Window cleaner not doing a good job

amandacat

I've had a windows cleaner for about a year now, he comes every 6 weeks and uses one of those water fed reach poles so no ladders etc. My husband says he doesn't do a good job and I think he's probably right, after he came the other day there were still cobwebs outside an upstairs window.
I'm not normally in when he comes but I usually know he's been due to the water so I don't think it's one of these cases where he pretends to do them. Plus I was in when he came a couple of times back and the car was in the garage so he thought no one was in. I was shocked at how quickly did them, he was in and out of the garden in a couple of minutes before leaving a card in the door. I don't expect him to take ages for £10 but the whole house in less than 5 minutes seemed a joke.

Is this standard for window cleaners? Do I even need one at all... We went years without one and have seen little benefit over the last year.

Mr.Generous

we dont bother anymore, house has a really decent overhang so the windows avoid the worst of the weather. Probably do the upstairs about 3 - 4 times a year, twice by leaning out and a couple of times from a ladder where I give the frames a wipe down. Downstairs get done a bit more frequently. Tend to do them when I have the hose out from washing the car! I also stopped because I saw them doing it while I was off and the car was in the garage, less than 5 mins for the back of the house, 4 windows plus a 14'x8' conservatory - he must be the world record holder!!

Furts

amandacat wrote: »

Do I even need one at all... We went years without one and have seen little benefit over the last year.

Millions of people travel around in cars that never receive a wash. Their eyes are positioned perhaps 50-300mm from the car windows yet they are happy with a little bit of grime on the glass. This is a significant because here they are far closer to the glass than you would be in your home.

You do not need a window cleaner and where I live the rain keeps the windows clean, apart from the tops of some panes which are sheltered from the rain by overhanging roofs. Equally you may choose to have a window cleaner which is fine by me

This is a money saving site. I have not had a window cleaner in over 5 years and have saved over £1000 by making this decision. Be careful if you follow my example - I do keep the upvc clean every now and then because this is a requirement of typical upvc window guarantee clauses. (Countless people seem to be unaware of this point)

Kiran

If your window cleaner isn't doing a good job then tell them to Alpha Mike Foxtrot and get your own extending pole that connects to your outdoor tap. They cost under £20 and you know its been done. You may need to rig a chamois to the end of the pole I you are bothered by streaks.

karcher

I stopped having a window cleaner years ago. I resented paying the money when I was perfectly capable of doing them myself and doing a better job than the window cleaner.
All I can say is window cleaners are on a hell of a good hourly rate for very minimal outlay.

pollypenny

Do you all have vertical rain, then, if your eaves keep the windows clean?

We tend to have windy, wet days and the rain can be almost horizontal.

However, I wouldn't accept OP's window cleaner.

karcher

pollypenny wrote: »

Do you all have vertical rain, then, if your eaves keep the windows clean?

We tend to have windy, wet days and the rain can be almost horizontal.

However, I wouldn't accept OP's window cleaner.

We certainly don't! The rain here resembles yours unfortunately.