Window cleaners

[Trackman]

I had a rant about this tonight with some friends. Anyway, I'd like you to vote and give any thoughts....

 

[transportphoto]

I used to, and probably will again at some point, but I have to weigh up value for money. Right now? I don’t feel like I can justify £15+ every time to have cleaner windows.

 

[GusB]

I haven't seen my window cleaner for a few months. The last time I spoke to him he was explaining that the young lad that worked with him had moved on to a new job and he hadn't managed to get a replacement; it's taking him twice as long to do the round as a result. I did see his car in the village yesterday so I expect he'll be round in the next day or two.

I can't complain about the price - only £7, and he does a decent job. I'm fairly sure he'll be nearing retirement soon, so it'll be a sad day when he packs his ladders up for good. He must be the only person around here who still drives a "proper" Volvo estate!

 

[AlterEgo]

Our windows are cleaned by a private company which has a contract with the development. It’s part of our maintenance charge. We have no dealings with them (other than closing our windows!).

 

[Gloster]

I lived in my last place for nearly twenty years and never bothered, so the answer is really no. However, I am trying to keep the current place in reasonable order (I have someone in to do the garden rather than letting the brambles grow to above head-height), so I might get one for this place. Still, after fifteen months I haven’t got further than sticking a cleaner’s flyer on my pinboard.

 

[dangie]

Our window cleaner comes around every 5-6 weeks and charges £10. I used to do it myself but now I’m 72 would rather leave it to someone else. We chose the one we did as he still uses a ladder & shammy leather rather than the sponge on a stick most others use.

 

[DelayRepay]

Mine comes about every six weeks and charges £20. He's a local guy who lives round the corner and he uses the long poles. I think use of ladders is very rare these days is it needs a second person under working at height regulations?

I had to sack my previous window cleaner. He had a website and mobile app so you could book when you wanted the windows cleaning, rather than being tied to a set frequency. The problem was that every time I booked (and paid in advance) I got a message about an hour after the clean was due with some excuse about traffic, or rain, or broken equipment (despite there being no reports of traffic jams on the radio or any rain in the area...). I even had to raise a dispute through Paypal to get my money back after four failed attempts to book the clean.

 

[westv]

Every 6 weeks and £6 a time for us.

 

[pdq]

Ours is £7.50 every six weeks.
There's no way to clean the upstairs dorma windows other than with a long pole. When he was still using ladders he could do the 1st floor buy not the loft extension. The main disadvantage to the pole method is that the window sills no longer get a wipe.

 

[sannox]

In a flat whilst I could technically do it myself it isn't easy with the windows and it would involves getting on ladders in front of an open window and a big drop. Much easier to pay someone with the poles to come and do it and it's needed being on a busyish road.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Do it myself, though not very often. Can reach all panes from inside, just.

 

[AM9]

Yes, every 6 weeks for £20, (he also does the conservatory windows). Most cleaners around here use filtered water which leaves the windows cleaner for longer.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I used to, and probably will again at some point, but I have to weigh up value for money. Right now? I don’t feel like I can justify £15+ every time to have cleaner windows.

If only we weren't British exceptionalists and all had European style lean and turn windows it'd be easy to do it ourselves.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2023 ==

Mine comes about every six weeks and charges £20. He's a local guy who lives round the corner and he uses the long poles. I think use of ladders is very rare these days is it needs a second person under working at height regulations?

I had to sack my previous window cleaner. He had a website and mobile app so you could book when you wanted the windows cleaning, rather than being tied to a set frequency. The problem was that every time I booked (and paid in advance) I got a message about an hour after the clean was due with some excuse about traffic, or rain, or broken equipment (despite there being no reports of traffic jams on the radio or any rain in the area...). I even had to raise a dispute through Paypal to get my money back after four failed attempts to book the clean.

You're not in MK are you? As I briefly used a guy fitting that description. He was abrasively rude too.

 

[Ostrich]

Our window cleaner comes around every 5-6 weeks and charges £10. I used to do it myself but now I’m 72 would rather leave it to someone else. We chose the one we did as he still uses a ladder & shammy leather rather than the sponge on a stick most others use.

Identical charge and reasoning, although ours comes around every 8-10 weeks. He hasn't put his prices up since we moved in 7 years ago.

At our previous residence, a new-build Bovis-box house, all the window panes were decoratively divided into four segments by white PVC strips. Our window cleaner there used the sponge on a stick and succeeded in dislodging every strip, both upstairs and downstairs .......

 

[GRALISTAIR]

In the past yes but not anymore even though I have got older.

 

[DelayRepay]

You're not in MK are you? As I briefly used a guy fitting that description. He was abrasively rude too.

Yes I am. Probably the same guy. He sent me a threatening/abusive message on Facebook when I raised my dispute with Paypal.

 

[RuddA]

Our house builder used wooden window frames throughout the estate. The window cleaners always use the brush on the windowsill and the majority of houses now have lots of bare wood patches. My wife prefers to do ours as they can be cleaned from inside the house, and the windowsills are still perfect. I believe the cleaners here charge £15 for every 4 or 6 weeks.

 

[westv]

Identical charge and reasoning, although ours comes around every 8-10 weeks. He hasn't put his prices up since we moved in 7 years ago.

At our previous residence, a new-build Bovis-box house, all the window panes were decoratively divided into four segments by white PVC strips. Our window cleaner there used the sponge on a stick and succeeded in dislodging every strip, both upstairs and downstairs .......

That sounds like he was either very rough or the strips were very poorly fitted.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2023 ==

In a flat whilst I could technically do it myself it isn't easy with the windows and it would involves getting on ladders in front of an open window and a big drop. Much easier to pay someone with the poles to come and do it and it's needed being on a busyish road.

Isn't window cleaning included in your service charge?

 

[sannox]

Isn't window cleaning included in your service charge?

Nope. Hasn't been for any building I've stayed in.

 

[westv]

Nope. Hasn't been for any building I've stayed in.

Ok. I've only lived in 3 blocks of flats but only owned (and paid service charge on) one flat. Cleaning of the outside should really be a basic part of what you pay your service charge for.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes I am. Probably the same guy. He sent me a threatening/abusive message on Facebook when I raised my dispute with Paypal.

Yep, definitely the same one. I think he has mental health issues, he has form for abusing anyone who disagrees with him on anything. The reviews on various sites are enlightening!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Feb 2023 ==

FWIW I now use Spotless Window Cleaning and they're fine, if anyone wants an MK recommendation. It's easy enough to find and avoid the one above, I've never come across another that uses that method of payment/booking, all the others tend to do it by contract paid by direct debit.

 

[westv]

I'm sure I read somewhere that a large proportion of window cleaners are Jehovah Witnesses.

 

[johnnychips]

Mine abseil from the top of the building every two months or so; it is included in the service charge.

 

[GusB]

Mine abseil from the top of the building every two months or so; it is included in the service charge.

That reminds me - I once shared a flat that was on the 14th floor of a high-rise block, and every now and again they'd send people down in a cradle to clean the windows. It did lead to a rather embarrassing situation one morning...

 

[StoneRoad]

We did at our previous house, over the years we paid various sums for mostly good work, but by the time we moved out the frequency / quality of the cleaning wasn't satisfactory.
[both of us worked full time & were often away vounteering ...]

We moved "out of town" and now have no option but to DIY, or allow the rain to do it's thing, as the air out here is a lot cleaner than in town it isn't too much of a problem.
Sadly, I'm not good up tall ladders, so I do most of the downstairs ...

 

[sheff1]

Every 6 weeks, £7 a time for 12 windows, cash only. If we are not in he carries payment forward to the next visit.

He uses ladders, as do all the others I see doing houses in the area.

 

[westv]

Every 6 weeks, £7 a time for 12 windows, cash only. If we are not in he carries payment for ward to the next visit.

He uses ladders, as do all the others I see doing houses in the area.

Ours posts a printed note with bank transfer details through customer doors.

 

[dk1]

Got a lovely lady window cleaner who’s husband helps sometimes. Been doing my bungalow windows for which there are many & a conservatory for over 20 years now. Charges a mere £15 to do them every 4-6 weeks.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We have a long-established window cleaner who has only just increased his charge to £9.00 and he lives local to the area. As well as the windows, he wipes over the upvc sills as part of his service.. He comes every 5 to 6 weeks in winter and 4 to 5 weeks in the summer.

 

[Trackman]

We have a long-established window cleaner who has only just increased his charge to £9.00 and he lives local to the area. As well as the windows, he wipes over the upvc sills as part of his service.. He comes every 5 to 6 weeks in winter and 4 to 5 weeks in the summer.

I've found some wipe upvc sills and some dont