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NOW CLOSED: Let’s talk cleaning windows: Win one of two top of the range Karcher WV 70 Window Vacs (£99.99) for your thoughts...

208 replies

AnnMumsnet · 19/06/2013 11:38

We've been asked by the team at Kärcher to find out your thoughts on cleaning windows - inside and out. They'd also love to get your feedback on the idea of their Window Vac.

Kärcher say "With Kärcher Window Vacuums you can save time when cleaning smooth surfaces such as windows, tiles and mirrors - without leaving streaks. The innovative water recovery system takes up dirty water before it drips - and it can be used anywhere because it is battery-operated!"

So please let us know on this thread......

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

Add your thoughts and you'll be entered into a prize draw where two MNers will each win a Kärcher Window Vac worth £99.99 (top of the range one Grin)

Thanks, MNHQ

OP posts:
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pdb · 19/06/2013 12:09

A window clearner cleans the outside I clean the inside usually when they turn up.

The window cleaner comes every 4-6 weeks weather dependant. I clean the windows downstairs the day they come, but upstairs every few months.

I've never really noticed how long it takes. I suppose an hour is the most I would want to spend on the task. Main problem is getting all the kids handprints off and the cats weird slobber and fur combo. Also no matter what I do its really streaky afterwards, it looks clean, but like one of the kids cleaned it :-(

Never heard of Karcher window Vac. I would love to try it because I would like a better result and I would like to be in control of when the windows are cleaned outside, e.g before we have visitors. I would most certainly use it to clean the huge tiled wall in my bathroom as its so daunting doing it by hand that it rarely gets done. If possible I would also try it on the kitchen cupboards as they have streaky marks that I just can't get rid of.

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PiHigh · 19/06/2013 12:18

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Um, I give the insides a clean every now and again. Dh will do the conservatory windows (in and out) and the outside of the downstairs windows. The outsides of the upstairs windows never get cleaned Blush.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
OMG I have no idea Blush. Not nearly as often as they should. I'll give them a wipe if I'm cleaning near them iykwim. Outside maybe a couple of times a year for the ones we can reach.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Main problem is reaching the upstairs windows outside, particularly the one above the conservatory. Also the one at the front never gets clean. It wasn't looked after by the previous owner so a lot of the dirt on the white bits won't come off and we're near a road so they soon get mucky.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Never heard of it. Would consider giving it a go. Would like something that didn't leave streaks. Main problem though would be that I still couldn't reach the hard to reach windows so not sure having the insides gleaming would be much of an improvement.

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YoniMatopoeia · 19/06/2013 12:21

I have seen the advert for the vac, and LOVE the concept. I clean inside, the outside gets done rarely, though we are looking for a window cleaner who is allowed onto the base.

I guess the inside ones get cleaned about once a month. I would do it more frequently if it were easier.

It would also be great for our tiled bathroom. Would it do the car windows too?

The time it would really really be of use to us is when we have to 'march out' of our property. There are standards of cleanliness that we have to adhere to and streak free windows is one of them.

I always struggle with streaks.

I would love to try one.

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HappyHippyChick · 19/06/2013 12:26

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I have a window cleaner who comes and does the outside and the insides rarely get done Blush

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
The outsides every six weeks or so, the insides maybe once every two years double Blush

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I have recently taken on a cleaner (who doesn't do windows) but now I have extra time I reckon that I would be prepared to spend maybe an hour a fortnight...

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I have heard of the Window vac, I saw them for sale in B&Q, I did pick one up, but couldn't really justify the cost. I would love to try one out, I have internal doors with glass in and they constantly have sticky finger marks on them (4 kids, including 2 toddlers!) and I have a massive patio door as well that always looks a state!

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kat200 · 19/06/2013 12:31

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
i clean the windows inside i pay for them to be cleaned outside

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
every two weeks

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
if i have had flowers on the sill i find sometimes the pollen off the flowers smudge on making it bit harder than normal to clean, normally spend two hours doing all windows, i use news paper as i think it really good for not leaving streaks but the ink can sometimes stain the plastic around the window.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
i would try one but i hear so many things aboout javing to still go over and dripping down onto stills also i would also like to use on my shower but my shower is half oval shape and do not think this would work

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Spirael · 19/06/2013 12:45

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
We do the inside, we have someone that comes to clean the outside. Mostly because the house is three storeys and we can't reach the top windows!

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Outside is every two months, inside is whenever I notice they're getting grubby and have time to do something about it!

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I'd like to spend no time at all, because we never seem to have enough time in the day! But realistically, I guess I could incorporate it into the weekend cleaning blitzes and spend a few minute in each room on the windows more frequently.
The problems I tend to encounter are that my arms get tired, stretched above my head using a window cleaning spray, a cloth and some elbow grease. I also go through a lot of cloths, in fact I usually run out and have to wash and dry some before I can finish.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Not heard of one before, but sounds interesting. It certainly sounds a lot quicker and more efficient than my current window cleaning method.
Aside from the windows, I'd probably have a go at using it on the shower screens as well.

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Tee2072 · 19/06/2013 12:49

I pay for the outside once a year or so and do the inside once in a blue moon.

I have never heard of the vac. Sounds like a gadget that doesn't do much. Not that I wouldn't like to win one and be proven wrong.

Grin

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ouryve · 19/06/2013 13:04

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

Usually me, but if i want outside doing, I kick DH up the bum, as i can't reach the top of the downstairs ones without a step.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
When I can't stand them any longer. Inside far more often, as I am Pob's mother.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
As little time as possible. Can't clean them in front of Pob, any more, as he gets them filthy again, immediately.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
We've seen them in the shops. Wondering how good they'd be at washing the car!

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dahville · 19/06/2013 14:11

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I am the only one who would even think of doing them, inside or out!

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside - about 3 times a year or as needed in the case of patio doors where little fingerprints can be seen.
Outside - the upstairs windows never (unless I can stick my hand out and do one side), the downstairs get done twice a year

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Inside - two hours every two months
Outside - two hours twice a year!
The biggest problem is doing the upper level

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I've seen the commercial for it but never tried one. I've wondered what the difference is, really, from my hand held steam vac - why bother buying another appliance when an existing one will do?

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reggiebean · 19/06/2013 14:34

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Cleaner cleans the inside of the back doors... Think the other windows just cleaned as when I notice them, really! Outside never get cleaned Blush

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Back doors, once a week, inside only. Outside... never?

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I think we would do a full clean, inside and out, maybe twice a year? The windows are quite tall, and we have a skylight that you would have to get on the roof to clean, so that may just be left for the rain to clean off Grin

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Seen it on telly adverts, don't own one. Would give it a shot, but seems a bit weird... Like a vacuum for your window? Would probably be good for bathroom tiles and the like, just depends on how heavy and bulky it is to carry around, and how easy (or difficult) it is to use.

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BornToFolk · 19/06/2013 14:41

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

I'm the only adult so I do them. I really need to find a reliable window cleaner to do the upstairs ones though!

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Not nearly often enough! I've been in my house 3 years and only got the outsides done last month Blush Insides are done as and when needed.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

As little as possible as I hate doing it. They never look properly clean, all smeary and horrible no matter how much I polish.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

Yes, I saw a TV advert and immediately wanted one! I think it looks like an easy and efficent way of cleaning windows and shiny surfaces. If I had one I'd use it on all the windows and also the big mirror in the living room that always looks smeary.

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Waswondering · 19/06/2013 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cambam2010 · 19/06/2013 15:39

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I do not have a window cleaner. I have considered employing one but do not feel that I can justify the cost. I live in a fairly modern house (11 years old) that has 'easy clean' windows that open wide enough for me to perch on the window sill and lean out to clean the outside (not ideal and the top corners usually get missed).

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
I do not like cleaning windows. I cannot get streak free glass. Therefore I only clean them when I absolutely have to, which is usually when the sun is shining and showing up all the dirt (so not very often at all in the UK)

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
If I had the time (when my son is elsewhere) I would be able to dedicate a couple of hours to the task. Possibly an hour for outside and an hour for inside. That would have to include all the preparation and cleaning of plastic etc. This would probably only be on a fortnightly basis in the summer, maybe once a month in the winter.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I had not heard of the window vac, and do not therefore own one. I'd love to give it a go. It would be good to get into a more regular window cleaning routine because the rooms always feel so much lighter and airier with clean windows. I have mirrored wardrobes in my house that are a pita to clean and sliding patio doors that either have finger smudges all over the bottom half or cat food/snot smeared on them. The shower doors could also do with a clean.

I like gadgets that are useful in more then one area. This window vac has potential to be used in various rooms.

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Reastie · 19/06/2013 18:28

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

We have a window cleaner do the outside and we do inside (I say we, it's pretty much always me, but occasionally DHH does a window)

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Out about every 6 weeks. Inside is whenever it looks like it needs doing not as often as I should

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

The less time the better. No major problems to cleaning the inside windows. The outside ones require a ladder, hence why we get window cleaners in to do it for us.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I think I've seen it on a shopping channel before but have never tried it. I would be really interested to try it. I like the idea of no mess to clean windows and it's a gadget that would make the job easier and more fun . I imagine it also would be useful to use on the car windows and the shower too and possibly internal mirrors??

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Dontbugmemalone · 19/06/2013 18:39

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

I do it mostly, although sometimes DS1 will help me Grin
I live in a flat so I find it hard to lean the outside thoroughly without risking falling out.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Honestly, about one every 6 months.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

I have spent about 2 hours cleaning windows.
My main issue is my arms hurting and some streaks.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?


No, I haven't. No, I don't. Yes, it sounds like a time and energy saving solution. I would probably use it on tiles, maybe the car as well as windows.

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sharond101 · 19/06/2013 22:09

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? We have a window cleaner although he has disapperared of the face of the earth for the past 6 weeks so maybe we don't have a window cleaner? I wipe down the inside of my windows when cleaning the rest of the house.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? Usually once per month.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered? I have a one year old son who is always demanding my attention and naptimes are very precious and already full of household chores. I need to get the windows clean as quickly and easily as possible.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it? I have not heard of it but would love to own it. I'd love anything that makes cleaning quicker and easier. I'd use it on my car and on my door windows too.

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snowymum12 · 19/06/2013 23:09

I clean our windows about once every month. I always find that certain windows smear, no matter how much time/effort I spend cleaning them and whichever products I use (although I find buffing with newspaper works really well for some reason). I tend to spend around an hour cleaning windows at a time and it has to work around my daughter's naps otherwise it can be tricky.
I'd never heard about the Karcher window vac until today but it sounds absolutely brilliant and would hopefully make my life a lot easier.

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Housemum · 20/06/2013 00:22

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

Me. Very occasionally would pay a window cleaner for outside

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Embarassing - not enough! Did the inside of the conservatory windows the other day. Got through a whole kitchen roll - the candles over the winter must be the reason, but surprise how black was coming off these clean looking windows! Try to do outside once a month (but that never happens...)

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

I want to do it as quickly as possible. I hate the mess of doing the inside with water and a squeegee so have to use kitchen roll and windowlene which takes forever :(

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

Think i saw it somewhere on t'internet last year - maybe here or Amazon or Lakeland? Love the idea but would be loath to spend out on a gadget that didn't do the job well enough. Haven't seen one in action though it sounds great.

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Housemum · 20/06/2013 00:24

oops pressed submit too quickly. Would I try one? Definitely - might do a better job on the insides (I always think water cleans better than sprays), and be quicker on the outsides/less sloshing around of water. Where else? Bathroom tiles/shower screens.

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evelynj · 20/06/2013 07:25

I clean the windows (mum) inside & out about once a month with a professional mop & squeegee (ettore), although the top floor outside is difficult. I saw the window vac just after I'd bought these so haven't been able to justify trying it out but would love to. Previously took ages to get a streak free shine but would now only be prepared to spend about an hour on all windows so speedy cleaning is important.

Would love to try the karcher on tiled bathrooms & mirrors inside too-shower screens also?, I love shiny and clean things but am quite lazy too & 8 months pregnant - please pick me! ;)

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SoupDragon · 20/06/2013 07:47

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

I have a window cleaner for the outside windows and I do the inside ones.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Outside, once a month. Inside? I seem to be constantly cleaning the living room bay where my dog likes to sit with his nose on the glass. The others...? Not so much. It always ends up streaky.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

I spend as little time as I can get away with. There always seems to be problems with streakiness which only appear when the sun shines on the windows.


~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

My parents have one and think it is wonderful - they were sceptical before trying it. I would like to see how it performs on my kitchen windows which seem to be most prone to streaks and also the tiled splashback in the kitchen which can be a pain to clean.

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FALSEdichotomy · 20/06/2013 08:47

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I clean the insides and a window cleaner does the outsides when I remember to book him which isn't very often but should be more frequent.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
I probably clean the insides about twice a year - should be more often but it's such a boring and time consuming job. Outsides - I cannot actually remember but looking at them now I think it's well overdue so will call a window cleaner today to book a clean in - I really should book monthly clean but sometimes the family budget doesn't stretch that far.


How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
outside upstairs windows are difficult to reach and neither my DH or myself are keen on using ladders.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
ive heard of Karcher before and know it is a quality brand but didnt know about the karcher window vac - i certainly would consider giving it a go and consider my windows in their current state would certainly test it out.

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CMOTDibbler · 20/06/2013 08:56

My outside windows get cleaned by the window cleaner every 5 weeks. The insides get done a little less regularly.
My main glass cleaning issue is the patio doors and our internal glazed doors which get minging from child and dog.
Half an hour of window cleaning at a time is more than enough for me tbh.
I'd heard of the window vac, but the word was that it wasn't as good as one might expect from Karcher

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TheSitChewAceChien · 20/06/2013 09:14

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Outside is done by the window cleaner- though only the ground and first floor ones. Third floor outside never get done Blush even though they flip completely so I could do it myself...
Inside is done by me when the world outside looks 'soft focus'


How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Outside-monthly
Inside- as above!

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
As little as possible. I love cleaning, but not windows.
Find it so frustrating. Looks clean, step back, see streak, come closer to clean it, can't se it, step back, there it is...Pah!


Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Have heard of it, would try one out, but worried it would be another of my many purchases made to 'magically improve my housework' but make me feel a failure when they don't do what I'm expecting Grin

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gazzalw · 20/06/2013 10:29

We paid for someone local to do the outside ones for a while but DW WAS convinced he was casing the joint and when he asked for an advance on his window cleaning, that was the end of him. We do do the external ones occasionally but not as often as we should....

Inside, it's DW who obsessed about greasy paw (human and feline) prints on Windows and glass doors...

It's not exactly an activity one wants to spend longer than necessary on...

No haven't heard of the Karcher Window Vac but would love one....not sure though that it would be top of my desirable extras list as it's debatable whether it is really a necessity...

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