I am actually an English ex-pat from Bristol. Working as a window cleaner out in the Great White North!
Love the winter though cleaning windows down to minus 15C can be a bit of a dampner!
We are cleaning windows in Calgary, Alberta all through the winter, mainly New build or Construction Window Cleaning but some residential.
Do most people use METHANOL in the water? I have found it’s the best (so far) but have found nowhere to buy it in bulk. I am using about 1:3 ish methanol to water and can only buy it in 4 liter jugs at about a tenner a pop.
Does anyone know where to buy it bulk, either in a local or chain store or over the net?
Any tips or advice regarding winter window cleaning in general would be useful as I’m not used to freezing my hands off 6 hours a day just yet.
Does anyone just shut down or do something different for the winter months?
Hope everyone is keeping warm and those that want to work have enough.
Although, American, I`m a fellow window cleaner here in the far north also. Mtl to be exact. Winter window cleaning is a whole nother thing here for many. I look at it the same, though. I know the larger companies here in town still do residential but many of them die out for their commercial. I shut down doing resi but keep going strong in all my commercial work.
I use Glacier Gloves and theyre just fine. They get wet inside from sweaty working hands. When I go from front to front I put on a separate non-waterproof pair of gloves. This warms me up and saves on building up moisture in my waterproof gloves. I use windshield washer fluid and a tad of GG4 or other good soap. Windshield washer fluid will leave really bad hazy smudges if used alone. I dilute about 3 parts windshield fluid to 2 parts water. This works fine for me unless its really really cold. I then just use straight up 45 below windshield fluid. I`ve never had a problem.
!!!..Utilize the commercial clients that you do the inside entrances for. These entrances are almost always heated very warmly and so they give you a great break from the cold.
Also, [I][U]keep in mind[/U][/I]: you will lose clients if you start skipping days here and there. In the last few days Ive scored a few really nice clients that Ive been marketing to a half dozen times without any luck in the summers. Their windows weren`t cleaned in at least a month so I tried again and without thinking they took higher prices for my more steady and higher quality service then the big companies that had cleaned for them for years.
I actually dont mind it here. Makes me tougher! Weve got hundreds, literally hundreds, of cafe and eateries that I pull over and take a break in to warm up. Keeps me positive and aware. Let me know how it works for you…
Calgary has a large racing scene, try one of the racing outlets. Another place to by the Methanol is Canadian Tire, it is about 7.50 for 4 ltr bottle.
I use the paddle / canoe gloves from Canadian Tire or you can get some at WalMart. I normally start at about 2-4 ounces per bucket and work up from there, adding more as the wind warrants. I am not a big fan of using straight window wash fluid, I find it leaves residue as well, especially the Teflon stuff. I give a squirt of GG4 and a drop or two of Dawn as well, to make my cleaning solution.
Remember to layer the gloves, by bigger than you need and put in some silk or polypropalyne inner gloves, to get aprox. another -10 to -15 out of the paddle gloves. I also have about 4 sets of gloves, rotate them as needed. Do not force dry as it will shorten the life of the gloves. Normally I put them on the dash and just let the air dry them out from the defroster.
Hey Window Cleaning Resource, when are you going to delete my posts? I am ready to start spamming on WCR everywhere on the net. Just giving you a heads up to be fair. Let me know what u decide. U have 24 hours before I begin. http://squiigii.com
In new england we get windshield washer fluid in 3 types at either home depot or loews by cases of 6 gallons-im sure 55 gallon drums are sold on internet…blue for 32-15 degrees and either Rain X orange for 15-0 or Pink Marine RV antifreeze.Since i was an idiot when starting who thought only wimps wore gloves and now have lifelong frostbite in all fingers heres my method: latex with hand warmer-army navy liners-scuba gloves.
Try using rubbing alcohol many years ago my supply houses stop selling menthol due insurance purposes I asked what to do they said go to the drug store 98 percent alcohol menthol in it 98 cents a bottle much cheaper than I was paying hopes this helps.
Yes i used to use this but much more expensive and hard to obtain in gallon containers-only can be found in medical supply houses.Used it the other day actually but the fumes and danger of getting in eyes is much worse than windshield washer fluid
Hey Window Cleaning Resource, when are you going to delete my posts? I am ready to start spamming on WCR everywhere on the net. Just giving you a heads up to be fair. Let me know what u decide. U have 24 hours before I begin. http://squiigii.com
Oh winter !!!
ok everyone pretty much summerized… Here is my tip…I carry a bucket with a seperation…one side windshiel washer fluid and Ecover and the other side water Ecover and very very little windhield fluid…This way…lets say ur doing large outside and large inside like a Future Shop or Staples…u can use the cold stuff for out and the water for in( which is more pleasent to work with …much easier)…you will save on windshiel fluid. Why do you put very very little blue stuff in one compartent; Well sometimes the inside windows might freeze a little with just water especially in the corners. I use sealskinz waterproof mittens with a light coton glove on the inside… Mittens keep hands warmer. Cover up ur face when its windy with a Balaclava. Good boots with good socks! …Dont overdress cause when you do the insides you will boil up!!..have fun…merry Christmas ,billy from Montreal
Down in Boston MA we service 4 states including southern NH which gets a bit nippy but not like you experience. Some days you will not make $ such as high winds which will drive the wind chill down too far for employee safety or glass quality (face it we do better work when comfortable)…
We use 3 types of windshield washer fluid: blue for 15-32 degrees/ yellow for 5-15 / pink for below 5 degrees fahrenheit…Ethanol is hard to come by here and too toxic for my liking (flammability-fumes-skin and eye burns-poison if ingested accidentally)…Ive heard of 55 gallon drums but we just buy cases of 6 gallons in department or auto supply stores (Home Depot-Loews-Advance Auto).
