Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Clean rinse chems

Capital Roof Wash · Approved Exterior Cleaner

This might be a little off base from what your asking but in the past I had a horrible time with streaking windows after a house Soft Wash. The surfactant that many of us use seemed to leave streaks even after massive amounts of rinsing.

A few years back, a window cleaner who was looking to get into the roof cleaning business gave me a call to pick my brain. After talking with him for a few hours, the subject of streaking windows came up. He suggested soaking glass surfaces before starting the house wash cleaning. To this day, I never had a problem.

I would still be interested in hearing about results from AC's finishing rinse or Limonene from Bob @ Pressure Tek.

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I just bought some limonene from Bob. Didnt get to use it yet.

I used to promote that our house wash leaves windows virtually spotless. This was never a true statement. Now I promise 80%-85%. I tell them since Im using their water I can only get the windows as clean as their water will allow. If they want 100% they will have to upgrade to a professional window wash, which can average roughly $200-$250 extra depending on size.

We bought the start up window equipment from JRacestein. It was $500 for the portable filter and base model water fed pole. It makes an unmistakable difference on the windows, worth the extra cost to the homeowner. I don't have to explain away streaking windows anymore.

I tell people that most are satisfied with the windows after the house wash, but tell them "if your the type that would polish the rims on your Mercedes then you'll love having your windows professionally cleaned".

I was reluctant to spend bucks on a water fed pole, but it was worth it. For the longest time we didnt offer professional window cleaning service, but now we do. Im glad.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Ed, is that a di system?
I guess I'm wondering if chemicals will do what a di system will do. Also, for me the damage will be done if hard water dries on the glass. That could mean that all the rinse water I use would have to have a chemical rinsing agent or be di water. I dont thing that is really feasible. I have a feeling I may have abigger issue with hard water than some. Well I will be truing out my Limonene soon.

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Well water will give you worse results. Anything with a rinsing agent and water softener will help. Nothing will get it clean like a water fed system.

I don't know if what I have is DI. They said it worked so I bought it. it works!

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Interesting Ed, How long does a 200 or 250 window cleaning take you?

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

We bought a DI unit and Lisa love doing the windows.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Nice to see you here Jeff. Ed your new window system works through the screens? Ed how many Questions can I ask you a day?

-- Edited by Patrick G on Friday 20th of September 2013 07:26:21 AM

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Patrick G wrote:
Interesting Ed, How long does a 200 or 250 window cleaning take you?

About an hour. We dont get involved with pricing per windows. And we dont remove screens either.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Like Ray stated,...When I put my soap nozzle on, the first thing I aim at is the windows,..get them wet to begin with,... then soap,...then I rinse the windows free of the soap and during the wash we brush them,..keeping them wet the whole time until they're finally completed,..and moooove on! We never use well water,..we haul city water to every job,..then I know the quality of water I have to work with.

Do house washes in the morning hours when possible( Temperature the main factor here,..especially on gutters),..and rain is your friend during a house wash.

Jeff

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I'm interested in which systems Ed & Eric are using. Di seems more than sufficient to me. RO/DI seems like overkill and a waste of Waterbury that seems like what's for sale. I would love a fairly simple inline filter that did the job respectably. Also, my city water almost always leaves hard waterspots which is a pain on public commercial jobs with lots of windows. Maybe our glass guru can chime in.

John Aloisio · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We Pre wet windows, but in hot months it dries faster than u think. we use AC's bleach wash, which tends to help greatly. White vinegar works really well also for dried on SH streaks. We have the same unit from J Racenstein that Ed is talking about. It is a DI unit and pole. Works great! We upsell about 75% of the houses we wash to a window cleaning also. I charge anywhere from $5-$10 per window, outside only, and all the screens must be removed prior to us getting there. It turns the small $300 house wash into a $500 job quick. It only takes about 30-60 minutes depending on amount of windows, and one guy just drops back and does it. The other guy still has to wrap up the trucK, walk the homeowner around, get paid, etc...

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Window cleaning is a no brainer! We have a simple setup for J Racenstein, and like the guys said it goes quick. It can also help set you apart from the other guys if they don't even bid on that. If we don't sell them on the complete window cleaning (outside only) then we will prewet and hit with bleach wash on the way out.

Doug Rucker · Vender

I use Roof Snot as my soap for house washes as well as roof cleanings. I have discovered that Roof Snot will leave windows virtually spotless after rinsing. Even after the mix has dried on the window and in the 100 degree heat we get here. There have been a few times, in the final walk through, that I noticed mix had dried on a window and did not get rinsed promptly. this was usually from the Roof Guy hitting a spot and the mix bouncing off the roof and hitting a window, and we were done with the house wash part. Since everything was packed up we just grab the customer water hose and rinse it and it all comes off and the window is pretty much crystal clear.

Like Ed, We tell every customer, (if they do not want the windows cleaned) and it is in our contract, that Window Cleaning is not part of the proposal and that some spotting may occur depending on the hardness of THEIR water. But most customers are very happy with how the windows turn out, and in fact I have had a few cancel the window cleaning portion after we are done.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I still buy local, can't see spending all that money on shipping. If I could walk into a store and buy all this other stuff I would.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I haven't had the same experience with roof snot on Windows's. Can somebody send the link for the DI system your using from jracenstein.

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

http://www.jracenstein.com/item/167-4241/grafter-pole-24ft-composite-w-12in-head/default.asp?sort=dr4p3 this the pole

http://www.jracenstein.com/item/150-0365/pro-rinse-36in-di-system/default.asp?sort=eo06s DI filter

Cheap start up for a beginner system, a TDS meter can also be handy :)

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Zach. Perfect set up.
So these filters will have limited lifespan depending on the PPM of the source water. Window cleaning would be last item done and separate from rinse water. Any feedback on how long their lasting?

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

You could call J racenstein and they will know about your water and how long it could last.

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

6 to10 homes and size. Depends on how hard the water is.

Zach Maynard · Approved Exterior Cleaner

It depends on how bad your water is, our water is very clean so our filter has lasted all year.
Eric your water must be kinda gnarly?

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Zach Maynard wrote:
It depends on how bad your water is, our water is very clean so our filter has lasted all year.
Eric your water must be kinda gnarly?

PA stream water. Nothing but the best at A&E

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

JRacenstein confirmed that California has very high PPM compared to the rest of the country. They recommend the system be used where PPM is below 90. We are above 250. No wonder its so problematic for me. I still think DI is the may to go, I just need a larger more cost effective system.