Short answer
Make sure I can reach every window: unlock gates, move bins and cars, and clear sills and the space in front of inside windows. Put pets somewhere safe, and tell me about anything delicate, cracked or loose. You don’t need to be in for an outside clean, and you don’t need to provide water or power.
What helps most for an outside clean?
- Open gates and side access. Unlocked, or tell me where the key is.
- Move bins, bikes and garden furniture away from the windows if you can.
- Park cars so I can reach. A car against a wall can block a window.
- Tell me about dogs. A dog loose in the garden can stop me.
- Mention fragile things: hanging baskets, seedlings, a water feature.
- Close the windows. Open windows let water in.
What helps for an inside clean?
- Clear sills of ornaments, plants and blinds that get in the way.
- Move furniture that blocks the window if it’s easy to shift.
- Let me know about pets and where they’ll be.
- Take down curtains only if you want them cleaned or they hang over the glass. Otherwise I can tie them back.
I use drop sheets and cloths, but the less I have to move, the quicker it goes.
What if I’m not in?
For outside, that’s usually fine, as long as I can reach the windows. For inside, someone needs to be there. Do I need to be in? is on the FAQ page.
Living in Wickford? Your first window clean in Wickford walks through the whole first visit.
What do I not need to do?
- You don’t need to wash the windows first. That’s what I’m there for.
- You don’t need to clean the frames first. Ask me if you’d like them done.
- You don’t need to tidy the whole house. Just the windows I’ll be at.
What should I tell you in advance?
These matter more than anything on the list above, so please put them on your quote request:
- Cracked or flaking paint, or timber frames with oil or varnish. What is a water-fed pole? explains why.
- Gates, steps, narrow paths or high fences.
- Conservatories, skylights or windows that are hard to reach.
- Anything that doesn’t open or close properly, or leaks.
- Which windows you’d like left out.
What about the weather?
Light rain doesn’t always stop an outside clean, but strong wind and heavy rain can. Ask me how I handle bad-weather days.
Common questions
Do I need to take my curtains down?
No. If they hang over the glass I can tie them back, and you only need to take them down if you want them washed.
What if I forget something?
Don’t worry. If I can’t reach a window, I’ll tell you which one. I won’t skip it quietly.
Can I leave a note?
Yes. If you’re out, a short note about gates and anything fragile helps. Tell me in the quote request how you’d like me to leave things.
Do you need to come into my garden?
For most outside cleans, yes, to reach back and side windows. If your garden has a dog, a locked gate or a pond, tell me before the visit.
Should I clean the frames before you come?
No need. If you’d like frames and sills done, ask me, and I’d rather see them as they are so I know what I’m dealing with. If there’s something you’re worried about, such as a cracked seal or a loose bead, point it out.
What if my side gate is locked?
Unlock it before I arrive, or tell me where the key is kept. If I can’t reach the back windows, I’ll clean what I can and tell you which windows I couldn’t reach, so we can sort out access for next time.
Is there anything I should check afterwards?
Look at the glass once it has fully dried, ideally in daylight from the inside. If you see spots or smears, tell me where they are. A few spots on a first clean can be old soap residue running out of the frames, which is covered in spots after the first clean.
Do you need parking?
It helps if I can park near the house, because the hose runs from the van. If parking is tricky on your road, tell me and I’ll plan around it.
