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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Window cleaner

30 replies

otterbaby · 14/04/2021 14:58

I don't pay for a window cleaning service so maybe IABU but would love to hear opinions.

We live in a terraced house that has a bay window at the front and a single upstairs window. A bird has managed to poo all over the upstairs window so when the window cleaner who services the street came by today, I popped out to ask him how much it would be for a quick one off clean.

He laughed and said he doesn't do one off cleans, he's far too busy. I said so for a fiver he couldn't just wash my one single upstairs window as I can't get to it. Absolutely not - acted as though I was totally ridiculous. He actually quite hurt my feelings tbh Blush it would only have taken about a minute to do, judging by how quickly he does other houses.

Is £5 to wash a single window unreasonable?

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 14/04/2021 15:02

It sounds like he was unnecessarily rude in how he responded to you; I probably would have asked how much he’d charge just to quickly do a window as it’s hard to say if £5 would be considered enough or not.

viques · 14/04/2021 15:03

No it’s not unreasonable , but he didn’t want to do it so that’s that unfortunately. Mine refuses to do back windows, ( London terrace) , he is busy enough doing front windows , and says if he did it for one he would feel obliged to do it for everyone.

Dizzy1234 · 14/04/2021 15:12

I don't bother with window cleaners anymore, mine didn't use clean water.
I bought a window cleaning device from a DIY shop £10, it's got an extendable handle which reaches the upstairs windows, a sponge one side and a rubber squeedgy on the other side.
I dunk it in a bucket of water, wash the windows, flip it round, squeedgy the water off then wrap a micro fibre cloth over it it to dry them off.
It's great 😉

LemmysAceCard · 14/04/2021 15:44

My old window cleaner used to charge £8 for a full house so i would say £5 for one window is more than generous.

Only let the window cleaner go as he tried to rip me off. Bastard.

Bluedeblue · 14/04/2021 15:45

This has made me count my windows!

I have 28 and they are done for £8.50 total. And it's a tall townhouse!

0nlyMe · 14/04/2021 15:49

I once got quoted £68 to have my windows washed! Never dared to ask anyone again

OrangeRug · 14/04/2021 15:52

YANBU. I've actually encountered quite a lot of rude window cleaners. I can't stand my local one. He knocked on my door when I first moved in and asked if I wanted my windows cleaning once a month for £8. I said I didn't need them cleaning every month but would pay him to do it less regularly. He said it wouldn't be worth his time to do that so I said "I understand" then he got snotty when he realised he wasn't getting his own way. He's also been quite rude when collecting my Granddad's payments. I've bought my own giant window cleaning contraption from Aldi for £15!

ScaryMimeker · 14/04/2021 16:02

£22 here, for our front windows.

cookiecreampie · 14/04/2021 19:14

I pay £6 a month, front only for a terraced house. 2 bedroom windows upstairs and a big bay window downstairs. You did nothing wrong in asking, and he was rude. Look elsewhere and don't give him your custom in future.

rainbowthoughts · 14/04/2021 19:21

You sound as if you think the window cleaner should be desperate to clean your window. The truth is he doesn't need the inconvenience of doing your one window when he is already working his established round. People like you who think others should drop everything because they somehow should be grateful for a job are really irritating.

slashlover · 14/04/2021 19:33

You asked, he said no then you were arsey.

Blankspace101 · 14/04/2021 19:47

He sounds like a dick.

rainbowthoughts · 14/04/2021 19:49

@Blankspace101

He sounds like a dick.

He sounds like a dick Hmm

For turning down a one off random window clean in the middle of his regular round.

I do wonder about people sometimes.

Please, why is this man a dick?

LadyEloise · 14/04/2021 19:53

Where are you getting such cheap window cleaners ?
I used to pay €70 for the outside of the front and back windows.
And no , I don't live in a mansion.

Original poster
otterbaby · 14/04/2021 19:58

I live in the North East so I would assume it might be a bit cheaper up here?

I certainly wasn't arsey with him. I clarified that he couldn't just do one window now as opposed to me asking him to come out at some point, in case he hadn't understood what I meant.

@rainbowthoughts yes, people like me are very irritating. Thank you Smile

OP posts:
SofiaMichelle · 14/04/2021 20:00

@rainbowthoughts

You sound as if you think the window cleaner should be desperate to clean your window. The truth is he doesn't need the inconvenience of doing your one window when he is already working his established round. People like you who think others should drop everything because they somehow should be grateful for a job are really irritating.
Can't argue with this.
Blankspace101 · 14/04/2021 20:13

*He sounds like a dick hmm

For turning down a one off random window clean in the middle of his regular round.*

That’s not the reason he sounds like a dick to me. Why would you even assume that it is? You can respond now.

rainbowthoughts · 14/04/2021 20:19

That’s not the reason he sounds like a dick to me. Why would you even assume that it is? You can respond now.

I asked why, so why?

drpet49 · 14/04/2021 20:34

* You did nothing wrong in asking, and he was rude. Look elsewhere and don't give him your custom in future.*

^This

FizzyPink · 14/04/2021 20:36

£8.50 Shock I have a ground floor flat with 3 sets of windows and my window cleaner charges £25!

80sballetgirl · 14/04/2021 20:57

I’m in the Midlands - £7 for 6 windows & patio doors. I have a lovely window cleaner. He still uses a ladder & if it’s icy he won’t do the upstairs windows at the back (decking plus ice = nope!) & reduces the price. He definitely would have done your window!

Tossblanket · 14/04/2021 21:04

I've cleaned windows in the past and I'd have done it.

Might have secured another house, if not its an easy fiver in the bin.

Dorris83 · 14/04/2021 21:06

Yabu, he is allowed to say no. You feeling upset about it is on you. Regular cleaning means that windows are maintained whereas a one- off takes more time and effort and window cleaners will charge more for them, I suspect he had a full day on and the hassle of setting up, cleaning a horrible mess off one of your windows all for £5 just wasn’t worth it for him: especially as you aren’t inclined to use his service in the future.

MakingPlans21 · 14/04/2021 21:18

Where I live they don’t seem to have a fixed sum, just whatever they feel like. Next door neighbours with exactly the same windows get charged different prices etc. I cancelled one as he only ever came when it was raining, then cancelled the second as he only did the front sometimes but charged for front and back. I have struggled to find someone reliable. From what I’ve paid, the window cleaners must be on a decent hourly rate here though...

slashlover · 14/04/2021 21:22

I said so for a fiver he couldn't just wash my one single upstairs window as I can't get to it.

sounds a bit different to

I clarified that he couldn't just do one window now as opposed to me asking him to come out at some point, in case he hadn't understood what I meant.

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