Having a conservatory is a joy in the summer, it serves as a great holding area for food and drinks for a party and when the sun starts to go down the heat retained inside will create a lovely place to sit and enjoy the summer twilight in comfort.  One thing that puts people off having a conservatory is the cleaning involved.  The inside may get cleaned during the normal household cleaning routine, but the outside can accumulate dust, grime and bird droppings all year round, and sometimes developing green filmy algae to add to the dirt.  There are companies that you can hire to clean and valet your conservatory, and if you are at all unsure about using ladders we recommend that you call in the professionals – better safe than sorry.  If, however, heights are no challenge for you and you're experienced in the use of ladders, then there's no reason why you can't do this job yourself.

You should set aside a day when the weather is favourable.  This may be the biggest challenge facing DIY conservatory cleaners, as with the British summer the way it is we can never be totally sure that the forecast will hold true.  If it starts raining on the day you were planning to clean the conservatory then you should postpone the job.  The same is true for extreme heat – you will be exposed to direct sunlight and heat, so you may be at risk of dehydration or heatstroke, not to mention the glare off your newly cleaned, shiny conservatory glass.  It is better to approach the job during the cooler hours of the day and have a well-earned rest during the hot part.  Extreme heat and ladders, or rain and ladders are not a safe combination.  You can use the same cleaning products you would for windows on your conservatory, but a dedicated PVC cleaner is best for the framework.

It is better to do what you can standing on terra firma.  The sides of your conservatory can be reached from the ground and by using extendable tools to get right to the top; you can remain safely on the ground.  We'd recommend you start on the inside to clear any internal dirt and streaky glass before you starting on the outside – if you don't, you may find yourself on the conservatory roof scrubbing away at a really stubborn streak, only to find it's on the inside.  A step ladder or a hop up step can be used inside to reach the ceiling.

For the outside, a step ladder can also be used to help you reach the top of the walls if you can't reach this on your own, or don't have long handled tools to help.  To reach the roof you should always use the correct equipment, don't be tempted to climb directly on to the roof, as it is really easy to slip and fall especially when there is water involved.  Chase manufacture conservatory ladders designed specifically for this purpose, which works so much better than cobbling together a similar set up from whatever ladders and kit you have lying around.

Conservatory ladders are made up of two main sections, a vertical section which rests on the ground and takes you to the eaves (of a height between 2.2 metres and 3.1 metres), and a more horizontal section which gives you access to the conservatory roof.  The lower section, which is made of two sliding extendable sections to allow for a range of heights, has a heavy duty suction cup attached to it which should be secured to the window for extra stability.  The solid rubber swivel feet provide a firm footing with some adjustability, but these should always be set up on even, solid ground.

The top section that allows roof access has wide aluminium bearers coated with a non-marking PVC coating – you don't want to clean your conservatory then see lots of marks across the framework from the ladder.  There are handrails on both sides to allow for safety while cleaning is in progress.  Never set the ladder up to rest on the roof panels, always ensure the ladder is resting on the framework and check the load bearing capacity of your conservatory.  The ladder can take a load of up to 175 kilos, but if the conservatory roof can't take the same weight you may have to find another, safer way to clean it. 

Finally, always make sure you have someone else to help you get cleaning equipment up and down, and to get help if you happen to fall or slip during the process.  We have three conservatory ladders in our range, so take a look and pick the best one for cleaning your conservatory.  Once you have cleaned it you can then relax in your freshly cleaned garden room and reward yourself for a job well done.