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Does anyone still have an old fashioned window cleaner?

(64 Posts)
DaisyL Tue 29-Aug-23 16:14:07

My window cleaner came yesterday - he arrives every six weeks in a van with a long hose and a brush on a pole he squirts water all over the windows and then leaves. They are 'clean' but covered in water spots. Do any window cleaners actually dry/polish windows any more?

Redrobin51 Tue 29-Aug-23 19:32:01

When our window cleaner first started he was a traditional window cleaner and did a marvellous job. Unfortunately about 4 years back he changed to the brush and pole method and it isn't as good. I don't stop him as we are both getting on with health issues and reliable window cleaners are a bit like hens teeth around here.

FoghornLeghorn Tue 29-Aug-23 19:33:02

Mine uses a ladder and leathers the windows.

Greta Tue 29-Aug-23 21:33:19

I have German windows that open in so I clean them myself. Not sure why windows in this country open out.

Franbern Wed 30-Aug-23 08:57:30

Getting a window cleaner for flats is more than difficult. I live on the first floor and am fortunate, we have one who does the windows of all ten flats on floors one and two. He used to use a ladder for First floor,but last year turned over to pole, etc. Does a great job, windows a sparkling when he does them (every six weeks).

He does use his ladder to climb up to my large walled balcony and does my very large patio window the old fashioned way. Cost for this plus the pole on the other four external windows is £18. But worth every penny. I manage to do the insides myself with a Karcher.

However those flats from third floor up have failed to to find any window cleaner to do them. Evidently those with the very high reaching poles are rare as that equipment costs a fortune.

Patsy70 Wed 30-Aug-23 09:14:33

midgey

I still have an old fashioned window cleaner, I think he does an excellent job at an excellent price.

Me too. He comes every 5 weeks, sending me a message the day before to confirm.

red1 Wed 30-Aug-23 12:01:16

up until 2005 there was an old fashioned window cleaner where i lived, he rode a bicycle with his ladders on his shoulder and bucket and leather perched on the end, also wore the blue jacket, think they called them jerkins? nowadays they drive fancy cars and it is money first....

JdotJ Wed 30-Aug-23 12:06:19

The rain is my window cleaner !!!!

rowyn Wed 30-Aug-23 12:09:06

My window cleaner started using the pole system years ago, when presumably it was quite a new thing. It always leaves droplets on the glass, which disappear, leaving the glass sparkling.
It was a real bonus, as the only way into the back garden is through the garage, so I needed to be there to unlock the door. However, with the pole system he was able to turn up at any time and climb over the flat garage roof if I wasn't in.

Kate1949 Wed 30-Aug-23 12:13:08

Yes. He's been this morning. A ladder and window leathers/cloths and a bucket. He will also clean out the gutters when asked.

Stella14 Wed 30-Aug-23 12:18:00

I still have a traditional window cleaner. He’s brilliant!

redchud Wed 30-Aug-23 12:24:43

The pole you all talking about is called a Reach & Wash system, my ex is a window cleaner, as are my 3 sons.
But mine never get done🤔 wonder why.. lol

Pammie1 Wed 30-Aug-23 12:25:21

Yep. Every four weeks. Two brothers who have a ladder and use an old fashioned bucket and leather. They clean and dry the windows and the frames too. Costs £15. In our last house we had a window cleaner who used purified water from a hose with a brush. The windows were always ‘spotty’ - I think the old fashioned ways are sometimes the best.

DeeDe Wed 30-Aug-23 12:55:40

Mine cleans with hose and brush, but find it does an excellent job, my windows are small, he charges £18 and will visit to suit last time he left it 3 months as they don’t get very dirty and always texts a week before when in my area to see if I want them done or left awhile.
I’m in the Kent area
I’m very happy 😃

Nannashirlz Wed 30-Aug-23 13:27:41

Yes its called me I’ve got a window vax so can still do myself

Gundy Wed 30-Aug-23 13:32:05

Has he never heard of a squeegee? He needs to buy one and use it and a ladder too for 2nd floor windows.

A GOOD window cleaner would never leave water spots. Get rid of him.
USA Gundy

knspol Wed 30-Aug-23 13:32:16

It's another brush on a pole job here, uses water from his own tank and look clean afterwards. Previous chap from same company used to be more careful and always brushed over sills and frames but not the one that comes now. So long as I don't have to struggle to do them it's OK by me.

Treetops05 Wed 30-Aug-23 14:15:35

Ours works like yours, but no water spots, they are pristine. My Mum used to have a 'proper' window cleaner with buckets and ladders, £20 only 4 years ago...

sharon103 Wed 30-Aug-23 14:28:32

There's not been a window cleaner around here for years.
My windows are tilt an turn so I do them myself

Witzend Wed 30-Aug-23 14:31:17

We do, he’s been coming for years. V nice chap with ladder and bucket. I won’t say he does them perfectly, but it’s better than we’d do them, i.e. probably not at all on the outside.
He will also clean out our gutters in the autumn/winter. He comes about every 5 weeks.

MaggsMcG Wed 30-Aug-23 14:37:49

My window cleaner uses a squeegee blade to finish the windows and they look just as good if not better than the one that used to polish with a cloth. He also wipes the window and door sills down too. For a small extra fee he will clear the gutters every Autumn too.

Saggi Wed 30-Aug-23 15:14:00

Yes …my window cleaner had a bucket of hot duds ….climbs the ladder and actually washes and squeegees and dries off….3 bed house with garage £14.

Bijou Wed 30-Aug-23 15:32:29

My widow cleaner uses the new method and the widows dry sparkling. He also does the frames and back door.
When I first married we lived in the top floor flat in a Victorian house . I used to sit on the outside sill to clean the windows.

4allweknow Wed 30-Aug-23 16:12:02

I have one in a van with a hose. The water he uses is termed "smart water" as it contains something that really cleans the glass, frames and sills. Leaves a lovely clean finish, no spots.

GrammaH Wed 30-Aug-23 16:41:22

Mine is the kind with his own van with water on board. He has a team working for him, services 3 counties & we pay by bank transfer. A far cry from a bike, bucket 10 bob & chamois leather i remember from my child hood.! The windows are left wet which seems to work OK. We've only had a window cleaner for the past 2 years since we had a garden room built with full length windows & bifold doors - we managed on our own for 40 years!

Alison333 Wed 30-Aug-23 16:58:00

I have an old fashioned window cleaner with a ladder. He washes and dries windows with cloths which he then hangs out on his van to dry in the sun!

Many neighbours seem to have ones without ladders, instead they have long poles which splash water everywhere. I think I prefer old fashioned.