's your favourite bit of kit in your setup?

Mine has to be my 35' tucker pole. I certainly get my use out of it, and it's not too heavy on the old arms, - certainly paid for itself in the year and a half ive been using it. I also, really love my 900-2000 gpd RO-system system. Some serious bit of Reverse Osmosis kit right there. So just a short and sweet post about you favourite bit of kit in your existing set-up. Feel free to comment and tell us what you like/ and perhaps what's on the wish list.

Cheers!