In safe hands

We all want know we are in safe hands, which is why I am proud to be CRB checked.

When we invite tradespeople into our homes or work places, we want to know we are in safe hands.  One way is to check professional accreditation.  Another is to ask if they are CRB checked. 

It’s not a requirement for tradespeople and most won’t be.  In fact, generally only those who work in sensitive areas, such as schools, will have been through the process.  That’s how I can to be checked against the Criminal Records Bureau: when Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning won the contract to clean the windows at Belmarsh Prison it was a condition of the job.  After all, it probably wouldn’t be a great plan to invite an ex-con to clean the windows of a Category A prison.

But I’m glad I went through the process.  Having the all-clear from the CRB means I can offer my services confidently to schools, hospitals and other public services.  It also means I can offer all my clients an additional bit of peace of mind.

So ask to see my CRB certificate.  I won’t be insulted. 

After all, you have a right to feel secure at home and work.

Old wives' tales

Is vinegar really a good way to get your windows clean?  Can you get the best results with newspaper?  We put those old wives’ tales to the test.

Pick up any tips and wrinkles book and they’ll insist that nothing gets windows cleaner than vinegar or newspaper.  And they have a point.  Diluted vinegar (and a heavy dollop of elbow grease) or newspaper (and a heavier dollop of elbow grease) are pretty effective at getting windows clean.  But the problem with these old wives’ tales is that they are from olden times.  Yes, if you have nothing better, diluted vinegar or newspaper will get you reasonable results – often better than you’ll get with detergent and a cloth.  But when the sun shines you will still be able to see all the marks where you have rubbed.

But the 21^st century is not the place for these old wives, or even desperate housewives.  The 21^st century offers something much better, which means the old wives’ tales are destined to be reduced to mere folklore.  And that’s Waterfed Pole WindowCleaning.  Even the best balsamic can’t compete with the sparkle achieved by pure water and gentle brushes.  And it doesn’t matter whether you use a tabloid or the FT, you won’t get the long-lasting results that you get from gently washing the frames before you clean the panes.

So if a bird leaves an unwelcome greeting card on your window and I’m not due to visit again for a few weeks, by all means resort to emergency measures.  But for clean windows that stay clean, leave the old wives’ tales in the history books and embrace the Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning revolution!

TLC for those of mature years

Cleaning windows across Kent, Sussex and Surrey, I have the privilege of visiting some truly beautiful homes.  This is an historic part of the country, with architecture to match.

Unfortunately, the older a property, the more high maintenance it is.  Those beautiful sash windows rattle in the winds.  The deep chimneys need regular cleaning.  And those mellow bricks all too often need re-pointing and retying to stop them from collapsing.

If you are the owner of an older property, you will know that modern technologies are often incompatible.  They can be too harsh and abrasive for natural materials. 

Fortunately, that’s not true of Waterfed Pole WindowCleaning.  The action of the pure water and the soft bristles is gentle enough for even the oldest of window surrounds, whether lead, wood or putty.  We can clean your frames as well as we can modern PVC window surrounds to give you the same sparkling windows that stay cleaner for longer.

If your windows need some special TLC, give us a call on 01322 293831 for a free quote.

We’ll be happy to discuss how we look after mature properties. 

Checking out the competition

I’ve been writing about Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning for a while.  But I have to share a little secret.  We are not the only window cleaners using the system.  It is a great system, and others have cottoned onto it.  But even the best of systems can fall down when corners are cut.  So here’s how to find out if the window cleaner who has approached you is going to get the best results for you.

There are some simple questions you can ask that will tell you if they are using the Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning system properly, or if they are taking shortcuts that will mean a less-than-brilliant service.

How often do they change the filters?  The filters need to be checked at least once a week to make sure the system is purifying the water properly to get your windows truly clean.

How often do they check the quality of the water?  The water purity needs checking very week to get the best results, and the filters changed accordingly.

In what order do they clean the windows?  If they’re not cleaning the frames before the panes, the moment it rains your windows will get dirty again. 

There’s only one Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning system.  But not everyone using it is following the training as they should.  Make sure you ask the right questions to get the best results. 

Under pressure

We’re all under pressure these days.  Under pressure from rising prices.  Under pressure to look younger for longer.  Under pressure to make less money go further.

But there’s one area where you don’t need to be under pressure.  And that’s when it comes to getting your windows clean. 

A lot of people guess that with the Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning system, we have to use water at high pressure to enable us to clean windows up to six storeys high without leaving the ground.  I’ve had endless discussions with customers about this: “Of course you need high pressure!” they tell me.  “Otherwise you couldn’t get the water pumped all the way up to sixstoreys.”

But we don’t.  The Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning system uses water at the same pressure as rain.  Any stronger, and we’d risk damaging your windows. But at the same pressure as rain, it’s the perfect amount of gentle force to ease all the accumulated grime off your windows to leave them sparkling.

So if you’re feeling under pressure, relax!  Gentle pressure is all you need.

Providing quality for less

We all like our money to go further.  But very often saving money means compromising on quality.  So isn’t it great when you get a better product or service for less? 

Lots of companies promise more for less.  But I’m going to demonstrate to you why we really do deliver more for less. 

One of the larger buildings for which I have the contract for window cleaning is Belmarsh Prison.  Previously, the windows were cleaned by traditional window cleaners.  It took two of them, using ladders and buckets, 20 days to clean all the windows.  That’s 40 full working days. 

When Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning took over the contract, we instantly saved the prison service time and money.  If you don’t have to keep moving ladders, climbing up ladders and balancing at the top of ladders, you can clean a lot more windows in a lot less time.  A staggeringly lot more.  In a staggeringly smaller amount of time.  The total amount of time it takes us to clean the windows at Belmarsh? 1 person, 5 days.

That’s 5 working days compared to 40 working days.

What’s more, using the pure water system of Waterfed Pole Window Cleaning, those prison windows are cleaner than even before and they stay cleaner for longer.

If you like to get more for less, give us a call now!

01322 293831

Protecting your plants

With the truly awful summer that we’ve had this year, many of the gardens that I work in in Kent, Sussex and Surrey are enjoying colour much later in the year than usual.  If your plants are only just coming to their best, you’ll want to enjoy their blooms for as long as you can. Unfortunately, window cleaning and plants don’t always go well together. 

Picture the scene: Wisteria wandering along the walls.  An Albertine rose rambling over the porch.  Colourful wallflowers brightening the bed under the windowsill.  And then along comes your window cleaner, trampling on the wallflowers, clipping the wisteria as he positions his ladder and knocking the Albertine buds off with his bucket as he climbs. 

If the image is enough to make you consider living in gloom until the autumn, fret not!  There is a way to enjoy both clean windows and your garden.  The solution is Waterfed PoleWindow Cleaning.  Our ladder-less system means we can reach up to six storeys high from ground level, so there’s no risk of trampling on flower beds or knocking down climbers.  We deliver sparkling windows while respecting your garden. 

So you can enjoy your blooms, even if the rain returns and you have to admire from behind the comfort of your clean panes.