So I just finsished up a house, in/out using Ecover and regular tap. I could have easily used 1-2 quick squirts at the most so the 3 squirts of Ecover I put in was overkill. Not that there was a huge amount of suds, I could just tell that less would’ve been alright.
As far as cleaning ability goes, I’d say it’s comparable to dawn/sunlight or GG4. I didn’t do any ‘residue’ tests but there is certainlyt that clarity that one gets with GG4. I did notice when spot checking that a poorly detailed edge looks as unsightly as with any other soap. This is more about quality control on squeegeeing and detailing. Any soap will leave residue if there is any dirt mixed in with it.
Now for the best part. The glide is fantastic. For those who like a lot of slip, this soap is for you. And for those that like how clean GG4 gets the glass but feel it lacks slip, I’m sure a drop of Ecover mixed in will solve that problem. My next day out I will do the GG4+Ecover test.
hey guys its good stuff i know… but if try and keep it hush, i said before i see a lot of potential with this stuff … just when the competition get hold of it it will make a bad window cleaner look good… all credit should go to james in Scotland… so if in the future if this kicks off i would like to see those who pioneered it or found out about it getting what they deserve… i see Titan labs now making a residue free petro chemical free solution similar to ecover . its just a question of time !.. some one will get hold of it and profit from it but if i see it kicking off and james in Scotland does not get a kick back i will be a little annoyed… because like i said if this goes viral this will be in hands of the competition who work on your very streets and your patch… and then it could come back and shoot you in the foot… this stuff works with all squeegees soft and hard rubber … rubber burn is greatly reduced smearing is greatly reduced. and after all that its much much better than normal dish soap and equally as good if not better than gg4 IMO… that GG4 has something in it which i do not like. even though they claim its Biodegradable…that chemical that has that strong smell in GG4 what is that… ? alcohol … what is that smell… is that what ime smelling healthy for you ? i am not so sure
John,
If Ecover was a professional window cleaning detergent I wouldn’t worry at all about the competition picking it up, but its not. Its a dish soap!!!
Every one might think ime a bit do lally . but ive been working with it and instinctively know… its a winner…this after 20 years in the biz and doing high quality work everyday in Germany for 15 years… its gonna go viral in the window cleaning community i have no doubt about this… this is what i see… but if does not i will be a happy man because the competition where i am is growing and there a lot of sharks about… i bring stuff on this forum to help others on this forum but when large companies come on here and possible pinch ideas that were founded by others ( james scotland ) this will make me one ****ed off guy…
its all about being fair to be able to go forward in life .
Mike Ecover are the manufacturers… this can be used by housewives and the like to clean windows… there sales will go up because of its ability to do the things it can…once they know and advertise it so… i have no doubt about this.
John,
Perhaps I will never speak of the matter again. Many thanks John. It’s a true winner. I’m thankful that most people, that would include most of our competitors, are set in their ways and not open to or interested in new ideas. Thanks for telling me about it just don’t tell anybody else, OK? Haha
I undersatnd what you’re saying. Basic dish soap here runs around $2-$3 at the most. Ecover cost me $6 after taxes. I’m pretty sure the majority of wc’ers out there use dish soap (keep in mind there’s probably 10 bucket Bobs for every 1 legitimate wc company) i don’t think any soap will make or break any business. Using Ecover and advertising your use of eco friendly products can score points with some folks but I highly doubt any customer will say “wow, the glass looks better than when you’ve used gg4/dawn in the past. Less smearing and residue”
I think in the end , the popularity of Ecover will only come from the wc’ers feeling of user friendliness. ie “I like it’s abilty to clean and I like the glide it provides for my squeegee.”
… i think it is possible that companies might turn to it ( plant based solution ) because its a safe bet if it gets known by the right / wrong people who see its advantages and it defo has advantages… and it really does save worrying about streaks and smears . which enables you too move quicker use larger squeegee sizes and detail less… not forgetting this has no ammonia no petro chemicals and the quite possible fact like james said windows seriously stay longer clean ( this all depends on the question wether its the great reduction of residue or the fact he uses Vinegar ? or both )… so me being a pragmatic (ist ) at the moment i think it will kick off but not in the form/ advertised as washing up liquid but some other name… it will kick off the wrong people know about it
You will se what i mean after you have used it a few weeks… and if it all gets kicked under the carpet i will be a happy man… because there are several i know who do exactly what i do here who love to get there hands on it…
I understand your love of great products and tools. I’m the same way. But I also know a great many people who could care less. You know how many times I’ve tried to engage local window cleaners into conversations about window cleaning tools and they just look at me with glazed over eyes. They are like, “dude, it’s just a squeegee” and I’m like, “ya but this one is a wagtail!” i showed a guy the Ninja a while back, he looked down at his brass ettore and just shrugged his shoulders. wasn’t the least bit interested. I even asked a local supplier if they were selling many Ninjas and he said, nope, people stick with the tried and true. What a shame. Come to think of it, there are very few window cleaners in Toronto that actually like chatting with other companies. They all eye each other with suspicion. Oh well, now I’m rambling…
No Doubt Chris. That is why most window cleaners out there will wonder why we keep trying to reinvent the wheel when we come out with swivels, wagtails, ninja, Slayers, etc. They don’t understand the appeal. “my ettore brass does the job, why would I want anything else.”
if your gonna try it out Chris Mark and everybody else… try it out for 2 weeks in direct sunlight houses with heating on and direct sunlight and all other situations . but come back after a week or 2 then let us know… one day is too little… you will see what ime on about after a a few weeks . either that or i need to go get some glasses
its all about the residue ! its all about squeegee burn its all about be able to use larger squeegee sizes… its all about eco / health benefits . its all about no smearing streaks…
again i say … put one squirt into a bottle with Pure water ! not one squirt with tap water… use the water from your bucket ( soap free ) to wash your washer and use the bottle to apply the solution afterwards.
Hey John,
That’s exactly what I did at a house on Thursday. Love rinsing my slop towel and strip washer out in plain water. Love spraying screens and windows with the DI/Ecover pump sprayer. I thought the windows looked better than usual.
I have a 2 liter Hand Pump Hudson sprayer. It’s nice.
Not sure what I’m going to do with Ecover. Adding it to my GG4 in tap water is great. More glide and less suds to fight with on the sills than Dawn. DI water, pump up sprayers and clear tap water in my bucket are nice ideas but I’m not sure it’s worth all the trouble. I’ll see in time.
I’ll give it a try next week. If it works as well as you, John and Mark say I’ll be very impressed. I like the idea of it being a [COLOR=“green”]green[/COLOR] cleaning product.
