How on earth do you clean sash windows three floors up?

[HeadFairy]

No ladder on earth is long enough, can't stretch to a cherry picker. Can barely see through windows, and the other thread about errant window cleaners got me thinking that someone on here will have a genius way of doing the outside of them without me resorting to abseiling down the wall to get to them!

I used to hang out the window, looking back my tummy wobbles to think of it.

we have this very problem with a bathroom window, not high up as such but very awkward to reach - I have to lean out as far as I dare to wipe...window cleaners will never attempt it !

I wipe as far as I can reach, then use a spray bottle with water and window cleaner and soak the bits I can't reach. Then use a cloth wrapped around a long handelled mallet to wipe them over, then chuck water at them. It works okay. Far from ideal.

open bottom of window, sit on sill with head outside, facing in. Clean outside of upper half.

Open top of window, stand on chair/ ladder inside and lean out to clean outside of upper half.

Don't fall!

Are they the kind you can take to pieces and swing inside? Otherwise it's hanging over/reaching under the sash to try and get to the mucky parts (I hate doing ours)

Blimey booge and tissy, I don't have enough of a head for heights I think!!! My stomach wobbles thinking about leaning out that far too.

Effie, sadly they're not the type that swing inwards, normal old wooden sashes. I think I'll have to resort to dwp's method, I was hoping there'd be some secret magic way of doing them that I didn't know about, but I guess not!

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i can remove a bit of the wood put the window on the hingey bits , pop out the sash and swing them in for cleaning. it is quite exciting but i rarely do it, get a window cleaner.

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the top window i tried comedy reaching outside and then decided window cleaners are tehway forward. sadly they only do outside.

I used to have a device like two sponge covered magnets on a long string. Used to wet one of the sponges and put it on outside of window, with string coming in through the window, then put the other end against it from the inside and wipe the window. The inside one used to pull the outside one around the window. God, I need some help from the clear english campaign, that barely makes sense even to me.
Anyway, it was a handy device when I had windows that were inaccessible from the outside. I can't remember where I got it, Lakeland, Kleeneze, somewhere like that.

Find a chap with a power hose and invite him round......

Hmmm no swinging windows here and no window cleaner will touch them, too high (3rd floor) so I might try hunting for the wacky magnet thingy mouselady suggested. If you can remember what it's called mouselady, can you let me know? Cheers!

Just found this by googling how to clean sash windows... it's not brilliant, still a faff. I think the real solution should be "buy a bungalow"

FREQUENCY OF CLEANING IS DETERMINED BY ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.
We recommend that only a mild detergent solution is used to clean
the glass and the paint work.
We suggest that a small combined sponge and squeegee blade is
used securely fixed to a suitable handle which should ideally be
telescopic.

PLEASE DO NOT USE HIGH POWERED WASHERS.

SLIDING SASH WINDOWS
Traditional Cords & Weights, Sliding Sashes & Spring Balanced.
The following method should be used when cleaning the external glazed
surfaces for both traditional sliding sash and Spring Balanced windows from
inside the building.
When cleaning, the outer face of the upper sash should be cleaned
first. This is achieved by sliding the top sash down to a convenient
height and reaching over the top rail down onto the glass. If reach
is insufficient both sashes can be raised to permit reaching out the
bottom of the glazing.
The inner (bottom) sash is then cleaned as follows:-
With the top sash lowered to its limit, the bottom sash is lifted halfway up to
clean the upper half.
The top sash is then raised to the closed position and lower sash dropped
slightly to facilitate access to the lower portion.
It may be preferred to clean the upper part of the bottom sash first to
prevent splashing the upper sash if this has already been cleaned.

Just searched 'magnetic window cleaner' and got loads of results. Have a look! I had mine in 1988 when I bought my first flat, so no idea what they might cost now.

OMG that's fantatic! apart from the fact that I'll be able to see out of my windows, I can't wait to get one, they look fab! (sad aren't I, getting excited about a window cleaner?)

my sash windows on the third floor have secondary glazing as well and the ceilings on two of the floors are 10'. Mercifully the landing windows which are over the stairs as well are not secondarily glazed. I am working through all the suggestions to see what I am going to try but in any event considerable encouragement from fellow sufferers.

my window cleaner used to bring his extra-long ladder and charge me extra. he says he is now not permitted by law to work off a ladder at such heights and brings a huge tank of purified water and a pump in his van, and uses a squirty brush on a very long pole. The water contains no limescale or other impurities so dries clear.

I think these machines are fairly common now, and much quicker than ladders.

Neil would you know anyone in inner east London who does domestic window cleaning?

I can't PM from my phone.

DH sits on the windowsill facing inwards as tissy described. Thats my window cleaner does too - that is the ONLY window cleaner who will clean my windows in N London. I am on the second floor, not third.
I stand on a chair and do as headfairy suggests because I am too stingy to pay someone £20 for half an hours work to clean 3 medium/small windows.

1.) You put both sashes right down and clean the top half of the outer one.
2.) Then you pull the inner sash up half way, and do the top half of it.
3.) You put both sashes right up, and clean the lower half of the outer one.
4.) Then you pull the inner sash half way down and do the lower half of it.

(The only part of your body that goes outside should be your arm.)