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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?

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 😃

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

The rain is my window cleaner !!!!

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....

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.

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.

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.

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

Mine uses a ladder and leathers the windows.

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.

Primrose53 Tue 29-Aug-23 19:19:51

Not any more. Ours has a van with purified water tank and uses a pole. Does a very good job for £14. That’s for 14 windows, large patio doors, half glass side door, panels in front door and large glass panes either side. Visits every 6 weeks.

He will also clean our white guttering when I ask.

eazybee Tue 29-Aug-23 19:12:25

I have a traditional window cleaner, who arrives with a ladder and a bucket. I won't say any more.

Gardenersdelight Tue 29-Aug-23 18:55:49

Yes old fashioned father and son team
Every 6to 8 weeks £18 including our conservatory
Only modern concession is I can pay by bank transfer if not about but they do prefer cash

GrannyGravy13 Tue 29-Aug-23 18:42:51

We have a traditional window cleaner as do our AC (same one as us for three of them) every three weeks. Reliable and polite.

tanith Tue 29-Aug-23 17:42:11

Mine is traditional uses a ladder and bucket. He does a good job but he’s so busy he only gets round about every 2/3 months which is fine by me. He does whole house back and front including window sills and patio doors which if open he does the inside for no extra charge he asks for £12 but I give him £15 he’s worth it,

MrsKen33 Tue 29-Aug-23 17:42:01

We do n’t have a window cleaner here. It would cost us a fortune. If the weather is bad, because we live so near the sea, our windows get covered in salt. Last winter, once or twice, it looked as if we had net curtains. We clean our windows very often,. DH does a marvellous job. For a few days we can even see out.

Hetty58 Tue 29-Aug-23 17:34:58

I can't find a traditional one here. They also clean gutters with a pole - absolutely no good when you have double storey extensions with gutters they can't reach. I have to get a 'specialist' (with a ladder) every year to do them. The windows are grubby until I do them myself.

Barleysugar Tue 29-Aug-23 17:29:04

Yes the old fashioned method, but £20 for about 10 minutes work.

SueDonim Tue 29-Aug-23 17:27:06

My window cleaner goes up a ladder to do the windows. I do see other people around using poles and water tanks, I didn’t realise they don’t make such a good job.

Grandmabatty Tue 29-Aug-23 17:22:02

Mine does 7 windows and 2 doors every month for £6. He uses soap and water and cleans it off with a squeedgy thing.

crazyH Tue 29-Aug-23 17:21:28

Same as Georgesgran- but £12

henetha Tue 29-Aug-23 17:16:18

The old fashioned way here and no problems at all. £10 . I recently reduced it from every 6 weeks to every 3 months. He cuts the grass as well.