How To Clean Outside of Upstairs Windows From Inside?

AfxTwn

Hi, I want to clean the outside of my upstairs windows as there isn't really any access to my backyard for a window cleaner other than to go through the front of the house. I don't want to buy a ladder as I wouldn't feel safe on one that high up and have nowhere to store it.

I have watched a couple of videos that suggest there is a latch on the inside of the top and bottom window frames near the sliding mechanism but mine don't appear to have anything like this and instead, the section that does slide eventually butts up against a small metal stopper that is part of the metal frame and the other side is permanently held in place and doesn't move (the section nearest the hinge). Perhaps some photos will do a better job of explaining.



The section where the rusty screw is has a little metal U-shaped piece that seems loose but won't come out or move anywhere and I am not sure if it did, how that would allow me to move the window to be able to clean the outside.

You can see on the first photo, in the middle of the two arms that allow for the sliding, there is the little metal bump that I mentioned that stops the slide from continuing any further, there is another bump like this just at the end/under the larger black plastic static piece that the two metal arms are attached to. This stops that end of the mechanism from moving at all.

It seems like this window isn't designed to move beyond opening it any there is no mechanism in place for opening it further for cleaning.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to clean these windows or if there is indeed a way to open them further to create access? At the moment, I can possibly reach the outside of the window next to it (the middle window as there are two of the openable windows at either side) with a squeegee on a pole but I can't get to the outside of the the two open windows.

Thanks for any suggestions and sorry for the long post.

TadleyBaggie

One of these maybe:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=magnetic+window+cleaner&adgrpid=55672683480&hvadid=259087221322&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9192516&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16465118316905707280&hvtargid=kwd-295701543359&hydadcr=18483_1816604&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_mwhnpgqpd_e

kimwp

I can't follow what you have written, but your hinges look like mine.
1. Open window using handle until you can put your hand round the window frame where you can see my neighbour's door.

2. Push the window across

kimwp

3, clean the opening mechanism - over time, the dirt/grit will cause it to wear and the window won't sit flush to the frame. (I need to do this too)

MysteryMe

I know the sort of hinges you mean, I don't think they come as standard so you may not have them. Maybe try the magnet system already suggested or perhaps a better quality telescopic window cleaner.

AfxTwn

Thanks very much for the replies. I have since found out that the metal frame bit and mechanism as a whole is referred to as a hinge or friction hinge and my particular one is made by a company called NiCo (I think their name/logo is visible in the top picture I used). Anyway, it turns out there are many different hinges but lots of windows have a Easy Clean Egress hinge which are made by lots of different companies, not just NiCo. These hinges are the ones shown in videos showing that you can simply press a button or easily move a latch out of the way to release the window and allow it to travel/slide further along the track/frame, thereby gaining you better access to the outside of the window for cleaning.

I think unfortunately for me, my windows just have a standard/basic hinge that doesn't have this feature. The hinges can be replaced though and are very inexpensive, around £10-20 for a pair (you need one for the top and one for the bottom of the window, or each side depending on how your window is fitted). There is a video I have seen on YouTube showing the replacement process which seems relatively easy as it's just undoing three screws that attaches each hinge to the window frame and then taking the window off, unscrewing the screws that attach the hinge to the window itself and then swapping over for the new Easy Clean hinge and refitting to the frame. However the windows themselves are going to be very heavy and require care, especially when handling them from upstairs so I think I am going to see if I can get a handy man I know to help fit them.

The magnetic window cleaner TadleyBaggie linked to looked like a good idea but I have some Anti-Solar window film (to help reduce heat from the sun during summer months) and I am not sure if these magnetic cleaners might damage the film. Seeing as the Easy Clean replacement hinges are very cheap, I think I will get some of those instead.

FreeBear

AfxTwn said: The hinges can be replaced though and are very inexpensive, around £10-20 for a pair (you need one for the top and one for the bottom of the window, or each side depending on how your window is fitted). There is a video I have seen on YouTube showing the replacement process which seems relatively easy as it's just undoing three screws that attaches each hinge to the window frame and then taking the window off, unscrewing the screws that attach the hinge to the window itself and then swapping over for the new Easy Clean hinge and refitting to the frame.

Replacing hinges on a window is never straightforward or easy. The hinges come in different "stack heights", and lengths. The screw holes never line up unless you get an exact match.. And the windows are darned heavy unless you can remove the glass first.

Oh, and if the screws are heavily rusted, they could snap as you try to undo them (had that happen with an aluminium frame).

bex2012

How to clean the outside.

Open one half of the window as far as it will go.
Sit on the window sill and lean out to clean the closed half of the window. Wrap a cloth around something like a dishwashing brush or a squeegie to get in far side corners. Dry/polish off. Car cleaning waterless wash is good for this.
Repeat for the other half of the window.
Get a pack of Jcloths and a old toothbrush and clean all the grooves/edges all round the inside of the window frames where the hinges sit - that dirt and crud will block up the windows from opening and closing properly.

kimwp

AfxTwn said:

Thanks very much for the replies. I have since found out that the metal frame bit and mechanism as a whole is referred to as a hinge or friction hinge and my particular one is made by a company called NiCo (I think their name/logo is visible in the top picture I used). Anyway, it turns out there are many different hinges but lots of windows have a Easy Clean Egress hinge which are made by lots of different companies, not just NiCo. These hinges are the ones shown in videos showing that you can simply press a button or easily move a latch out of the way to release the window and allow it to travel/slide further along the track/frame, thereby gaining you better access to the outside of the window for cleaning.

I think unfortunately for me, my windows just have a standard/basic hinge that doesn't have this feature. The hinges can be replaced though and are very inexpensive, around £10-20 for a pair (you need one for the top and one for the bottom of the window, or each side depending on how your window is fitted). There is a video I have seen on YouTube showing the replacement process which seems relatively easy as it's just undoing three screws that attaches each hinge to the window frame and then taking the window off, unscrewing the screws that attach the hinge to the window itself and then swapping over for the new Easy Clean hinge and refitting to the frame. However the windows themselves are going to be very heavy and require care, especially when handling them from upstairs so I think I am going to see if I can get a handy man I know to help fit them.

The magnetic window cleaner TadleyBaggie linked to looked like a good idea but I have some Anti-Solar window film (to help reduce heat from the sun during summer months) and I am not sure if these magnetic cleaners might damage the film. Seeing as the Easy Clean replacement hinges are very cheap, I think I will get some of those instead.

Have you tried what I suggested?

AfxTwn

@kimwp Unfortunately I can't do this as the window can't be moved along the track at all. The side you show in your photo (near your opposite neighbour's door), well on mine, this won't move at all and is in a fixed position near to the edge of the frame. There is a small gap which I can get my hand through a bit but as the window won't move along the track, I can't open it wide enough to get my arm through. On my hinges, there are small metal bumps sticking up, one near the side with the handle (this side can move along the track to facilitate the window's opening arc until it hits the bump) and one right next to the large black fixing near the edge of the window. As this butts right up against the bracket (or whatever it's called), it doesn't allow for any movement (see photos on my first post).

@bex2012 I honestly wouldn't feel safe doing this and wouldn't be able to reach the outside of the open windows anyway due to the angle they open at, even with a pole or something similar. Plus I don't think I would get a good-enough clean (they are very dirty from years of never being cleaned and large trees at the back).

@FreeBear I take your point and I have read about stack heights etc so would need to get the right size hinge and then either have new holes drilled into the frame to accomodate the screws if they don't line up or hope I can get exactly the right size hinge and screwhole placement on the new hinge as the one's I would be replacing. That is why I was thinking of getting the NiCo brand hinges (same make as the current hinges). The handyman I know does fit windows and doors etc and I feel confident he would be able to replace the hinges for me and advise which ones to get. Plus with two of us doing it, one can take the weight of the window and the other do the screwing/unscrewing. He does have some ladders that he can bring anyway if it's easier from the outside.

At the moment I think replacing the hinges is my best bet.

fluffymuffy

It looks like an escape window. With the hinges giving maximum width for escape.

If you replace the hinges make sure it still opens wide enough to be an escape window in case of fire. At least 450mm clear opening.