Window Cleaning

No, and nobody can. Fog, haze or water droplets trapped between the two panes means the seal on that insulated glass unit has failed and moist air got inside. Cleaning only reaches the outside surfaces of the glass. The fix is replacing the glass unit (or the window), which is a job for a window company. We will point out any failed seals we notice so you know before you call one.

Read more: foggy windows and failed seals

Those are hard water stains: minerals left behind when sprinkler, well or lake water dries on the glass. Regular window cleaning does not remove them. They need a separate treatment, which usually runs $45 to $270 depending on how many windows are affected. Fresh spots come off well. Spots that have sat for years can etch into the glass, and etching can be improved but not always fully removed. Pointing sprinklers away from the windows is the best way to keep them from coming back.

Read more: hard water stains on windows

If they look like tar-like dots, firmly stuck and often worse on the side of the house facing landscaping beds, it is likely artillery fungus. It grows in wood mulch and shoots sticky spore packets up to several feet, and they cling to glass, siding and cars. Regular washing will not budge them. On glass they can usually be scraped off carefully; on siding they are much harder to remove and can leave a stain. The long-term fix is in the garden bed: artillery fungus thrives in aging hardwood mulch, so switching to fresh mulch or stone near the house cuts down on new spots. Ask us about it when you book so we can look at the extent.

That is oxidation. Over years of sun, the surface of vinyl, aluminum and painted frames breaks down and leaves a white, powdery film. Regular window and house washing removes dirt from the frames, but not oxidation, and on a heavily oxidized frame washing can leave uneven or streaky spots where the chalk was disturbed. Chalky residue can also run onto the glass and look like streaks. Restoring oxidized frames is a separate process from cleaning, so if your frames are chalky, mention it when you book and we will tell you what to expect before we start.

Yes. On most Low-E windows the coating sits on the inside of the sealed glass unit, where nothing can touch it. Some newer windows have a coating on the room side of the glass, and those need gentle cleaning with no scraping or abrasive pads. If you know your windows have a room-side coating, tell us when you book so the crew knows ahead of time.

Read more: cleaning Low-E windows

Usually, yes. A window split into many small panes has many more edges and corners to detail than one large pane, so it takes longer. Windows with grids sealed between the glass clean like a single pane. Windows with true divided panes, or grids on the surface of the glass, take more time, and the price reflects that. If you own Pella windows, our Pella cleaning tips have a few more pointers.

Read more: French pane and grid windows

Condensation on the room side of the glass, usually in winter, comes from humidity inside the house meeting cold glass. It is not a sign of a failed seal. It only becomes a seal problem when the moisture is between the panes.

How to tell condensation from a failed seal

Yes, but it is a separate service from regular window cleaning. New builds and remodels often leave paint splatter, silicone, caulk, labels and adhesive on the glass. A regular cleaning will not take those off. Construction debris removal uses careful scraping with razors and fine steel wool, glass by glass, so it takes longer and is priced separately. Tell us about it when you ask for a quote so we can price it right. If your windows have a room-side Low-E coating, let us know, since coated surfaces should not be scraped.

Screens are washed with water and gentle agitation as part of Premium, or as an add-on with the other packages. Older screens get brittle with sun and age. If a screen is already torn or the frame is bent, we will let you know rather than force it.

Not really. Rain on clean glass dries much clearer than rain on dirty glass, because there is far less dirt on the surface for the drops to collect. Most of the spotting people see after a rain was dirt that was already on the window.

Most homes do well with once or twice a year. Lake homes, homes near gravel roads and homes with sprinklers hitting the glass often need it more.

Yes. Along with homes, we clean storefronts, restaurants, churches, schools, banks and other buildings up to three stories, plus new construction cleanups.