Does your window cleaner leave water spots?! I’m not sure the pole method works!?

[Shinyandnew1]

We have just started getting a window cleaner again. When we used to have one, it was soapy water, ladders and then a squidgy thing and it was left sparkling. This one uses a sort of brush water pole device which looked very clever, but a few hours after they’d gone, the windows were left covered with dried water spots. That can’t be right-they actually look worse than before! I will speak to him when he comes back in 6 weeks, but wanted to gauge from others what might be going wrong?!

Ours uses a pole. It's super quick, so he is cheap. It also means he can do the windows on our top floor that would be out of reach with ladders I think. Sometimes, if it is very warm and the sun is on the windows immediately there are a few spots, but nothing major. I think he uses something in the water to minimise spotting, but can't be certain. They certainly look very clean and we are happy.

Yes and lots of smears as well. I think I’m going to cancel mine and find another

We had a window cleaner who used a pole and eventually got rid because felt it wasn't worth it with the water marks and not always being able to get tough dirt/bird poo off. We luckily found another window cleaner who goes up a ladder and he does a stellar job but feel these guys might be dying out!

Yes, even although he uses purified water. We are in hard water area so that's needed. I just put up with it as can't get anyone to go up a ladder to our top floor (townhouse). We are in such a dusty area anyhow - opposite a big park, and windows, cars, everything has been dusty all summer.

mine uses a pole and no water spots.

This is the reason I wash my own windows (about once a year 😁). They put something in the water that’s supposed to stop the spots but never does, I see no point in paying for that.

I have my own pole with a cloth bit on one side and a squeegee on the other. Bucket of HG window cleaner and it takes a few minutes per window.

Mine uses the pole and no spots, always looks great

Yes, we stopped using a window cleaner for the same reason - if I'm going to end up with spots and streaks on the windows I'm more than capable of doing that myself!

The water spots mean he either isn't using pure purified water (TDS count is too high) or he didn't rinse them properly after scrubbing! Pure water from reach-and-wash poles is meant to dry completely spot-free without squeegeeing.
Definitely drop him a text now rather than waiting 6 weeks he should come back and re-do them properly for free!

After going through many window cleaners before my current.

It’s the water. Something special about the water.

He doesn’t use product and so when you start with him he says it takes 3 cleans before the smears from previous product go. He only uses magic water with a pole.

We had the same issue and cancelled our window cleaner. He said it was impossible for marks to be left but the windows said otherwise lol

i thought the pole method was supposed to be used only with de-ionised special water. If yours is using regular water hes doing it on the cheap so i’d sack him and get someone else.

Windows can’t be cleaned properly with a pole and cloth, and neither can the frames. Either get a window cleaner who goes up on a ladder, or if your windows have extenders like most modern window have these days, which enable you to reach the outsides, do them yourself. I’veseen these men going round with a grubby cloth on a pole , and think he probably puts dirt ON the windows!

Our window cleaner used to go up a ladder and did a good job. Now he uses a long pole and leaves water marks and sometimes they do actually look worse than before he started. I want to let him go, but he has a disability and I think it will be hard for him to find to find alternative work. I know that’s none of my business really, but I feel sorry for him, so each month when he comes, I back off from telling him we don’t want him anymore.

Window cleaners have been encouraged to use the poles, possibly a Health and Safety issue.

Thank you for all of the replies-some pole positives but it seems like lots of people agree!

I get ladders are dangerous, but for ground floor windows at least, there must be a better way. I wonder if the window cleaners are even aware the water spots are left, as they are long gone by the time it dries!?

I have photos so will have a conversation when they come next time!

I think we have the same window cleaner! I can’t sack him as he’s been coming for years. I did -like the coward that I am -.send dh out to mention all the smears to him. Those poles are rubbish, not a patch on proper elbow grease.

It’s difficult, isn’t it? You know you’re not getting a good service, but it feels mean to end the arrangement. From what other posters have said, it’s seems to be less and less common for window cleaners to use ladders, so maybe we wouldn’t be able to find a better alternative anyway.

I despise the pole window cleaning but I can't find an old fashioned ladder one.

There are always marks and streaks, sometimes the windows are dirtier than before he started. I have no idea what to do.

Yup our window cleaners recently switched to a brush pole after his dad retired. I've got drips down my living room windows that's doing my head in. Have done my back in so can't even carry the ladders round to sort it.