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 do, when they get done which isn't often as I don't have the time. Would love to pay someone to do it but can't afford to

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside: whenever I'm doing a deep clean of a room they get a spray and wipe, if I have the steam cleaner out I do the french doors with that but it's messy. Outside get done rarely, it's so windy and wet here they're filthy again a day later so it seems a bit pointless

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
5 mins per window, if even that. Problems? Erm, the fact that I'm having to clean the damn windows for one, getting cold and wet doing the outside ones, the upstairs windows are impossible to do the outsides of, the velux windows are impossible to do the inside of without getting soaked. Mostly solved by ignoring them and hoping the window cleaning pixie visits in the dead of night..... (hasn't happened yet)

~ 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. No. Yes. I like gadgets, especially gadgets that claim to make cleaning easier. It looks nice, pleasingly gadgety. Bathrooms, car windows, tiles, interior door windows.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I do the insides (the outsides never get done :o)

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside 2-4 times a year. Outside, never.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I'd be prepared to spent an hour or so. Problems are generally the windows are too large and I can't reach the top.

~ 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. Have a Karcher for the patio which is very good though.
Would definitely contemplate one if it would make my life easier but it's too expensive at the moment.
I don't know how else you could use it?!

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

Usually DH, but sometimes me!

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

Normally when we realise we can't see out of them!

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

We do it when we have to, but are about to move from a cottage with small windows to a modern house with lots of glss, so we may need to spend a bit more time cleaning 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 an advert, think they look great and would love to try one for my new big windows!!!! I think that I would get a better streak free finish than doing them by hand. I would also use it on the shower screen.

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?
Outside done by window cleaner ground and first floor only. inside and 2nd floor by either myself or my husband. On 2nd floor, windows can be opened in a special way to access the outside to clean.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
about inside and outside windows?
Outside once every 6 weeks (done by window cleaner). inside and 2nd floor v infrequently as it is a big job that both me and my husband put off, until the late afternoon sun shines on them in such a way that we HAVE to 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?
When we do get round to doing it, it takes over an hour. Maybe even 2. Even after all that time and effort, we are still left with lint on the glass and smears. V frustrating.

~ 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?
Just seen one in home base, picked it up to read pack, v tempted but a bit of a luxury purchase and one that we can't justify at the moment. Definitely would love to try one, if they make the job quicker, more satisfying to do (as you can see that you are getting the windows REALLY clean) and if it motivates me to do the job more often (as I do love a clean window, just hate getting them clean). I think it looks good. I would use it on mirrors and on shower door too.

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? Husband usually does the outside and I would be ashamed to admit how infrequentlly, usually when I threaten him.....Inside, depends on your definition of cleans. I have a window vac which is used frequently in winter to remove condensation bt I don't really regard that as cleaning.

~ 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? Problems - streaks, surface that is not flat, areas upstairs that are difficult to reach.

~ 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 one but I'd like another to send to university with the teenager. They could have the old one, I would want to keep the new one We use it most often for condensation in winter and for cleaning the shower/ the bathroom floor. I am not a gadget freak but I would recommend this to anyone who has condensation on the windows and/or who has messy teenagers It would also have been good for cleaning up liquid spills from a high chair. My main concern is how I clean out the water reservoir if it ever started to incubate anything. It doesn't work very well on a surface that isn't flat. I rather expect the plug for the reservoir to break off sometime. I am rather disappointed that it hasn't appealed enough to my gadget freaks to get them to use it.

there are no window cleaners where I live or none that I have found so the windows tend to get cleaned by me when seeing out of them becomes an issue

I have not heard of the window vac if I had one I would not wait until seeing out of the window was a problem before cleaning my windows!

Well, we live in a bungalow, so we are perfectly capable of cleaning the windows, but we are very lazy about it! We have hundreds of windows. We have lived here for 4.5 years, but have cleaned the windows only three times. Normally, in the summer, we notice how mucky they are, but it takes us ages to get around to it.

I tend to do the inside, and DH the outside. It actually doesn't take too long once you get down to it.

The main problems are getting rid of the streaks and the dirty water from the squeegee.

We used to have a window cleaner in our old place, but that was a mid-terrace with few windows and we didn't have a ladder!

I haven't heard of the Karcher window washer, but it sounds good, as the squeegie work is a pain.

New gadgets often get mixed reviews especially if they are on the
pricey side, but this one is absolutely fab, bought one for both my children no one has a bad word to say about them

We used to have a company clean the outside every 8 weeks but on a budget drive once I gave up work to have my baby (currently in my arms b.19thJune) we cancelled it. Inside we did ourselves - whoever cracked first! My dad is a huge Fan of Internet shopping so bought a Karcher window cleaner. I volunteered to 'test' it for him. It is so good at giving a streak free finish. The thing I found absolutely the best was cleaning the shower cubicle, our bathroom has poor ventilation & mould builds up quickly if we are not very diligent. Using the Karcher window vac on the cublicle pretty much controlled the problem. Unfortunately, my dad wants his back :-( so a replacement would be superb!

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I wish we had a window cleaner! I usually ask hubby to do it, after several 'yeah later's, I attempt myself.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside every 2-3 months, outside about once a year as there are difficult to reach.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
It takes a while to clean our outside windows as they are bay windows about 6 foot up! I usually have to balance precariously off of steps or wall with a squigey (sp?) on a broom handle!

~ 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 before, seen the advertisement on tv.
I would consider it, if it would make it easier to reach windows!

who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? I pay a window cleaner to do the outside. He struggles to reach the windows over the conservatory and our en suite due to the proximity of the boundary fence. We have a glazed to ground conservatory so a LOT of glass to clean....I grudge paying the window cleaner so anything that means we could do it ourselves would be ace! The outside gets done every 4-6 weeks, inside perhaps every second outside clean? Wish we had more control over when the outside was done though - it invariably rains after the cleaner has been, or if we have guests it would be great to be able to quickly tidy up ourselves.

How often do your windows get a clean? Every 4-6 weeks outside, inside every second clean I guess.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered Perhaps an hour or so...we are a two story house with a large conservatory but wouldn't want to take too long over it. It's difficult to reach the windows above the conservatory - the window cleaner does that one from the inside if I'm home when he calls, and I don't really like inviting him in to be honest! Our ensuite window is awkward too - the boundary fence means he can't get his long pole right up to the corners of the glass. I wish he'd remember to do the glass in the front and back doors, 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? I'd seen one before, in B&Q I think but wasn't really sure what it was all about. We didn't buy one as it was a little dear and I wasn't sure exactly what it was for. Now I know a little more, yes I would consider one......and it would mean we could do our windows when we wanted. I'd use it inside and outside, meaning I wouldn't be black affronted when I realise in June that the sucker marks from the fairy lights we have on our windows at christmas are still there . I'd use it on our new conservatory which is glazed to ground and therefore has lots of glass - what about on the greenhouse too? Could keep the glass sparkling clean, which lets in more light to my plants and maybe they'd grow better at all.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I do it, albeit rarely. I had a window cleaner once, but he'd turn up at random times, and charge random amounts, and it pissed me off.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
REally not very often. Outside when there's bird muck on it, and the rain hasn't washed it away. Inside if the cats or kids have made them dirty; otherwise every 4ish months?

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Not that much, tbh. It's not that rewarding a task as they just end up smeared anyway. Reaching upstairs/outsie is obviously a problem.

~ 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?
Yip, I've heard of it, seen the ad, seen it in store. HAs it also been on QVC? i'd be most interested in it as a way of vacuuming away the condensation that we get in the colder months. Currently I use a cloth, but then the water from that just evaporates back into the house.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? Should be me, I guess...

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? Never. And I've lived here nine years.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered? It appears none...

~ 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, but it sounds like the answer to my prayers. I want something that will actually enable me to clean the windows without having to re-do it or make them look worse. I would absolutely try it out. Would also use on showers and skylights and maybe the glass, inside and out, on the cars.

Ok, here goes....

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

in theory we clean our own windows

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

rarely, if ever, we're very clean otherwise though!

~ 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 time as possible to be honest

~ 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've heard of it, DH is always toying with the idea of getting one but we never got round to it when it was on offer at Costo. Would love to try one out, think it's a good idea and wonder if it has other attachments for using inside the house, bathroom/mould maybe?

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

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside would get cleaned every 6-8 weeks or sooner if they are dirty. The outside ones are hard to reach and might get cleaned 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?
An hour or so. The problems are difficult to reach windows and the window height. I need steps just to do the lounge windows inside.

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 before but I would love to try it. The idea of regularly having sparkling clean windows sounds fantastic.
Hopefully it could be used on mirrors and bathroom/kitchen tiles.

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

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? 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? An hour. We've just moved from a ground floor flat, so cleaning the outdoor upstairs ones should be interesting.

~ 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? Haven't heard of it, but certainly sounds interesting enough to try.

I clean inside, DP does outside. About ever 3 months, keep meaning to get a window cleaner to do them more regularly.

It takes us about 1 hr. Problem is that we've got traditional georgian windows that are small and fiddly.

Haven't heard of karcher window vac before, might be useful, but I'd be concerned that it'd be another gadget that I rarely dig out.

I generally use vinegar or my steam cleaner.

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I do them, but we only have one floor so no ladders or anything needed.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Twice a year if I can get away with it (once when the xmas lights go up in the window and again around about now).
But more often if I really have to.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
It seems to take at least half a day (that'll be why I avoid it until I have to). My main problem is that old fashioned secondary double glazing on 2 windows - it makes 2 windows into 12 sides of glass that need cleaning and some lifting.

~ 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 and no and no. It'd be wasted on me tbh. I'm quite happy with newspaper and vinegar. It's a pain of a job enough without having to go and get / sort out / empty the window vac thingie as well.
I'm also sorry I bothered getting the dust buster for high chair and floor areas when weaning.

~ 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 outside, I use traditional methods of white vinegar, and newspaper. It is hard work but the results are fantastic
~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside and out, about every 6 weeks or so, the more I do it the easier it is each time

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
I'd spend up to an hour, problems are if the sun is shining I get smears, and vinegar dries to quickly.

~ 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 knew they existed, not sure anything could do it as well as vinegar and newspaper! I would try one, and if it did the job just as well and quicker then it would be worth it, but too much money to just try!
I don't know how else you could use it?!

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
We get someone to clean the outside and my husband and I share cleaning the inside.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
The outside is cleaned every two months. The inside is cleaned as and when required!!

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Not a keen window cleaner so as little time as possible! The problems we have are reaching some of the windows, getting a streak free finish that looks clean when the sun shines and sticky fingers that seem to get everywhere!

~ 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 window vac and would love one. It sounds like it would save time cleaning and give a lovely finish to the windows. I would not only use it on the windows but my huge shower screen that never looks streak free and the mirrors too.
Fingers crossed as I'd love one!!

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

My DH loves clean windows and cleaning them is one of his top priorities when he has the time.

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

My DH rarely has the time so the windows are rarely cleaned!

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

A bit of a perfectionist so he will work on them until satisfied. Smears are often a problem and the assistance of DS1, 2 and 3 is usually a challenge!

~ 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 never heard of one but it sounds great, DH would love one

Without even thinking about the other 9 windows and double porch doors, I have two sets of patio doors, one of which is nearly 8 feet wide.

I rarely clean my windows anymore due to having ME and there's no window cleaner...

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

I get someone in to clean the outside of the windows. I clean the inside (admittedly not very well though!)

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

Window cleaner has only been once since we moved in last August - I'm looking for someone who can come once every 2-3 months rather than every month. I've cleaned the inside windows twice in the last 10 months and aim to clean them a bit more frequently, but it's not a job I enjoy, and it's not an easy task as we have a mix of original sash windows (which are tricky to get right into the edges) and uPVC which are much easier to clean!

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

Ha - I'd love DH to clean the windows but I don't think that'll ever happen! I try to get it over with as quickly as possible, but it would probably take me a good 2 hours to get them all done properly. The sash windows are the hardest because I can't always get right to the edges (helpfully painted closed by previous owners). The other problem I have is that the upstairs windows are very high and I'm not very confident on the ladder, which is why I get someone in to clean the outside windows!

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 this product before, so I don't have one in my house. Would definately consider trying one out - it is portable so I imagine it would be fairly easy to handle, it catches the drips (I hate the water running up my arm!) and best of all, it's streak free! It sounds like it would make a horrible job much quicker and easier. I would also use it in the bathroom - on the tiles and (when we eventually get round to installing a shower cubicle) on the glass of the cubicle too.

I clean inside - window cleaner outside.
Monthly - outside
Whenever it needs doing inside

Time spent
as little as poss as its not a great job

I have heard if Karcher Window Vac but would not spend a few pence short of £100 on one.