Window Cleaning | How Often Should You Clean Windows

Window Cleaning. It’s seems like such a dirty word to many homeowners. Pun intended. Really, unless you have a physically challenging house that could be featured on the cover of Architectural Digest or you are window cleaning in Chicago, it’s not that hard. Most homeowners can handle the window washing at their two-story home in the burbs. You already knew that, right?! The real question is: how often do you need to drag yourself up off the couch and outside to get cleaning that glass? You probably want to hear, “Once every five years” – but no. Nice try. The answer depends on several factors.

For most homeowners, an ideal window cleaning schedule is to clean the windows, inside and out, in the spring as well as an outside only window cleaning in the fall. Much like a traditional spring cleaning, it gives you the opportunity to really get in there with a squeegee and make things shine. You will also have the chance to switch out the storm windows for window screens, inspect for any seasonal damage, check for leaks and insure the overall health of your windows. Always a good idea, replacing windows is expensive and a little TLC and preventative maintenance goes a long way. In the fall, a quick cleaning of the outside of the windows will keep things nice and shiny through those dreary winter months. Obviously, “when” spring is, depends on where you live. In fact, in some southern states, you may want to switch this schedule around to reflect your seasonal changes.

So, what factors would make window cleaning need to happen more often? Well, living on a busy street is #1 to increasing frequency. In fact, living on or backing to a main road can really mess up clean windows. Just the dust that gets kicked up can make it necessary to pull out that squeegee once a month! This is only exacerbated when you live near sticky trees. All that pollen and sap and tree stuff make their way to your clean glass and actually attract the dust and dirt in the air. So everything gets dirtier, faster. Ugh! Another issue that would lead to more frequent window cleaning is hard water stains. The most obvious solution is to adjust your sprinklers away from the windows, but if that just isn’t a possibility, you will need to clean the glass often. At least monthly, in the months that you run the sprinklers. If you leave those orange hard water stains and spots on your windows, they will eventually, over time, become permanently etched into the glass. Consider yourself warned.

Not the answers you were looking for? Sorry. Most people are surprised to learn that professional window cleaners work year round. All 12 months. Regardless of where they live. Window cleaning really isn’t that bad. Promise. Plan it in advance. Pick a day AND a rain day. Write them both on your calendar. No excuses. Do not change either date! When the big day comes, do not get overwhelmed. Take it window by window, jam some tunes and take your time. Tell yourself that when you accomplish xyz, you will take a quick break. When you do, stand back and admire your work. Clean, shiny windows really do look pretty. Be sure to do all the upper windows first; water can drip down and get onto the lowers. You can do it!