First home done today

Ok I did my first home today and broke my cherry. I have one question, how do I keep the area around me clean as I do the window? I scrub then squegee and the squegee drips. I started to use the scrubber to catch the run off worked ok then a towel OK. Can some veterans give me some pointers.

I always use a towel to put down bellow window I’m working on. Also some hack rags on window sill if there is a flat paint. Water could leaves marks.
Where in So Cal are you located?

thanks, I live in Santa Clarita. have been hitting my home town of Westlake Village.

I use plenty of clean towels as “drop cloths”. They only are used as drop cloths, so they stay clean and unstained. If I have to take my bucket inside, which I usually do, I always place the bucket in the middle of one.

Since I mentioned it, and you’re new; when you take a bucket inside, make sure it’s always fresh clean water. Don’t clean the outside and then bring dirty water inside… If you use clean water inside, even if you accidentally drop a few drops on white carpet, it won’t stain.

Also, many of us use what’s called a bucket on a belt, BOAB for short. They will hold a squeegee or two and your strip washer right on your hip. One of these will help keep your area clean as you won’t drip as much water moving your squeegee and strip washer back and forth to a bucket or setting it down somewhere. Here’s a link: http://shop.windowcleaner.com/product.sc?categoryId=54&productId=69

i carry a few old sheets and lay them down on the carpet or if needed cover up back of couch etc. it covers a bigger area and you can just pull it to the next area. Also good for putting under ladder legs if your ladders not real clean, but be careful on tiled floors or hardwood, its slippery- works better on carpeted areas…and definitely listen to Micah about the bucket on belt…gotta have that…anyway…congrats on your first job!! :smiley:

hold your mop under the squeegee when you fan so the mop catches all the water and then just wipe the sill with the hack towel

I ring out my mop really well before I go inside and make sure I dump out all the dirty water in my BOAB. I carry a squeeze bottle with me or a spray bottle with my solution so I dont have to go back to my bucket. And like Mateo said bring a lot of drop towels, for around the windows.

This is a must - also watch drips from boab to window - hence the drop cloths. You may want to empty your boab periodically as water builds up in the bottom.

Wagtails flippers are great for inside work, but you do right with the applicator to catch the drips. You can also open & close the window trapping the towel to catch any excess if you are new & worried about floor coverings.

another thing that has helped me is, as soon as I am done squeegeeing a window, I make sure I keep the squeegee parallel to the ground when im transfering it back to my bucket on a belt. If you dont you can drip everywhere.

Use an extra scrim as a drop cloth!

Thanks for the input. I have a boab this is why I asked I did take a long time 6 hrs. I am a little bit detail (OCD) minded. The house windows were not cleaned in a long time. I also was experimenting and trying to time things. How often do you bring a bucket? I was thinking the drop cloth is great I also got 2 officed and anouther home. Very exited I also took some pics (before & after).

As you do more & more houses you will become a lot quicker. The insides become time consuming for moving things & bucket placement.
You may want to get yourself a drop cloth for under the bucket - the home owners like this. Also some over-shoe booties that you can find at the WCR shop - these add an element of respect to the clients home. I’ve gained a load of jobs just by wearing these & the customers pass this info’ on to other potential clients that they give your number to.