'in the paper so it must be true'
On that hosepipe ban including us story the telegraph mentioned the 400000 window cleaners. If there is a population of 60 mill with half at school retired or on the social, that gives you a figure of one working person in thirty being a window cleaner.
I tried Jeff's tip, going along in the direction of the trail and found that it worked.
Ian's webbing idea is good- I fiddle when I clip and unclip- a photo would be good
Cleaner windows just read your comment about snails trails. Today I was thinking I have a lot of houses where they kick footballs at the window. The lady said- ah you got that pigeon impression off that flew into my window-. So that's what they are?