Cleaning conservatory windows

[Nigel Watts]

I dont have a conservatory exactly but I do have a problem which must be common with those who do. My modern lean to extension on the side of my house has a continuous row of skylights, like a narrow greehouse roof. These windows need a jolly good clean. I have bought an entendable window cleaning pole and can reach most panes with this from the flat roof of my rear extension.

I have been able to shift quite a bit of muck by squirting on some cif, rubbing with the cloth and wiper on the end of my pole, and hosing down. Problem is that I am still left with what look like lime scale streaks where the water runs off the onto the glass from the lead roof above.

Any ideas on how to get rid of these? I would prefer to avoid having to climb on the lean to roof itself, which is difficult to access and has quite a steep slant.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well here in Lincolnshire we have a remarkably technological solution to the problem that I don't suppose has reached the provinces of Islington yet. :wink:

For £15 an affable chap with an extraordinary hose turns up in his large lorry, which has been filled with special-drying streak free water (don't ask me what this is). We don't book him, he just comes when he likes, once a month, and we pay online. He runs round the house squirting all the windows with his hose which are then left to dry naturally without any squeegeeing or polishing. Because of this specially treated water they really dry beautifully and gleam.

The only thing that concerns me is the gallons of water squirted against my already damp house. :?

If you can find such a service in N London (hollow laughs) your life will then take place with constantly gleaming views!

If not, then your window cleaning should run like this:
1) Get the highest most stable step ladder you can find- I've raved before about my platform from Screwfix
2) Use your extendable washing/ squeegeeing equipment (just a little Fairy Liqid in big bucket of hot water)
3) Don't hose, that's what's causing drips
4) Buff/ Polish with a clean, dry extendable buffer
5) Repeat ad nauseum - they'll be really good in a year!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Decorating tower on wheels? Tall enough and a nice stable platform from which to work.

If you don't have one, then they can be hired for a weekend for less than it costs to have someone beaten up these days.

Alternatively, and much more fun, is to use your children's trampoline. Can be a little more time consuming though!

 

[yamin]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

I wondered if someone would spot the Wallace & Gromitt reference. When the kids were small we watched these so many times that parts of the dialogue have become engrained in our everyday language.

These streaks are more than just residue from the cleaning water - they seem to be deposits on the surface of the glass which have resulted from several years of water running over them in particular places. I am thinking of using a limescale remover, but am not sure yet how to target it accurately. If I try to squirt it from a distance, like the cif, it will go everywhere including over the lead which I am not sure will do it any good.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ah, long distance squirting and rubbing is unlikely to do much then. You need to get up there, somehow, soak the patches in Viakal (which is magic) and scrub (with some force) with a worn green backed scourer.

What a pain, this is why most of the windows in London are in such a state- people quite rightly value their unbroken necks over their windows.

 

[yamin]

I'd suggest a conservatory ladder

http://www.laddersalesdirect.co.uk/standard-conservatory-ladder-p-533.html

Heres a link, but I am sure we got ours for about £115. Its a multi purpose ladder so we felt it was a good investment for conservatory but also gutters etc. That way you can safely get your cleaner on and get a bit of good elbow grease at it!

 

[AMc]

I am still left with what look like lime scale streaks where the water runs off the onto the glass from the lead roof above.

I'm afraid it's probably staining from the lead. It should have been treated with patination oil (sp?) when it was first fitted to prevent the lead from oxidising and the oxidation from running off. The lead will now have stopped reacting but the staining may be bonded to the glass. I've just completed rebuilding a 8m x 4m vinery and I was warned that untreated lead would ruin my new glass so it was treated with this 'magic oil' as it was beaten down.

I would try local glaziers or roofing suppliers for solutions as I doubt simple scrubbing will remove it. You could try a window paint scraper fitted with a sharp stanley knife blade but you're going to have to get up there first so I would go armed with the information about how best to remove it.

A quick google revealed this
http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=87777