How do you clean 2nd floor sash windows without falling out of the window?

missile

CakeCrusader wrote: »

Thank you for all of the ideas!



They don't hinge, sadly. It's a Victorian house with the original windows, the bottom slides up, the bottom slides down, and that's it. I'd looked at magnetic gadgets last night but the panes of glass are the original panes and rather thin so it's a bit risky. I've looked at sticks and I can't find one that's long enough. I'll keep looking for a window cleaner.

My first (Victorian terraced) house had single pane sash windows which were hinged. The frame could be moved, but only after we removed several layers of old paint. You might be able to modify yours? https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=4FA5198484FAB4A624957913452A48D84DD888B2&thid=OIP.lXM1qn4hAenJpkpj08a76wAAAA&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fc0%2F18%2F08%2Fc018086d823fab7b56573b025a361074.png&exph=471&expw=314&q=old+sash+windows&selectedindex=112&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0

Fire_Fox

I have an upper floor city centre flat, with more fixed pane windows than inward opening windows.

There are U-shaped telescopic window 'mops' listed on Amazon and eBay - two basic models - that allow you to clean the exterior of fixed panes from the inside. Both models have a microfibre pad head and a squeejee head; one pole has more adjustable elbow joints than the other.

Awkward and uncomfortable to use but effective with practice. I cannot get a perfect streak-free finish, but my windows are the cleanest in the block. :cool:

knightstyle

My 80+ year old gran used to clean her old sash windows by sitting on the window ledge with her body outside and her legs inside while I, as an 8 to 10 year old held onto her legs "just in case".
Don't know what modern Health and Safety would think of it though!

PasturesNew

I asked a window cleaner "how much for a one off clean" when he was 2 doors down, he wanted £30... I scuttled off....

I bought an extending pole set from Homebase, others are available. I just do it slowly and possibly twice. Just don't rush it. Think "I'm paying myself a high hourly rate here, so do a good job".

My pole took a hosepipe, but, in all honesty - I got in a right muddle with it. I did think it'd be better to use a high powered "pump action" big kids' water pistol to wet them and just use the pole to squeegee it off.

jk0

knightstyle wrote: »

My 80+ year old gran used to clean her old sash windows by sitting on the window ledge with her body outside and her legs inside while I, as an 8 to 10 year old held onto her legs "just in case".
Don't know what modern Health and Safety would think of it though!

Ha ha. Grannies were hard core back in the day.

rammy007

You could try one of these water fed window cleaners from aldi https://www.aldi.co.uk/water-fed-window-cleaner/p/084667297743500.
The only thing with them we found it best to wear some waterproofs when using it,we used one on a hard to reach bedroom window.

pollypenny

knightstyle wrote: »

My 80+ year old gran used to clean her old sash windows by sitting on the window ledge with her body outside and her legs inside while I, as an 8 to 10 year old held onto her legs "just in case".
Don't know what modern Health and Safety would think of it though!

Ah, I remember women doing that when I was a child.

CakeCrusader

missile wrote: »

My first (Victorian terraced) house had single pane sash windows which were hinged. The frame could be moved, but only after we removed several layers of old paint. You might be able to modify yours? https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=4FA5198484FAB4A624957913452A48D84DD888B2&thid=OIP.lXM1qn4hAenJpkpj08a76wAAAA&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fc0%2F18%2F08%2Fc018086d823fab7b56573b025a361074.png&exph=471&expw=314&q=old+sash+windows&selectedindex=112&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0

They are well stuck by 100 years worth of paint, sadly. Shame really.

CakeCrusader

PasturesNew wrote: »

I asked a window cleaner "how much for a one off clean" when he was 2 doors down, he wanted £30... I scuttled off....

I bought an extending pole set from Homebase, others are available. I just do it slowly and possibly twice. Just don't rush it. Think "I'm paying myself a high hourly rate here, so do a good job".

My pole took a hosepipe, but, in all honesty - I got in a right muddle with it. I did think it'd be better to use a high powered "pump action" big kids' water pistol to wet them and just use the pole to squeegee it off.

I have a jet washer. I could stand back and hope for the best. :eek:

CakeCrusader

knightstyle wrote: »

My 80+ year old gran used to clean her old sash windows by sitting on the window ledge with her body outside and her legs inside while I, as an 8 to 10 year old held onto her legs "just in case".
Don't know what modern Health and Safety would think of it though!

Your granny's a very brave lady! I had to lean out so I could paint one of them, it was terrifying even though my feet were inside. I couldn't reach too far. There's a gap in between the panes when I open them so if I can find something thin I may be able to clean the bottom half, maybe.