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Original poster

Does anyone have their own window cleaning pole system thingy?

22 replies

CuddyMum · 06/10/2013 13:13

I'd rather clean the windows myself but there's no way I'm going up a ladder and some of the windows can't be reach by a ladder anyway!! Can you buy a pole system like the window cleaners use? Does anyone have one and are they any good? :)

OP posts:
garlicvampire · 06/10/2013 14:48

I bought one in Aldi for a tenner. My hand-to-eye skills aren't the best, I'm a bit crap with it. But my next door neighbour loves it! The expanding pole is the same one they use for long-reach paint rollers and such so, if you have one of those, you should be able to find a smaller window pad that fits it. Or you could be like me, and build a large collection of rarely-used expanding poles Wink

valiumredhead · 06/10/2013 15:06

Mine was from better ware catalogue, it's fab, was about 20 quid.

Original poster
CuddyMum · 07/10/2013 16:47

I was thinking along the lines of a water fed pole system. :)

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garlicvampire · 07/10/2013 19:02

Ah, you're out of my league Grin If I had a pressure washer, I'd be tempted to just squirt it at the windows like a loon! Probably not sensible, but it would be fun.

OnePlanOnHouzz · 08/10/2013 08:58

the most efficient way I have found, as I too don't like ladders, is to give the window cleaner a tenner every other month !

Original poster
CuddyMum · 08/10/2013 09:54

Well the thing is, I have loads of windows, including sash windows and some impossible to reach with a ladder (so think the pressure washer might be out of the question :) ) and the local window cleaner (who is tricky to get hold of) wants £20 and he can't even get to some of them. He refuses to clean the top floor as he's not insured for three storeys. Plus, I have to be here so he can access the back of the house. In the area I moved from the window cleaner had a pole system and I quite fancied doing the job myself as often or as little as necessary. Was hoping that whatever I bought to do the job would kind of pay for itself :)

OP posts:
Original poster
CuddyMum · 15/10/2013 12:48

Have just ordered a magnetic cleaning thing off eBay!

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OnePlanOnHouzz · 16/10/2013 14:06

Let us know how you get on with it !!! :-)

Original poster
CuddyMum · 16/10/2013 15:35

Oh I will! I am awaiting its arrival impatiently! :)

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valiumredhead · 16/10/2013 15:37

Oh I saw them demonstrated at the Good Food Show I wasn't convinced would be interested to see how you get on with it.

Original poster
CuddyMum · 16/10/2013 16:05

I have to say that some of the reviews were not all that but for £8 it ought to be better than nothing. Watch this space for a review!

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valiumredhead · 16/10/2013 16:06

Oh bargain, it was about £20 + at TGFS!

OnePlanOnHouzz · 17/10/2013 08:36

TGFS ?! .... 'thank god for Sainsburys ?!?!? '
Confused

valiumredhead · 17/10/2013 08:49

The good food show as mentioned in my earlier postGrin

Original poster
CuddyMum · 17/10/2013 10:54

Well, the said item arrived this morning - I quickly opened the package and filled a bowl of soapy water. The result - a pile of crap! The outer side fell off as soon as I started to move the unit around. I re-attached it and it kept falling off. The outer side fell off again and low and behold the plastic cover and the strong magnet plummeted down the roof below the window I was cleaning! After standing on a wheely bin, armed with a swingball pole, I retrieved the magnet and cover from the roofed area! It's not worth the hassle returning the item (from eBay) so I am attempting to superglue the bloody thing back together. I have, of course, ended up with the obligatory superglued fingers! Back to square one! Confused

What have I learned from this experience, well, soapy windows is more effective at cleaning windows than Windolene!

OP posts:
irisgrey · 17/10/2013 11:00

Waterfed pole systems use filtered water rather than soap. You would need to buy the filter and a tank for the water (window cleaners who use them have all this mounted in their vans) plus the poles and hoses. I would think it would take you years and years to recoup the cost. Can you not just find a window cleaner who uses that system?

Original poster
CuddyMum · 17/10/2013 11:05

I will find a way. The window cleaners who use the pole system can't be bothered to come out to my village. The local window cleaner uses a bucket and looks like a criminal plus he won't clean some of the windows. I am hoping that once my sash windows are renovated they will all open (tops and bottoms) and I can lean out. We also get a lot of cobwebs (a ridiculous amount) and want to clean the windows when I feel like it. :)

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irisgrey · 17/10/2013 11:12

You sound pretty determined so I'm sure you will find a way. Just be careful!

RedHelenB · 17/10/2013 11:14

Am glad i 've got windows that open so I can clean them from the room!!

Original poster
CuddyMum · 17/10/2013 12:48

Thankfully the eBay seller has refunded me (without me having to send the damn thing back). I shall now plonk it in the bin.

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OnePlanOnHouzz · 17/10/2013 17:26

oh dear ! :-(

OnePlanOnHouzz · 24/10/2013 20:07

I hope uou are still keeping an eye on this thread - a friend told me about this today - and I thought of you ! It's called ONEconcept Clean Hero for house and garden windows...
It's an automated window cleaner thingy about £300 so bit of an investment - but the friend I was emailing with swears hers is fab and she has a really tall Brighton home - so deals with sea spray even !!! Hope that solves your problem :-)

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