Window cleaning, 2025
Discussion
I moved here in 2021 and a window cleaner used to charge £16 a time.
Duplex flat, 1st and 2nd floor, big UPVC windows plus 2 small hard to get at ones on the side as one needs to get over garages.
Front door UPVC glass as well as a side bit.
I stopped it when trying to save pennies.
A few lame attempts by myself have left the windows streaky and they constantly collect bird poo.
So chatted to the guy that came to clean my neighbours and he's charging £60 a time. Van with 'filtered' tank and those long pole brushes to get up high.
Wow! that seems loads, or am I living in the past??
He comes to this estate every 2 months and has loads of customers.
Maybe a new career beckons
Duplex flat, 1st and 2nd floor, big UPVC windows plus 2 small hard to get at ones on the side as one needs to get over garages.
Front door UPVC glass as well as a side bit.
I stopped it when trying to save pennies.
A few lame attempts by myself have left the windows streaky and they constantly collect bird poo.
So chatted to the guy that came to clean my neighbours and he's charging £60 a time. Van with 'filtered' tank and those long pole brushes to get up high.
Wow! that seems loads, or am I living in the past??
He comes to this estate every 2 months and has loads of customers.
Maybe a new career beckons
croyde said:
So that's quite a mark up that I was quoted.
Just to add, Outer London Borough.
4 bed detached £8.50 and done every 5-6 weeks, water fed pole, 4 large windows, 2 single width windows on the hall plus 2 small bathroom windows on first floor plus tall lounge window, double kitchen, glazed back door and patio doors on groundJust to add, Outer London Borough.
move out of London!
Had the same window cleaner for 17 years , located in NE Notts.
5 bed barn and cartshed conversion, lots of large glass areas on ground floor, couple of windows on 2nd floor and 6 velux in roof. He does not do the 6 velux windows every month, just once a year.
£17 ...it used to be £12 when he first started.
Same guy does the neighbour's each side and across road, so guess it makes it worthwhile coming out to our village.
5 bed barn and cartshed conversion, lots of large glass areas on ground floor, couple of windows on 2nd floor and 6 velux in roof. He does not do the 6 velux windows every month, just once a year.
£17 ...it used to be £12 when he first started.
Same guy does the neighbour's each side and across road, so guess it makes it worthwhile coming out to our village.
I set 2 of my sons up as window cleaners 4 years ago when I realised just how profitable it was.
This summer they bought another van, bought more work and employed a young lad to train up, and after expenses they make between £700 to £850 profit per day, and every subsequent van/employee they put on the road will make them a minimum of £50k per year.
So yes, it’s a very nice and very profitable business to be in.
Have recently moved house in S/E London and have had a few different window cleaners knocking, cheapest has been £25 for just the front windows most expensive £40.
I don't think it's value for money as it takes them literally a couple of minutes, van turns up and then they use telescopic poles with hoses running from the van and then they do all cleaning from ground level.
If someone did it the traditional way up a ladder with a bucket and squeegee and took more than five minutes then I'd pay £20 for the front windows but no more than that.
With the current weather over summer we've had the past few years it's been pointless anyway due to all the saharan sand that's being blown over, I've quit having my car detailed for the same reason as the last time it was detailed within an hour it started spitting rain full of dirt which coated everything.
I don't think it's value for money as it takes them literally a couple of minutes, van turns up and then they use telescopic poles with hoses running from the van and then they do all cleaning from ground level.
If someone did it the traditional way up a ladder with a bucket and squeegee and took more than five minutes then I'd pay £20 for the front windows but no more than that.
With the current weather over summer we've had the past few years it's been pointless anyway due to all the saharan sand that's being blown over, I've quit having my car detailed for the same reason as the last time it was detailed within an hour it started spitting rain full of dirt which coated everything.
When we moved into our new house, I got a local window cleaner to come round, long pole, clean water system, as he was unpacking he said he charges £60.00 an hour, I politely told him to pack his stuff back and leave, as he said it will take him about 2 hours to do our windows. I have since purchased a cheap clean water system that connects to the hose and filters as i go and do my windows myself once a month, takes me about 45-60 mins in total now.
3 bed mid-terrace, we get the fronts (3 large windows and a porch, all UPVC) done once a month - no easy access to the rear if we re not there so I contort and do them myself. Local service who does a lot of the street, £9 a time (it recently went up a pound).
Edit: Essex
Edit: Essex
Edited by generationx on Thursday 30th October 15:55
We pay £45 a time, but bigger than average detached house in a rural area (so he can’t do the neighbours at the same time!). Sure we could save money, but I know and trust the guy and happy for him to have gate code etc.
We did consider buying kit and doing it ourselves, but my worry is that it ll just never get done, given all the more pressing diy and garden stuff on my list.
We did consider buying kit and doing it ourselves, but my worry is that it ll just never get done, given all the more pressing diy and garden stuff on my list.
4 Bed Detached with conservatory and a few quirky/difficult windows.
10 Windows, plus front door glazing (with side lights) & a conservatory (which is 7 windows plus patio doors).
He does it with a filter water pole system - always a good job, no streaks. Takes him 20mins in total.
£22 - Berkshire.
£60 can do one, London or not.
10 Windows, plus front door glazing (with side lights) & a conservatory (which is 7 windows plus patio doors).
He does it with a filter water pole system - always a good job, no streaks. Takes him 20mins in total.
£22 - Berkshire.
£60 can do one, London or not.
I just bought a decent squeegee and mop job and some window cleaner then use my arms tp use the ladder and then the arms again to clean.
My grandfather did window cleaning and earnt peanuts. Today its like any other trade where someone wants extortinate fees and to claim business rates on a VW van they use at weekends.
My grandfather did window cleaning and earnt peanuts. Today its like any other trade where someone wants extortinate fees and to claim business rates on a VW van they use at weekends.
Abc321 said:
£60 is a 'I don't want the work' quote isn't it surely?!
I've just spoken to other neighbours who use him. They all think it's good value for money and he does a good job. One has used him for years.
I think I've just entered an alternative universe, the one with WH Smith prices at Heathrow and expensive petrol at Heston services.
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