So, I was doing storefronts over the holiday weekend, and it was cold. Teens and low twenties with snow blowing sideways. Do most of you still get out and work when your gear is coated in ice, and your step keeps sliding down the hill while you’re on it?
My pole was glazed in ice, and eventually the squeegee handle froze to the end of the pole and broke.
Does straight windshield fluid clean well? I was using a 50/50 mix.
I also want the sun to stay up longer. I have issues with detailing when it’s dark. It’s hard getting a full day in, and don’t like being in someone’s house after dark. It just feels weird even if they don’t have a problem with it.
What are your methods to get work done and survive the winter? 95% of my window work is residential, but being new, I don’t have the acorns to get through winter.
In regards to route work during the cold months.
I work into the single digits as long as it not windy.
I plan my route work during the heat of the day.
I use to start before the sunrise, but this year I’m starting close to 9-10am and complete the days route by 2-3pm
Residential work dies off once the snow and cold blow into town.
Hope that helps!
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Observation: you must be using a ton of water if your pole froze. I used poles down to -16 and never had a pole freeze like your describing. I can only guess you’re using too much water.
Here’s my 2 cents: Get squirt bottle, fill it with washer fluid. Dip your mop in your bucket (your bucket has soap in it right?) and wring that sucker out. Then
a) squirt washer fluid on your mop
or
b) fill your boab with washer fluid
and go to work. You’ll have soap still on your mop, the washer fluid will keep everything from freezing and you don’t have to worry about it sheeting on you.
The bucket for me was mainly just a place to defrost my mop. I tried mixing in washer fluid in my bucket but could never get the mix right. And even if it worked on most jobs, you’ll always have that one in a wind tunnel that will freeze your mix up. So going straight washer fluid was the best route for me.
But the guys from the frozen north might have better techniques.
Year one: it’s -16 let’s go to work!
Year four: it’s 20 let’s go to work!
Today: it’s in the 30’s but the wind is blowing… what do I HAVE to get done today?
what is washer fluid: water soap and methyl hydrate (methanol).
it is cheaper and more effective to use the ingredient that keeps the mix from freezing than paying for a dilluted mix.
add methyl hydrate to your regular mix. it evaporates quickly so don’t leave the mix open and be prepared to add more the colder it is. add straight methyl hydrate to your detail rag.
from titan labs:
Glass Gleam products don’t provide freeze protection. To reduce the freezing point of water to 0°F (-18°C) it is necessary that methanol be added to the water so the mixture is about 28% methanol and 72% water. For protection to -20°F (-29°C) you need 36% methanol and 64% water
When it’s too cold I just use windshield washer fluid, maybe a little soap but only a squirt for some suds. More than a squirt or two and it’ll freeze. (I prefer ecover, but have used dawn in the past)
I’ve done this down to about -10/-15 . I’ve also never had a pole freeze and I use the Garelick poles with the internal locks and the Ettore poles on occasion.
It definitely makes it harder when the snow/freezing rain is actively falling. No good for poles/ladders/sidewalks.
That said, we clean down to around 10 degrees, if it isn’t blowing or snowing hard. The shorter days make it harder, but people are pretty understanding about that. “I know it looks like midnight, but it’s really only 4:30.”
Temps of 20-25 are usually 50/50 mix. As you drop through the teens, the percentage of washer fluid has to increase. Also it depends on wind and sun. More wind evaporates the methanol, leaving you with frozen water. More sun means it can be 18 degrees and you don’t need washer fluid as long as the windows are in the sun.
Its not so much the cold as it is the wind during the winter months. Solid long underwear and a good warm vest will keep you warm in 15+degree weather and its not too bulky.
But the issues is on the windy days it cuts right to the core and starts freezing your solution much quicker than a non windy day.
The wind is a big factor , but in one center it could be blowing like crazy then on to the next an calm as can be. There are days when it’s just constant you know those days 25 with a wind chill factor of 0.
I agree with 50/50 …20-25. Although I never measure just pour if it freezes straight blue right on strip washer then add more to solution. The sun is definetly your friend in the winter .
Wood sticks are a must in the winter, an the Garelick sticks stay at one height cause they freeze . I have this one job we have different levels starts off @ 22’ -24’ each level we get done with 15 -20 minute break sticks inside to defrost.
Honestly for as long as I’ve been doing route work no one has ever complained about a bad job done on there windows in the winter ever.There more shocked that your out there cleaning them worried about the windows, and how they come out , So with that said detailing comes to a halt for the most part when it’s below 30. I’m not getting slowed up by playing hide the rag with gloves on. , but wasn’t always that way wasn’t as good when j first stated
I was told a long time ago by a old timer “good window cleaners don’t need rags”.
