apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I moved into a new condo development about four months ago and we're still waiting to get the post-construction cleaning. It was supposed to happen In April but they're still haggling with people. They didn't incorporate it into the condo agreement which makes no sense to me so I'm worried we might be on an every 3-4 years schedule. Right now all I know is that on top of dirty windows I have a big piece of unreachable tape that is blocking my view and making me very frustrated.

we'll i've been there a year and it hasn't happened yet so...
though I did once clean the outside of the patio door and window...

2 years and counting with very dirty windows. I was considering taking matters into my own hands this long weekend as our apartment is not that high up.

I do mine myself since they get really dirty, really often due to all the construction going on around my building. I can't reach the top part of the window usually, but if I use my mop and stand on my balcony, it works pretty well...that sounds so trashy, but it works!

those guys give me a heart attack every time they swing and bump onto my windows at work. then i want to stare at them as they work because it's like watching an elegant window washing ballet, but that's awkward because they can see me staring at them...oi.

in my old apartment i washed my outside windows as needed, which was about once a month. it was a walk up, but there was no hose, so the process involved me throwing bowls of hot water at my windows. it was very messy.

I have someone who does them all for $80 inside and out (mid size house). Best money every spent, IMO. Makes the whole house look clean. It's through my cleaning service.

Our windows used to get washed yearly, but the windows were replaced a few years ago and the new windows can swing inside so that I can wash them myself. It's great and I probably wash them at least twice a year.

rarely alas. and within a month or so, needs another cleaning.

I bought a home a few months ago and this chore had completely escaped my memory! I need to do this!

Not as often as I should even though I live on the ground floor.

it's been years and it shows. the fault is mine since my windows swing open inside too. *sigh* alright already AT, i'll do them this weekend! now stop reminding me of chores i'm neglecting.

I think the rain must clean them for me, because I sure as heck never do...and they are crystal clear. Cool! I do clean the patio sliders every two weeks because fingerprints and muddy dog prints can add up fast.

it has been nine years, so it would seem to be riding on never. The building was reno'd and converted to apts then.

whose apt windows get washed in NYC? I don't ever see that.

cherrybomb- I live in NYC too and I've never seen my apartment building's windows washed. ever.

How depressing...I really hope that doesn't mean that I have to live with the tape on my window for forever, but now that I think about it I haven't ever seen window washers on a NYC residential building either.

How does everyone clean their SCREENS??

screens can be taken out and soaked. I must admit I've only seen my Joan Crawford-esque do this.

My apartment building has the windows done at least once a year

Casa - for my screens in LA, I had bars on the INSIDE of the window, so I would use a spray bottle with just regular dish soap and water and spritz it down and let it soak for a minute. Then I'd take a big pitcher, fill it with hot water, and put it up against the screen as close to the screen as I could while emptying it. The dirt that slushed off there (I did it every 3 months) was amazing. The corners were hard to manage, but I threw a glass of water through them to get the soap and dirt off.

I lived on the 3rd floor over a sidewalk... if people couldn't see water dripping from my window and walked underneath while I was washing, tough. I didn't dare press on the screens, because I'd seen them come flying down from the higher floors - they weren't very secure.

By the landlord -- never in 25 years. By me -- once or twice a year.

Are you kidding me?! Once every month or two months.

i wish, i'm still trying to come up with a way to clean them myself...so far all I've come up with is hanging out the window, not very safe or effective...

re: screens -- i take them down -- then outside and get as much dust off as possible -- then wash them in the tub

thanks That70sHeidi and greenidge. I have to check if the screens pop out, not sure.

My condo does less than nothing.
Every unit pays for their own window washer.
Even if the building dirties the windows from their contractors while they are working outside.

I've been wondering this myself. I don't think my landlord ever washes ours, and I have tried to wash my own but am pretty unsuccessful--even if I were to hang out the window, when I open it, it covers the top portion.