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

[grendel]

1.Window cleaners do the outside. I do the inside.

2.Window cleaners come every 6 weeks to do outside. I do the insides when they get embarassingly bad. Probably about twice a year. Kitchen windows get cleaned more often as they end up spotted by splashes from the sink.

3.About an hour a time. Biggest problem is trying to get rid of streaks and smears. And my arms starting to ache from all the polishing to get rid of streaks.

1. Have never heard of the Karcher Window Vac and don't know anyone who has one.
   

I would like to try one out, especially if it really does clean without leaving streaks.
I'd also use it on the shower screen and maybe on the bathroom tiles.

[BrianTheMole]

~ 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. Dh isn't well so he's not able to do things like that.  I have thought about a window cleaner but they are really expensive where I live and they don't turn up when you want them to. 

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

Inside I clean once a week. But the outside downstairs I clean once a month.  Upstairs outside is a lot less, maybe once every six months, as its hard work getting up there and I don't really like balancing on the ladder. The windows above the conservatory and the conservatory roof I don't do at all because I can't reach!   

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? 

The inside the same as now, once a week, maybe more depending on the sticky fingerprints. I'd probably do the outside upstairs once a month if it was easier and there was less scrubbing involved. 

What problems, if any, are encountered? 

~ The windows above the conservatory and the conservatory roof I don't do at all because I can't reach!
 
 Had you heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today?
 
No

Do you have one in your household?

No

 Would you contemplate trying one out?

Absolutely!

 Why? 

Because I want clean windows, free of sticky finger prints. No matter how much I scrub the windows they always look smeary and the fingerprint are back in no time. At the moment I have no need for net curtains or similar, as the film of dirt works just as well!

What do you think of it? 

It looks like a great idea, as long as its not a gimmick. I never knew such things existed.

Where else do you think you'd use it?

Spills on the floors,  mirrors, big internal glass doors, and shower screens. 

[Iamanorangesmartie]

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I clean both the inside and outside windows of our house.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Erm, outside a couple of times a year (they have the silly leading on them that means there are 10000000 of panes per window to clean per window). Inside, when they need them.

~ 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 do them more often, but with the leaded panes its a real arse to do them. Wouldn't want to spend more than 1 hour for the outside and 1hr for the inside (4 bed detatched 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 seen the adverts, and yes, I'd LOVE to try one out as our silly windows are a pain (no pun intended) to clean and if there was something that would make it easier I'd love to try it. Can't justify the £99 spend though. xx

[neddle]

Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
No one . We used to have a cleaner ddo the outsides, but can't afford it anymore, so it doesn't get done.

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Never. I don't get round to them with 4 kids and dh probably doesn't even think about it.

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
See above - although I have no idea how we'd the the upstairs outside windows ourselves.

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 knew they made cleaning things.
Don't have one, but would love to try one. I think it might make it fun and easy and quick for me to do.
I like the idea of being able to use it on tiles, so I could do the bathroom.
Would it work on lino or laminate floor? If so, then that would be excellent as all of downstairs and the upstairs bathroom have hard floors.

[PioneersAndPirateShips]

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

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside, about 2 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?
Would like to spend as little time as possible cleaning 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 heard of it, I would like to try one but it is a lot of money to spend if it is no use or we don't use it much. It would mostly be used to remove condensation from inside windows, and possible also to do car windows.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows? DH does outside and inside tends to get done by whoever is going the glass on our weekly blitz. Sometimes the kids do them (but I have to do them a bit more).

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)? Inside, as part of our weekly big clean (working parents, we all pull together on a weekend and get as much done as possible in a short time frame. Outside, when I moan at DH until he can't take any more...

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered? Not long. The only problem I've encountered is DH won't let me get a window cleaner in but only cleans them when they really need 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 hadn't heard of them but I'd love to try one because I'm lazy and like anything labour saving. It looks easy enough so I could possibly get DH or the kids to do it for me.
:0

[itsnothingoriginal]

I clean the inside Windows and we used to get local window cleaner to do outside but has got a bit too expensive. They are pretty grimy but I do my best to lean out and clean the upstairs ones myself!

I probably clean them once every 2 months - not my favourite job!

The problem we have is that our window glass has blown and the Windows are old so no amount of cleaning helps much until we can afford to replace them.

This product would be worth a try but I wouldn't expect miracles on our Windows

[AWimbaWay]

I sooo want one of these, a friend loves hers so much she actually got it out and did a demonstration whilst I was over for coffee, it looked fab.


~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
I clean them inside and out downstairs, the upstairs rarely get done.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Inside about once a month depending how much my toddler has been licking them or smearing them with sticky stuff. Outside less often.

~ 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, problems with smears or water stains.

~ 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 really want one, as mentioned before I have seen one being used and was genuinely impressed with the speed and effectiveness. It would be great for car windows, mirrors and shower doors too.

[Openyourheart]

I'd love to try one of those because I hate cleaning windows and I hardly ever do it. Maybe once a year. My windows are filthy. I've never heard of the window vac before but I'll try it out if you want to loan me one!!!

[WinkyWinkola]

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

We get someone in to do inside and out. I hate cleaning windows.



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

Our windows are cleaned about once a year. . We just ignore the dirt forget.



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

I don't give the windows any time because I find it very difficult. Awkward to access, smearing - I'm rubbish at 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?

Never heard of the Kärcher Window Vac before today. Would definitely try it if it meant that this job that I avoid became a doddle. Would use it on tiles and big mirrors too.

[Moominsarehippos]

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Me. Inside and out. Always me.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
When they get to the point when I can't see through them (outside) - about monthly (and when we have guests). The insides get a wipe weekly by we are in the city and they get filthy very quickly.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
As long as it takes if they got sparkly clean. In summer its nicer as I go go at them with a bucket of soapy water - plus the look dirtier when the sun shines. Maybe takes a couple of hours to do the lot properly.

~ 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 saw an ad and drooled. I would buy one if I had the spare cash! We don't have one - bucket and sponge job here! Our windows get very dirty - proper city sticky dirt. We don't have a cleaner any more and we both work. Access to some are hard because we are on a high floor (balcony ones are huge but easier to get to than the bedrooms/kitchen ones). I'd use it on my MILs ones too. She also have large windows but is much cleaner than we are so does them every week!

[krisskross]

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

How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Outside once a month, inside about twice in 5 years or when the finger prints from children are truly terrible..

How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
mmmm, maybe an hour? It drives me mad as impossible to do it smear free.

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, i have heard of it as ive seen the ads on telly. I would love to try one- looks easy and effective. Would also use it on the shower glass.

[Orli]

~ 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, usually once a week inside and outside. I seriously can't stand it when the windows are dirty. It makes me feel like the whole flat is dirty. Mainly because the flat we live in has full-wall-sizes windows throughout.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
every week usually, unless it's a really rainy week and then it's just the inside. Never has it been more than 2 weeks...

~ 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 me about 40 minutes to clean all 4 huge windows inside & out. The main problem is the streaks... It drives me insane that I can't get rid of 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?
To be honset I've never heard of it, but I checked it online after reading about it here, and I would love to try it. If it can get rid of my streaks I will forever be grateful and sing its praise :)

[Punkatheart]

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 when I am able. My ex used to do the outside ones - with much nagging.


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

Oh dear. Not very often.


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

We have an old house and those annoying little tiny panes. They are well named - they are a pain.


~ 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 hadn't heard of it. I definitely haven't got one. I would definitely try it - it sounds like something that might work for our fiddly old house. Could I use it on a dirty chicken? No, probably not - but I would use it on my shed windows - which are truly filthy!

[BlackeyedSusan]

you are suppossed to clean them?

the outsdide gets cleaned when the men with the long brushes come.

[LemonBreeland]

My windows get cleaned very rarely outside as it is a hassle. I keep meaning to get a window cleaner but haven't found one yet. Inside is done by me about once every couple of months.

I have heard of the karcher window cleaner and would like to try one out. I would hope that it may revolutionise my window cleaning like a steam mop did fo floor cleaning. Something that happens more often now due to floor cleaning being quicker and easier.

[LemonBreeland]

Forgot to mention how long I would spend doing windows. Not long tbh. I don't want it to take more than 15 minutes really.

[RachelHRD]

Who cleans your Windows?

• That'll be me - DH keeps on promising to do them......
  

How often are they cleaned? Inside and out

• Inside every few months with smudgy fingerprint (DC's) removal as and when needed inbetween! Outside not often enough especially as house is 3 storey so top window is rather grubby
  

How long would you be prepared to spend cleaning your windows?

• I get bored trying to deal with smears and water stains so tend to start doing the bi-fold doors at the back and then lose interest once they are done. So no more than an hour at a time!! Problems encountered are smears, hard to reach windows (3rd floor) and sheer number of windows - we have full width bi-folds and two sets of patio doors!
  

Heard of the Karcher window vac before?
-Yes my sister has one and loves it!

Do you have one?

• No but I'd love one!
  

Would you try one out? Why?

• Yes please!! Dirty Windows annoy me so I'd love an effective solution to keeping them clean.
  

Where else would you use it?

• I have two massive over sink mirrors and and mirrored and glass full length wardrobes so it would be great for that and my kitchen cupboards are high gloss, and the car windows......

[RachelHRD]

Oh and two glass shower cubicles!!

[polosareverynice]

the only time our windows got cleaned inside or out was pre dc over a year ago I used to be quite fastidous where windows were concerned now they get a quick swish if lucky downstairs and upstairs not done at all. I hadn't heard of this window cleaner but anything that makes life easier got to be a bonus, I like the idea but I do wonder if it would be a gadget I'd use and forget about once the novety wears off

[telsa]

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in?
When we first moved in a student came and did our windows inside and out. It was lovely. That was 18 years ago. Since then my fellow has done it, once!



What about inside and outside windows?
The student did inside and out. Fellow did just outside.



~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Well, never. Mind you we did have new windows put in 10 years ago.



~ 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, perhaps, but we never get round to it. I mean, we can (just about) still see through them. We are first floor and it is a bit tricky to get to the outside of the windows. Also everything is clutered inside, so we'd need to tidy windowsills etc first.



~ 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 it. It sounds intriguing. I would be keen to try one out. I would also use it on our many mirrors which are very smeary with children's finger print. We have lots of tiles too - so they could be cleaned, especially in bathroom and the splashback.

[Tyranasaurus]

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

I start, but I'm too short, I'll nag my husband who'll eventually do some

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

Once 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?

Not very much. Laziness, windows are too high for me

~ 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. I'd try one, though I dobt I'd buy one they seem like a gadget for soemone with too much time and money

[daftbesom]

~ Who in your house cleans the windows or do you get someone to come in? What about inside and outside windows?
Mostly me, sometimes DH. We do inside and outside - live in a bungalow but it has a double-height glass extension.

~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Seriously? About twice a year for the most-used rooms, maybe once a year for bedrooms. We live in the country away from roads and the windows don't get very dirty.

~ How much time would you/ your partner be prepared to spend cleaning the windows in your house? What problems, if any, are encountered?
Not enough time! Just doing kitchen, dining and extension takes half a day! We have astragals, so lots of little panes to clean. Spiders nest in the corners (outside) and we don't like to kill them. The double-height windows are hard to do and I do them with a pole - usually leaves them streaky.


~ 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. I would contemplate trying one but wouldn't want to pay upfront in case it didn't work. Also not sure if it would do the little panes. Prob would be good for condensation but then so is a cloth ...

[snowwhite27]

.

~ 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 windows and the window cleaner cleans outside ones.
~ How often your windows get a clean? (inside and out)?
Every 2 weeks live near s main road :(

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

Probably an hour tops

~ 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?

Never heard of them before mumsnet. I would love to try one out. Sounds promising so far. Probably in the kitchen