Friday, 24 June 2016

Window Cleaning; French Style!



French hinges are not like UK hinges; ours slot on from above, and can be lifted off quite easily.

I don't clean windows too often; this isn't a show house by any means. But occasionally I do take the windows off, sponge them with soapy water, then hose them down to remove all the suds. It's easy, quick, and does the job.

These ones also needed a light 'oiling' with linseed; it preserves the wood and gives it a 'glow'.

The windows were made for us by a local man about 35 years ago, and have lasted very well. We replace bits of missing putty occasionally, but other than that they simply receive a really good cleaning about every five years; whether they need it or not.... More than enough!



26 comments:

Susan Heather said...

What a good idea.

lovelygrey said...

Nifty! x

Maria said...

Lovely windows, we call those 'English windows" here.
Clever idea. 'Necessity is the mother of invention' in your case; those little windows are tough to clean singularly, especially nearest the wooden frame.
My windows need cleaning... Cro?
Greetings Maria x

Cro Magnon said...

I'm no fool.

Cro Magnon said...

Even Lady Magnon was amazed.

Cro Magnon said...

The panes of glass are very small and much easier to clean 'on their backs'. The window is also in rather an odd place. Mostly we have very big single sheets of glass in our doors etc, and they are much easier.

Yael said...

Same sistem here but i can not put them back alone, so i wait.

potty said...

Here is the first time that I've had windows that open inwards. That means you can clean, in situ, the outsides even upstairs. I don't think that there are any Window Cleaners in France.

Coppa's girl said...

Ours open and also tilt inwards. Just a large pane of glass, so I wash them with a pressure washer - easy peasy !
I love the look of your windows Cro, but wouldn't want the work involved, so I'll admire them from afar.

Cro Magnon said...

They're not always easy to put back on; but these were OK.

Cro Magnon said...

I wonder why it's different from one country to the next.... In the UK our windows open either outwards or up and down.

Cro Magnon said...

That's why I only wash them every 5 years!

Ninaschen said...

You're supposed to wash windows? Oh...

Cro Magnon said...

I'm not trying to start a trend; it's just a suggestion (every 5 years).

Anonymous said...

Yes, Cro, nothing more important than to see clearly.

U

Cro Magnon said...

That would certainly be the common sense approach.

Amy Saia said...

They look brand new. You did an excellent job.

Cro Magnon said...

They're made of really good hardwood, so it doesn't take much work.

Sue said...

They look far too clean! I'm looking at mine now and thinking oh dear.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Tey are lovely windows Cro. Wish I could take ours off hinges in order to sluice them down. As it is, (they are old-fashioned sash windows) they are a bit of a chore to clean inside (the window cleaner does the outside. I well remember my mother cleaning the outside of ours when I was a child - sitting out on to the window sill and pulling the top window down onto her legs so that she is firmly fixed in.

Cro Magnon said...

Yours probably haven't yet had the full five years.

Cro Magnon said...

I'll stick with my method. Less dangerous!

Jo said...

Oh wow, what a wonderful idea to have detachable windows. I have a wonderful gardener who washes my windows once in three months. He makes a solution of redbush tea to wash the dust off and then wipes them shiny with newspaper. Any longer than that and we'd wander around in a darkened house. Sorry I've not been around regularly this week, but we had an injured cat and keeping him comfortable after vets treatment has taken a lot of my time. Greetings Jo

Le Pré de la Forge said...

And, have you noticed how uncluttered our windowsills become in Summer!!

Cro Magnon said...

Oh dear Jo; I hope the cat is OK. There's almost nothing worse than having a sick animal at home. Best wishes.

Graham Edwards said...

Windows here in the hurricane-prone Outer Hebrides are, of course, quite different and the ideod of not washing them is only ok if you don't want to see through them: salt-encrusted windows are very irritating.

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