People say "I don't do windows" to express that a particular task falls outside the scope of their responsibilities, expertise, or willingness, a phrase that originated from cleaning service providers defining their excluded duties.
The Origin of the Phrase
The phrase "I don't do windows" emerged as early as the 1960s, primarily used by individuals, often referred to as cleaning ladies, during interviews with potential clients. When discussing the terms of employment and the specific tasks they were willing or unwilling to perform, window cleaning was frequently cited as an excluded service.
There were practical reasons why window washing was often excluded from a standard cleaning service:
- Physical Demand: Cleaning windows, especially exterior ones on multi-story buildings, can be physically strenuous, requiring reaching, stretching, and lifting.
- Time Consumption: Thorough window cleaning, particularly for homes with many windows, is a time-consuming task that can significantly extend the duration of a cleaning job.
- Specialized Equipment: It often requires specific tools like squeegees, extension poles, and ladders, which a general cleaner might not carry or be trained to use safely.
- Safety Concerns: Working at heights or on ladders poses safety risks, making it a liability or simply an undesirable task for many.
This established a clear boundary regarding the services offered, distinguishing between general household cleaning and more specialized, demanding, or hazardous tasks.
| Historical Context of Cleaning Services | Excluded Task Example | Common Reason for Exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Standard internal domestic cleaning (dusting, vacuuming, kitchen/bathroom upkeep) | Window Washing | Time-consuming, physically demanding, safety risks, specialized equipment needed |
Beyond Cleaning: Modern Usage
Over time, "I don't do windows" evolved from its literal cleaning context into a widely understood idiom. Today, it is used metaphorically across various fields to signify setting boundaries or declining specific tasks that are perceived as:
- Outside one's core expertise: "I'm a software developer, I build the code, but I don't do windows – meaning, I don't handle the marketing campaigns."
- Undesirable or unpleasant: "I'll help with the group project, but I don't do windows – implying I won't take on the tedious or thankless administrative tasks."
- Overly demanding or high-risk: "I'm happy to assist with the technical support, but I don't do windows – referring to troubleshooting obscure, unfixable legacy issues."
- Not part of an agreed-upon scope: In professional services, it can be a polite way to decline work not covered in a contract or job description.
Practical Applications and Nuances
The phrase serves as a concise way to communicate limitations without extensive explanation. It's often used with a touch of humor or resignation, acknowledging a task's difficulty or undesirability.
- Setting Boundaries: It helps individuals clearly define their roles and responsibilities, preventing scope creep.
- Specialization: It highlights a focus on specific skills or areas, indicating what one does do by implicitly stating what one doesn't.
- Delegation: It can be used by managers or team members to indicate tasks they will assign to others who are better suited or more willing to perform them.
Essentially, "I don't do windows" acts as a shorthand for "that's not my job," "I'm not equipped for that," or "I prefer not to do that particular task due to its nature."
