What do I need to get started in pure water?

Besides traditional methods students of the school get classroom and hands on training with pure water and wfp. In the school we use my Gardiner 30ft SL-X and the Pro Rinse DI  from RHG.
One thing they always want to know is "how expensive is it to get started"?
The answer is always the same - "It depends".
Why that answer? Because the students may come from areas where their TDS (total dissolved solids) might be low or high. There is also the matter of how much they intend to use pure water in their business to begin with. So I thought it would be good to put out a couple suggestions on a couple basic set ups for filtration and poles so you could see the possibilities of using pure water in your business.

Poles
I have used a variety of poles in my business. I have also tried out many others at networking events and window cleaning conventions. Thru all that one line stands out for me - Gardiner. It's the official pole of the school because I believe in it and have found it to be the best for me and my business
Here are my suggestions on which pole to get depending on the level of use
Up to 2 stories residential
For this area of use the 18ft CL-X line is perfect. It has a 22ft reach and is just under 2 1/2 LBS

Occasionally 3 stories residential
At this point you could go with the 27ft CL-X with a reach of 31ft and just under 4 LBS

Keep in mind also that with the Gardiner line you can add sections as needed. This means you can start with the 18 and work up to the 27 as you grow.

Regularly 3 stories residential 
At this point you will really want a lighter and stiffer pole that's where the SL-X line comes in
The SL-X 25 has a reach of 30ft and weighs just over 3 LBS
That is basically the same reach as the 27ft CL-X and a pound lighter. Over time that will save you energy and strain.

Commercial work
If you are going to be doing commercial work of any size I recommend you get the SL-X line to start with. The lighter weights at stiffer material will pay off quickly for the tradtionally larger amounts of windows you will be doing.
As you choose your pole length remember that generally speaking a residential building has 10ft for every floor while a commercial building tends to be 12ft per floor. Factor that into you purchase decision

Pure Water Systems
I have also used in demos or owned a variety of purification systems. If you are using pure water occasionally you can get by with just DI even in high TDS areas. For moderate to heavy use in areas where your TDS is over 100 I recommend multi stage filtration. Whichever you go with a simple prefilter for rust and sediment (at least 5 micron) is what I recommend. You can buy one at any hardware or home center. There are of course running costs with either choice like new DI resin, carbon media, and RO replacement (after a few years of use). Here are my suggestions -

DI only
Pro Rinse is easy to move and or leave in your vehicle. I have found it very useful in the school and it's low price makes it ideal for beginners. Some will argue that a 1/2 Cube DI tank filters more water but the time it takes to change out spent resin compared to removing the cartridge on the Pro Rinse and refilling it on the job can't be underestimated.

RO/DI
Multi stage systems can be as simple as 3 components - Carbon filter (to protect the RO from chlorine), Reverse Osmosis membrane (removes up to 98% of the TDS), and DI filter (for getting the water to 000TDS)
In my opinion the H2Pro provides these in great balance. A pump is necessary to get the optimum pressure for RO efficiency. It's up to you to decide if 115v or 12v is best for your area. The H2Pro can be purchased with optional pumps in those categories or with them already attached.

Odds and ends
Besides these you'll need a TDS meter, garden hose to bring water to the system and hose to run the water from your system to where you be using the pole on the building.

So depending on how high you are going, your TDS, and the frequency you choose to use the equipment you can get started as low as $500-600 for the pole and purification. However the safety and speed of using pure water earns that back quickly.



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What do I need to get started?

This is a fairly common question. So I figured it would be good to put together a starter kit that was as comprehensive as I could. I know there are a few starter kits out there but they all leave out what I consider vital tools to get started in the business. Now with the help of J Racenstein I have put together two kits (one for those who want to go with wide body squeegee channels and one for standard channels) for a student to choose from. While they cost more than other kits they will give you everything in one purchase that you need to do the job correctly from job one!

Check them out HERE



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Custom Made Curriculums

I had a student last week that had a couple years of experience in window cleaning but was looking to expand into pure water cleaning. That was no problem since I attempt to cater the curriculum of the school to the individual students needs. Ryan and I spent the day mostly working on the pure water side of the school but as we talked he was surprised by how there were a few specialty tools and techniques for traditional cleaning that could be a great benefit to him as well.
The end result was another happy student who is ready to expand his business because he took the time to get some specialized training. And the best part is that I'm finding even more joy in my profession as I see window cleaning anew in the students as they learn new things. It's keeping it fresh for me as well and for that I say Thank You!

                          

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New tools for Mister Squeegee U!

I recently received a 30ft SL-X Gardiner pole and Pure Rinse DI system for the school. These will be the training tools for the water fed pole portion of the hands on training.

In testing out the pole today I was very impressed with the brush sent with the pole. I have always liked the Tucker water fed pole brush for it's great features like the amount of water it holds and it's scrubbing power. I found today what has now become my new favorite brush.

I'm sure students will appreciate the tools as much as I have.
Thank you Reach Higher Ground and Gardiner Pole Systems for supporting Mister Squeegee University so generously.


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How was the 1st class of Mr Squeegee U?

I wanted to congratulate Mike Clabaugh of Stanhope, Iowa for becoming the first graduate of Mister Squeegee University. He was an excellent student who came prepared with many questions and a listening ear. 

How did it go? Truth be told we had a rough start as he had to drive 3 hours though the snow that morning to get here. As if that wasn't bad enough when the snow stopped we had 30 mph winds in the afternoon which mad our hands on part of the course limited. Undaunted Mike simply asked to come back another day to do some more hands on. His eagerness to learn made me appreciate window cleaning all over again.

I'd also like to express that I wasn't sure how well I'd do. As the time drew nearer I had those nagging thoughts of will I be able to impart anything valuable to him and will my communication style work in the classroom. In the end we both gained quite a bit from the experience.  

Here's what Mike had to say about the school - 

Very good, informative, good school teaching.

Recommend to anyone that wants to learn window cleaning.

100% good school

Mike also was very pleased with his tools from our generous sponsors J Racentstein, RHG, and The Bull Ring by Dave Guitterez.

I've posted a few pictures of the classroom session.

   

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Generous supporters

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the manufacturers and vendors who are donating to the students and school. Because of their generous spirit the student walks away not just with some education but also a good amount of tools to start their new endeavor as a professional window cleaner.
From J Racenstein the student gets a great starter kit that includes a 6 gallon rectangular bucket w/ lid, 14" fixed handle squeegee and complete stripwasher, 3 extra squeegee rubbers, microfiber and huck towels for detailing, BOAB (bucket on a belt), and a nylon window cleaning belt.
Besides donating all the equipment necessary to do the wfp demo portion of the class RHG products is also giving each student a handheld TDS meter so they can test the tap water in their area to help determine what stage of filtration they might want to start with.
Also Dave Guitterez has donated 6 Bull Ring towel holders for the first 6 students of the school.
Each student will receive a bottle of Mr Squeegee's Hard Water Stain Remover as a gift from me as well.
When totaled the amount of these donations represent over half the enrollment fee of Mr Squeegee U.
Thanks again to our generous supporters for seeing the value in this school and it's future students!



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Every journey starts with a first step.

This school is intended to be a first step. Every student will leave not only with tools, hands on experience, and classroom instruction but also with a list of resources for ongoing instruction. This way they can continue learning and developing the new skills needed to become the best professional window cleaner they can. I will also set up a Google+ and Facebook group for after class support.
So far we have generous support from J. Racenstein, Dave Guiterrez, and RHG products. Their donations add value for the students and help them with the needed tools to get started on their journey to becoming a professional window cleaner. I want to thank all the sponsors for their support!


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