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Window cleaning systems

(32 Posts)
kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 11:56:44

Has/is anyone using a Karcher window cleaning gadget? If so, is it any good, are there drawbacks?

The window cleaner came last week and charged £40 shock so a Karcher seems like a good investment. sunshine

Anne58 Fri 13-Sept-13 12:00:06

Heavens kitty shock how many windows do you have!

Ana Fri 13-Sept-13 12:01:56

I've been thinking of getting one of those Karcher things too. Bit confused about whether they wash as well, or just wipe dry...

kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 12:04:03

Not too many but lots are in difficult places to get at and those that aren't are tall. Then there's the conservatory on the roof which was his main problem and he refused to do inside grin

kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 12:06:18

That was in reply to phoenix and I don't quite know how I managed a grin rather than sad

Anne58 Fri 13-Sept-13 12:08:19

I have a 3 bed semi, French windows on to the garden, my window cleaner does the outside (I can manage the inside) and charges £10.

I have a steam mop that can be used as hand held as well, it has an attachment for doing windows but I found it made my arm ache.

kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 12:12:31

Mine used to charge £12 until we asked him to do the conservatory which involved climbing onto a flat roof. He uses a pole type thing but, since acquiring that, he isn't happy to do the insides as he has to revert to the old cloth and bucket method.

Would a steam mop work inside or would it drip too much?

Anne58 Fri 13-Sept-13 12:13:57

It should work fine inside, but you might have to wipe the bottom of the window. Have you checked on Amazon for the reviews?

kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 12:15:36

Duh! Good idea phoenix, thanks! smile

Nelliemoser Fri 13-Sept-13 12:39:12

Flipping heck you have expensive window cleaners. We have about 9 biggish windows a couple of small toilet windows and a patio door. This costs £5.50 a time.

Movedalot Fri 13-Sept-13 13:10:59

In my experience the cost of window cleaning has more to do with where you live then your windows!

Ana Fri 13-Sept-13 13:20:26

Anyway, that's beside the point....are these window-cleaning systems any good????

kittylester Fri 13-Sept-13 13:23:58

And the scarcity of window cleaners moved.

Movedalot Fri 13-Sept-13 13:27:33

No idea Ana! You didn't really expect any of us to stick to the point did you? This is Gransnet after all grin

Ana Fri 13-Sept-13 13:37:18

Well, no, of course not - but round here you can't get a window-cleaner for love nor money (not that I've tried the first, obviously!) and I'm fed up of smeary windows...sad

Sel Fri 13-Sept-13 13:38:47

I've got one of the Karcher window thingies and think it's wonderful. Bought a couple to give to children. You have to wash the windows as per norm but then use the Karcher to dry and they give an almost streak free finish. Speeds everything up.

Oh and son in law to be tells me it's very good at drying cars but that didn't impress me as I go to a car wash smile

I also pay £40 a time for outside but it's an eco cleaning system so the paint gets washed too - no ladders needed.

Sel Fri 13-Sept-13 13:39:57

I've got a Brazilian - window cleaner that is - cast your net wide Anasmile

Ana Fri 13-Sept-13 13:51:35

What - to Brazil??? hmm grin

Charleygirl Fri 13-Sept-13 13:52:39

I have a Karcher systm, used a couple of times and not used for ages. I would have preferred a longer handle because I cannot climb on anything to clean indoor windows and I cannot reach with the Karcher.

Window cleaners charge £10 for a 3 bedroomed house here and I live in London. I think that it is the same for indoor windows, £20 in total.

Riverwalk Fri 13-Sept-13 13:56:26

Hope he doesn't leave a landing-strip Sel grin

thatbags Fri 13-Sept-13 17:22:48

I have a bucket, a brush to soap with (squirt of Fairy in the hot water), some microfibre cloths, a squeegee, and ladders. The ladders are for the outside downstairs. Upstairs, in good Scottish tradition, the windows can be opened inwards to facilitate cleaning.

Chuckling at the idea of a window cleaning 'system'. In our house, I'm the window cleaning system.

shysal Fri 13-Sept-13 18:09:45

My window cleaning system is a double sided tool like this . It can be attached to a long handle if necessary. It gives a perfect finish in no time, simples!

Ana Fri 13-Sept-13 18:53:04

Ooh! I like the look of that, Shysal. Thanks! smile

Eloethan Sat 14-Sept-13 01:38:06

I've also got a Karcher as I could never get the windows streak-free. I didn't buy the water container accessory as I'd read reviews that said it was very fiddly and kept falling off. I wash the windows as normal and then the Karcher just "hoovers" up the water. I find it really easy and effective.

We pay £7 twice a month for our exterior downstairs and upstairs windows and front door to be cleaned, which I think is pretty good value for London.

kittylester Sat 14-Sept-13 07:38:51

bags, I suspect that even your determination and ingenuity would be tested by some of our windows grin

Thank you all for your input. I did all the ones I can reach with a microfibre cloth. Working on a method for the ones I can't. Maybe DH!