Cleaning Double-hung windows

I have recently moved to a 3-story townhouse and am thinking about how to clean the exterior windows. I can't get to them from the outside so my question is this:

How do I remove the part of the window that slides up and down? They are modern vinyl, double glazed windows. I can't find a brand name on them however. If I could remove this part of the window, I can get to the rest of the window to clean it.

Any advice on how to remove and then reinstall them would be very much appreciated.

 

If they are as you say, "modern vinyl, double glazed windows", they probably tilt-in for cleaning. Look on the top of the sash for something that slides (tilt latches) toward the center. Lift the sash a few inches, slide the tilt latches and tilt window in.

Does the top sash slide down? If it doesn't, it's called a single hung window and difficult to clean the outside.

 

Tilt-in sahses are an option, and if the guy who ordered the windows has never tried cleaning a 3rd story window, he probably didn't order them with that option! (HIS WIFE WOULD HAVE!!!)

Tilt-in's will have a latch on the top of each sash -- release that latch, and they will tilt in. Since you probably don't have that latch, next best thing is going to be to remove the lower sash and lean out that opening to clean the upper sash. The "next best" (or least desirable) option will be to rent or buy a really tall ladder!!!

 

Apparently these are "single hung" windows - the upper part does not move. I can clean it by opening the lower part and just leaning out the window to clean the upper part but what about the outside of the lower part. They do not lean out for cleaning. They seem to attach to the frame on each side and I think there is a spring mechanism built into the window so it will move easily up and down and stay in any position. I can see where they attach when the window is down. If I detach them from the frame, I think I could remove them but how hard would it be to get them back in?

Anyone?

 

Well, they don't tilt in and I can reach the upper window by opening the lower window and reaching out. I need to get the lower one out to clean. It appears to be attached to the frame at each side and there must be a spring mechanism in there also. Could I detach the window where it is attached to the frame and remove it? And then could I get it reinstalled?

Any suggestions are appreciated.