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Original poster

Window cleaner coming

26 replies

Cupcakecafe · 09/04/2020 18:22

Would you consider a window cleaner doing their rounds to be an "essential" reason to leave the house?

Our window cleaner came today and I'm quite irritated by it but dont know if I'm being unreasonable

OP posts:
PanicOnTheStreets85 · 09/04/2020 18:25

Would you consider a window cleaner doing their rounds to be an "essential" reason to leave the house?

That's not the test though. You can leave the house to go to work if you cannot work from home. It doesn't matter whether your work is essential or not.

museumum · 09/04/2020 18:26

Work doesn’t have to be “essential”. If you can’t work from home and you can maintain social distancing then you can keep working.

dementedpixie · 09/04/2020 18:27

Window cleaner is fine. They cant exactly work from home

Lucked · 09/04/2020 18:27

In Scotland this is the advise

Gov.scot explaining: “We know that for some – self-employed gardeners, window cleaners, or those working in rural areas – where there is no contact – if you can practise safely, then this could be good for the community, but safety and social distancing must come first.”

museumum · 09/04/2020 18:28

The country needs those who can keep working to do so. The govt can’t pay furlough to people whose work doesn’t poss any risk.

WorraLiberty · 09/04/2020 18:28

We're 2 and a half weeks into lockdown and people are still not getting that you can go to work if you can't work from home/haven't been furloughed? Confused

Pippapotomus · 09/04/2020 18:28

Mine is, but is asking to be paid via bank transfer rather than the usual pile of coins I give him.

Hoohaahoo · 09/04/2020 18:29

I think it’s acceptable to continue to clean windows. They need to earn money and won’t be coming in to contact with anyone.

onemouseplace · 09/04/2020 18:31

MIne came last week - he lives on the next road, I pay by bank transfer and there is zero social contact.

Wingedharpy · 09/04/2020 18:33

Unless you can drop your windows off at his house, it should be fine.

I suspect you're irritated because your window cleaner is going about his normal business, and most of us are not.

I feel quite envious of the bin men these days!

Wewearpinkonwednesdays · 09/04/2020 18:34

Why would it not be OK?

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 09/04/2020 18:39

Well they can’t work from home can they

In the government guidelines it says you are allowed to go out and work, if you can’t work from home

My window cleaner comes. I wave at him, I don’t go out and chat like I normally would. I pay him by bank transfer. He works alone

Original poster
Cupcakecafe · 09/04/2020 18:42

He only takes cash and goes door to door.
I'm worried about who he has been in contact with before coming to our door.

Im probably being over sensitive because someone I know died of covid today in hospital so it's probably a bad day for me

OP posts:
msmith501 · 09/04/2020 18:43

Our window cleaner has got isolation off to a tee - he collected the money in an envelope but didn't actually bother to clean the windows.....

KellyHall · 09/04/2020 18:44

Tell him in advance that you'll only pay in to his bank, don't handle dirty cash!

SpillTheTeaa · 09/04/2020 18:44

Ours is still coming but we pay him via bank transfer

hotdog74 · 09/04/2020 18:46

Mine came today. I put the money outside the front door while he was at the back of the house. Zero contact with him at all.

Looneytune253 · 09/04/2020 18:48

It's irresponsible. No one needs their windows cleaned at this time AT ALL. Everyone needs to Stay at home!!

Tigerty · 09/04/2020 18:50

Except that the virus can live on surfaces like metal and plastic for a bit. If the window cleaner is asymptotic and has an occasional cough or sneeze they could transfer the virus to gate handles, door handles or window frames. If those frames are on the ground floor back garden it’s a possible source of infection.

Spodge · 09/04/2020 18:57

Ours came round the other day. I left the cash outside for him as I always do. After he left I sanitized anything we would normally touch, such as door and window handles and the gate latch. It's really not hard to work out what to do in these circumstances.

We have someone to help with our gardening, too, and the same principles apply, save that he is happy to be paid by bank transfer.

KeepWashingThoseHands · 09/04/2020 19:16

YABU

What do you think the risk is?

morecoffeerequired · 09/04/2020 19:33

Don't be silly.

Aside from everything else, they are CLEANERS.

dodobookends · 09/04/2020 19:38

Businesses and manufacturers etc have received a letter from the government, saying to carry on working if possible. If the work cannot be done at home, and safety measures for the staff are in place, then they are urging firms to continue in operation.

The company I work for got the letter this morning.

Wewearpinkonwednesdays · 09/04/2020 20:02

If the window cleaner is asymptotic and has an occasional cough or sneeze they could transfer the virus to gate handles, door handles or window frames. If those frames are on the ground floor back garden it’s a possible source of infection.

Well... I'll try my best to refrain from licking my windows and door handles, and wash my hands.

alittlecloudfloatinginthesky · 09/04/2020 20:15

Pretty sure the guys walking about with buckets of soapy water aren't the ones we need to worry too much about...