Window cleaners

[debih]

Our window cleaner has cleaned our windows today. Allegedly.

I noticed this morning how filthy they were outside (the insides were cleaned yesterday) and when I came home from work I noticed the window cleaner lower down the lane. When I got home I was surprised to see that he hadn't been but guessed he was perhaps coming to us another day. So I cleaned the lounge window. Then I found his bill, saying he had cleaned the windows today, stuck in the letter box. Erm no - he hasn't been today or if he has he has made a rubbish job!

I have never really been particularly happy with him but he is the only cleaner that does our lane.

So - do I get rid of him and do the windows myself or email him to tell him that the cleaning is rubbish and to do it properly next time.

I could manage the downstairs windows myself (bay window at the lounge and then a sash window on the dining room and the kitchen) but I would need Mick to do the upstairs windows (3 sash windows on S's bedroom, one on L's and then two at the bathroom/utility - although they are frosted out so you can't really see if they are particularly dirty). Our windows are velux ones and Mick does them every now and again.

But I'm not sure how often he would need to go up the ladder to do them. And if it was very regularly would it just be easier to put up with the rubbish window cleaner.

So my question is do you clean your own windows outside or do you have a window cleaner? And if you do them yourselves, how often do you do them?

[JoM]

I do the insides, with my window vac. We only got a window cleaner last Autumn, and before then I used to clean the outside downstairs ones but the upstairs ones weren't done. John never got around to doing the first floor ones and we didn't have a ladder which would go up to the second floor so we did really need someone to do them for us. In all honesty though they were never really dirty. I never seemed to take much dirt off the downstairs ones when I did them, all very different from our old house when we lived on a main road and near to a dual carriageway and the water would be black
Our window cleaner is only a young lad, just out of college, and he's set himself up with this business and has a proper logo'ed van and a uniform. He's a really lovely young man, he knocked on the door one night to see if we needed a window cleaner so gave us a quote and we pay him £11 every 8 weeks and does a lovely job. We were quoted £15 by a company just after we moved in but they never bothered getting back to me when I contacted them.

[Fugitive]

Tell the Rubbish Window Cleaner, in a good way, that he's not doing a good job and keep him on hoping he takes notice and does them properly. You know you don't want to have to 'nag' Mick to get up that ladder every few weeks to do them

My windows are leaded and mullioned and tiny but my window cleaner does them every six weeks so I always make sure I've done the insides then I can tell if he's done a proper job.

[debih]

I shall wait and see what he says when he gets my email.

[meriad]

I used to have a window cleaner but since I cat proofed the garden he couldn't get in anymore unless I'm home to unlock the gates. So now I'm going to have to start cleaning them myself (and believe you me - they are in dire need of a clean!)

Jo, is the window vac any good? I've seen it advertised and it makes cleaning windows look so easy. Are you pleased with it?

[Ally]

We had a window cleaner when we lived in Duston that I had to tell after the third 'clean' that he wasn't doing a good job.

On the fourth attempt there was an improvement.

On the fifth attempt I noticed he lingered rather longer than necessary with his chamois leather at our bedroom window.

I asked him to clean the windows after I had done the school run and left for work.

On the sixth attempt he was lingering at the window again.

After a little 'chat' him and his chamois were never seen again.

[Kaz]

We have a window cleaner who comes to do the outsides every 6 weeks or so - he does a good job - but I do the insides myself. I've ummed and aahed over a karcher for ages - still thinking about it

[Ally]

Sorry..I got carried away with pervy pete the window cleaner I forgot to answer the original question.

I do the inside windows and we have the outside done every 6 weeks by a nice old chap who is very brave going up the ladder to the top of the house.

[miasmum]

We have a window cleaner who is fairly good to be honest. It has just gone up to £10 every 6 weeks.

I borrowed my sister in laws Karcher, I was very impressed. I don't do them that often though

[JoM]

The Karcher is wonderful, I use it a lot on the shower screen too. My parents bought one after trying mine as they have a lot of condensation on their windows in cooler weather which meant they needed to wipe the windows every morning and I don't think I've visited since they bought their's without them saying how brilliant it is