NOW CLOSED: Let’s talk cleaning windows: Win one of two top of the range Karcher WV 70 Window Vacs (£99.99) for your thoughts...

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by the team at Kärcher to find out your thoughts on cleaning windows - inside and out. They'd also love to get your feedback on the idea of their Window Vac.

Kärcher say "With Kärcher Window Vacuums you can save time when cleaning smooth surfaces such as windows, tiles and mirrors - without leaving streaks. The innovative water recovery system takes up dirty water before it drips - and it can be used anywhere because it is battery-operated!"

So please let us know on this thread......

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

Add your thoughts and you'll be entered into a prize draw where two MNers will each win a Kärcher Window Vac worth £99.99 (top of the range one )

Thanks, MNHQ

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? *I used to have somebody do it every 8 weeks, but stopped after my XH left due to finances. I do them myself now not often

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? I last cleaned my windows about 2 months ago, with Windowlene

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered? not much, hate it

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I have not heard of them before today. I would like to try one out to see if they are easy to use to clean the windows on my bungalow

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I'm so ashamed to admit this, but in the last 2 years I've never cleaned the windows. I think DH did once. Even more shameful, my Mum has come round and cleaned our windows because she can't stand glass to be even remotely unclean.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Probably once or twice a year.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
As little as possible. Finding the time and making a mess doing it are the biggest problems.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I've heard of it, but never seen it. It sounds great. One of the biggest issues I have with cleaning windows is having to clean up the floors afterwards. The thing that puts me of the Karcher Window Vac is I just don't have that kind of money for anything non-essential.

Window cleaner comes every two months (came today actually) and I do the insides occasionally

it's probably my most hated domestic job and no matter how much I work at it, I can never seem to get a perfect result. I use washing up liquid water and a micro cloth to dry/shine.

Never heard of the Karcher Vac. If it would leave my windows streak free I would consider buying one. I can't get their website video to work - perhaps because I am on an Ipad?

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

The outside (front) are done once a fortnight by a window cleaner. The outside (back, downstairs) are done by me once a month.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

See above

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

I spend about 1/2 hour - not my favourite job. The upstairs are too difficult to reach, bar one which opens inwards.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I had heard of the brand, but not this product. I would love to try one, as have a lot of glass to clean (two sets of patio doors and internal glass doors which always seem streaky).

I have tiles in kitchen and a fully tiled bathroom and glass shower screen, so it be used everywhere!!

The only reason not to have one is that I can't afford it, so would love to win one :)

I have never heard of Karcher window vac but it sounds like a great idea. We get a window cleaner to clean the outside of our windows and our cleaner cleans the inside. We do it when they look dirty - which doesn't seem to be that often! It probably would take an hour. It is one of those jobs that probably doesn't get done often enough.

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

Window cleaner does the outsides, me or my DH do the insides.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Every month.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

About 30 mins every month.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

Yes, we have the WV50, and it is the best thing I have ever bought. I'm not joking. I've told all my friends about it, lent it out etc. I should be on commission, I've 'sold' about 10. Seriously.

I should add that it is particularly fabulous on granite worktops, and the shower screen. It has genuinely made my life easier. Worth every penny.

I clean the windows inside. Barely.
DP cleans outside ones. Even less.

They are just such a chore to do as never seem to look good. Makes me feel worse looking at badly cleaned ones than finger prints I'm afraid.

I'd say we do the windows once a month? Completely lazy.
I'd love to have clean sparkling windows but it's not to be. We have a lot of glass and I don't have the patience in afraid.

Have heard of the karcher window cleaner and seen it in shops. Have always been tempted but never 100% convinced.
If I knew it would make the job easier and do a really good job I'd definately buy one.

We have bloody loads that need doing too . The back of the house has glass the whole way across so I sit and look at smeared glass all day. Lovely. All the regular windows plus the large shower door which drives me potty.

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

I clean the windows inside and out

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Inside once a month, more for patio doors. Outside every few months

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

No more than a couple of hours. Access to the top windows are the biggest problem. I hang out the window from the bedroom

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

No, never heard of it. I would try anything that makes cleaning windows easier. We cannot get a window cleaner near where I live

Love the sound of this. Here goes...

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I get a window cleaner to do the outside- its a particular one who uses environmentally friendly products. I do the inside every so often when I clean each room and see they need it.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Hmm. Outside they have only ever been done twice. I don't see much point when we have had such horrid weather as they get filthy straight away.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I would probably do it more frequently if I could do it quicker and it was less arm achingly hard to get them streak free. The hardest bits are close to the frames where you can get mildew, especially the very small Georgian style window panels and reaching to the tops without a chair.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
No, I haven't heard of it, but have heard of the steam cleaner. I would love to try it as I have 4 kids and very little time, so welcome anything which will make cleaning quicker and easier. It sounds like a good idea, especially being cordless. I would use it on windows, the bathroom tiles, (which are floor to ceiling), shower door, massive mirrors and especially the sticky fingered, smeared, remnants of condensation 'drawings' on all the car inside windows!!

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

Moved in 5 months ago. Upstairs flat. Windows were grubby when I moved in, still grubby today

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

never I did used To in the old house, because the windows flipped over, I did 2x per year.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

1 hour max. Then I am sick of it.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

No, it looks good though, I would still need a really tall ladder to be able to do the outsides though.

I would use it for the tiling in the bathroom as well.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

Ha. Me. Inside and out. I lean from upstairs windows and bend round corners... lucky I'm 5'9''

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside - honestly about twice a year. Awful, but there are LOADS we have internal lounge massive windows plus a conservatory, glass front door... glass porch... seems like it's all glass I just train myself not to notice.
Outside - the same. I do them all over a week in spring and late autumn-y time usually.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

They take me a long time to do with my trusty squeegee and cloth; I like to do them thoroughly when I actually 'do' them, but if there is a quicker way I'm all ears!

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I would love to try one, there has been a similar product advertised on tv? where the woman cleans the windows inside faster than the man on the outside? It seems practical and would save my poor dry cracked hands getting all cold and wet. DH says he would use it on the car! and we have a very 'green' greenhouse... oooh! I can do some dramatic before and after pics if you should need ;-)

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Dh and I do the inside and outside (downstairs), upstairs have no idea if tgyve ever been done!

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Outside gets cleaned when the sun starts shinning and probably only a couple of times, inside a little more often throughout the year

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
As little as possible

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I have seen them and even showed it to dh. I love the idea if a better way that cleans better and I'm sure it would make me do it more often. Can it be used on mirrors and shower screens too?

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Window cleaner does the outside. I have a cleaner who sometimes does the insides but I do them if I notice they need doing or if she tells me she hasn't had time.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Outside get done every 3 weeks as we live near the sea and you can't see out for salt if you leave it any longer! Inside less often, hard to say really.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Not terribly long to be honest. We do enough to keep the house looking good but don't stress on it. I hate wasting time going back and polishing streaks off when I thought I had finished. Our main problem is 3 windows above the orangery that the window cleaner doesn't do unless I twist his arm!

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I have heard of it and have had a quick go of one! My friend has one and swears by it for windows, mirrors and tiles. She lent it to me to use when helping a male friend clean up his house before going on the market after a divorce. Sadly due to time pressure I only got to do 3 windows but it confirmed my suspicions that his ex was a stranger to housework as the water came off black! It was easy and made a visible difference. I'd love one to use as my friend does, especially on the shower cublicle which drives me mad!

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? I clean the inside, a local windowcleaner does the outside.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? Inside - spot cleaned when needed, cleaned throughly approx every 3 months. Outside is done every 6 weeks.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered? As less as possible - along with oven cleaning its one of my worst household chores! I get frustrated with the streaks and achy arms from leathering off.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it? Yes, mum has one. She raves about it and I would love one, particularly for my bathroom tiles

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
outside - Ken the window cleaner
inside - er no-one until i get ashamed that ken can't see what he's doing -

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

outside once a month
inside about once a year, and I 'usually' do it.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
very little
too busy doing other things!

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
no haven't - i would try yes - would try on shower.

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

I clean our own windows when I remember as we used to use a local company who used just water, but they got very expensive very quickly, and I swear they didn't attend half the time (I used to work full time, now a SAHM)

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

I haven't cleaned them in years months! The outside was cleaned, maybe a year or so ago?? The inside, even longer!

I blame DH, as I had a lovely little window washing kit from Lidl I think, which had a little sponge and a squeegee, and a box to keep it all in (which I used for the soapy water). And the git shoved it in the shed in one of his cleaning-the-house frenzies, and I've never seen it since

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

I would probably spend about an hour cleaning my windows.

My house is a bit of a challenge, as it's a coach-house, so all my windows are on the first floor. This is a doddle for the inside, but the outside is a little trickier. We have windows which, thankfully, you can adjust so that you can clean the outside from inside the house.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I have heard of the Kärcher Window Vac - I wish I had one!! I would love to try one out, as I admire Kärcher products greatly, but just can't afford them.

I think the window vac is a brilliant idea, especially for houses/flats like mine. And so versatile - I'd like to try it out on the cars, especially the inside of the main windscreen. (can it be used upside-down??)

1. Window cleaner comes round every 2/3 weeks and does all outside windows, 3 bed semi and charges £5.00, does a good job too!

1. then after window cleaner comes round i am shamed into doing the inside ones, for some reason the downstairs windows get done a lot more often than upstairs.

1. I spend most of my time cleaning the french doors in the kitchen because the sun shines through all day so any teeny little marks show up, takes about half an hour to do it properly, the rest of the windows get a 5 min going over.

1. Yes have heard of Karcher window vac, dont have one but would love to get my hands on one and get my children used to using it so they can clean up after smearing dirty little hands all over my doors! Its a brilliant idea and i could even nip round to my mums and have her windows done in no time.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

We used to get a window cleaner but he would leave the ones he couldn't reach so now it is my job!

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?

Inside gets done probably once a quarter but outside (hangs head in shame) probably only once a year or once every two years!!! unless there is a specific problem and needs cleaning eg mud splatter or bird poo.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?

Reaching outside windows is a problem. When I do them I have to allow a whole day for window cleaning as it can take a long time. It probably takes at least several hours as I like to do a thorough job.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

I have heard of karcher but not the window vac. Would love to try one to see if it can make one of my most dreaded chores any quicker or easier! I think I would try it out on tiles too as they don't often get a big clean either.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I occaaaaaasionally do inside (downstairs) and we get someone in to do the outside at the front. I do the patio doors most often as they get covered in sticky finger marks as they go down to the floor.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Window cleaner comes once a month. Downstairs gets done a couple of times per year on the inside and outside at the back, which I do. Upstairs outside at the back has never been done - too high to reach without very tall ladder and terraced house so window cleaner doesn't do them. On the inside upstairs they get cleaned maybe once a year if they're lucky.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I would be prepared to spend a couple of hours several times per year. The main problem would be height outside.

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Hadn't heard of it, so obviously don't have one. I would contemplate trying one out. Anything to make rubbing down easier and more attractive. Also have glass patio doors which need more regular cleaning. I would also be interested in it for cleaning mirrors and tiles as have extensive tiling in bathrooms which very rarely gets a scrubbing.

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Inside - me, outside - window cleaner.

How often your windows get a clean?
Monthly.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
About an hour. The main problem is putting in effort for a poor result.

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
Not previously heard of it. I'd like to try it to compare the effort and result with cleaning windows by hand. If also like to try it on shower doors , tiles and internal glass e.g. mirrors.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?

My DP frequently terrifies me by standing on the little ledge around the outside of our first floor bay window to wash the outside, probably once a month at least. The inside is less scary, but much more fingerprinty/wax crayony. Think this probably covers the problems section too!

~ Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?

DP and I have both heard of the window vac before, and really like the idea. We don't have one at home (a little out of our price range) but would definitely give one a go, anything that would bring him in off the ledge quicker and with better results would be worth a go!

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Me. I used to have a window cleaner but he was expensive and didn't do a very good job so I felt it wasn't worth the money. I absolutely hate doing them though.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Not often enough! Inside downstairs gets done more regularly than any others, especially as I have a 2.5yo with sticky fingers who just loves wiping them all over the french doors. Upstairs inside probably (oh the shame) every 4 months. Outside downstairs every couple of months in the spring summer, and the less said the better about outside upstairs

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I would like to say that if I didn't have DS I would do them more regularly...but that is really only in my head as I was never that fussed on the job before DS came along. Upstairs outside are the most difficult, my windows are top half openers, so it's awkward to reach certain parts and the tops of my arms get covered in bruises whenever I do it. No wonder I don't like doing them!

Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today? Do you have one in your household? Would you contemplate trying one out? Why? What do you think of it? Where else do you think you'd use it?
I have seen one in use - I was walking down my street one day last year and a chap who lives a few doors down was using one, I had never seen one before so naturally I shouted up and asked him if he was vacuuming his windows . He was raving about it. Funnily enough I bumped into his wife a couple of weeks ago and I mentioned it to her, she was also raving about it - not only because her windows were nice and clean but also because she didn't have to do them any more now that her DH had a gadget Win win for her!
I would love one of these

My husband jet washes the outside when we can't see out .:D

You can clean windows inside?

I've tried one of those in a Leroy Merlin store in France, blumming bril it was and ?50