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Why Are Clean Windows Important?

By Steve Langell

Regular outside window cleaning can protect the quality and extend the life of your windows by removing abrasive or corrosive substances such as dirt and oxidation before accumulation can cause permanent damage to the glass. Regular inside window cleaning can benefit your health by removing dust, soot, and mildew buildup from the inside of your home’s glass surfaces.

The most important reason for glass maintenance is degradation. Glass will over time become permeated with a variety of contaminants:

1. Hard Minerals (from sprinkler systems and building run-off)
2. Oxidization (from windows encased in metal frames and screens)
3. Acid Rain
4. Overspray (from paint, chalking, mortar and more)

Windows aren’t just windows anymore.

Knowledge is essential. As glass composition becomes more complex, window cleaning is being raised from a simple service to a technical skill. It’s no longer enough to just clean windows. You need to know exactly what you are cleaning.

Today’s windows combine tempering techniques with reflective and absorptive chemistry to create safer, more energy efficient windows, commonly known as IG units, double paned glass, and tinted windows. It is imperative that your window cleaning professionals understand the latest in glass technology and the methodology to clean the glass.

Top 10 Consumer Tips for Window Cleaning

1. Always make sure any professional you hire is insured and/ or licensed. This is especially important for window cleaning companies, since the workers will be working on ladders, in tough to reach areas of your home. Insurance certificates can be requested, and it is common for the insurance agent to fax or e-mail the proof directly to the client.
2. Clean windows regularly. Regular professional cleaning prevents your windows from becoming etched or pitted over time. Pollution is a window’s worst enemy. Once pitting is present the only solution may be expensive window replacement.
3. Professionals clean without leaving streaks or residue behind, and have a trained eye for faulty windows. Hiring a professional also results in saving you time.
4. Get a phone estimate or on-site bid. For a home with standard windows, a phone estimate can provide you with a reasonable estimate of what the job will cost. For more complex jobs, the company should provide an on-site bid. The idea is to eliminate surprises after the job is completed.
5. Conduct a walk-through of the scheduled work prior to start with the professional. It is easy to miss basement windows or top-floor nooks that might have been omitted from an estimate. It is also important to identify and note any previous damage to windows or screens.
6. Upon job completion, it is a good practice to walk through again to ensure job satisfaction.
7. For interior cleaning, we recommend cleaning at least once a year, unless you smoke in your home, or have children and small pets. If you smoke or have small children and/or pets, we recommend interior cleaning 2 to 3 times per year.
8. For exterior cleaning, we recommend cleaning your windows at least 2 times per year.
9. Ask the contractor for customer references who have had work performed similar to yours.
10. Do not help contractors or their workers and do not lend them your tools. If a worker is hurt while you are assisting (e.g., holding a ladder) or is hurt using one of your tools, you may be liable via a ‘tort claim’ by the worker or contractor.

Steve Langell, owner of Mr. Clean & Shine, has been in business since 1985. He is a member of International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA), Association of United Window Cleaners (AUWC), and Master Window Cleaners of America (MWCoA). Steve and his team are active members of all 3 associations and adhere to their policies and practices for professionalism, safety and training.