How to clean outside windows safely
To clean outside windows, rinse the glass with a hose to knock off loose dirt, wash it with warm water, a little dish soap and a soft brush or strip washer, then squeegee from the top down and dry the edges with a microfiber cloth. Do it on a cloudy day or on the shady side of the house. Work from the ground, or tilt the sash in and clean it from inside.
Plan on about 10 minutes a window once you have a rhythm.
What do you need to clean exterior windows?
- A bucket of warm water with a small squirt of dish soap
- A strip washer (the fuzzy T-shaped scrubber) or a soft sponge
- A squeegee, 10 to 14 inches wide, with a clean rubber blade
- An extension pole that fits both the scrubber and the squeegee, for windows out of reach
- Two or three microfiber cloths
- A garden hose with a gentle spray setting
- A soft brush for spider webs and the frame
Skip the pressure washer. It can force water past the seals and into the wall, and it strips paint on wood frames.
How do you clean outside windows step by step?
- Pick the right time. An overcast day or the side of the house in shade. Sun dries the soapy water before you can squeegee it, and that's where streaks come from.
- Brush off the frame. Sweep spider webs, pollen and leaves off the frame and sill first, so they don't turn into mud on the glass.
- Rinse. A gentle spray from the hose loosens grit. Grit dragged across glass under a scrubber leaves fine scratches.
- Wash. Dip the strip washer, squeeze out the excess water, and scrub the whole pane, corners included.
- Squeegee. Wet the blade, start at the top corner and pull straight down, overlapping each stroke by an inch. Wipe the blade on a cloth after every pull.
- Detail the edges. Run a dry microfiber cloth around the edge of the glass where the squeegee can't reach, then wipe the sill.
- Look from inside. Streaks show up from inside the room when the light comes through. Touch them up with a dry cloth.
How do you clean outside windows you can't reach?
Start by checking whether the sashes tilt in. Many double-hung windows have two latches or tabs at the top of the lower sash. Unlock the window, raise the sash a few inches, pull the tabs toward you and tilt it into the room. Now the outside face is in front of you, and you can clean it at a table-top height. Do the same with the upper sash once the lower one is down.
For fixed windows, picture windows and second floors, use the extension pole from the ground: scrubber first, then the squeegee, pulling down in straight strokes. You won't get a perfect edge, and that's fine.
Don't climb a ladder on uneven ground, lean out of an upstairs window or stand on a porch roof. If a window can't be cleaned from the ground or from inside, hire a window cleaning company that carries ladders and the insurance for them.
What about hard water spots, sap and bird droppings?
Sprinkler spots: the white, chalky dots on lower windows are minerals. Add a splash of white vinegar to the bucket, let it sit on the spots for a few minutes, scrub and rinse well.
Tree sap: soften it with a cloth soaked in warm soapy water, then lift it with a plastic scraper held flat. Don't use a metal blade on glass with a coating or tint.
Bird droppings: wet them and let them soak for a few minutes before you wipe. Dry scrubbing scratches.
Pollen: in South Jersey, spring pollen can coat the outside of windows and screens yellow-green. Rinse it off with the hose before you wash, or it smears.
How often should outside windows be cleaned?
Twice a year is a good rhythm: once in late spring after the pollen settles, and once in fall before the heat goes on and the windows stay shut. Windows near trees, a busy road, the beach or lawn sprinklers usually need it more often.
While you're out there, take the screens out and wash them too. Our guide on how to clean window screens covers it step by step.
What a house cleaning covers at the window
Exterior windows and anything that needs a ladder above a two-step stool aren't on any of our cleaning checklists.
Inside is different. Interior window glass is an add-on on Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, on Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, and on Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning, CleanStart. It covers reachable interior glass only, with screens not included and no ladders.
Window sills and ledges are wiped on Standard House Cleaning and on Deep Cleaning.
For the inside of the glass, see how to clean inside windows, and for the sills and tracks, how to clean window sills and tracks.
FAQ
How do you clean outside windows without a ladder? Check whether your sashes tilt in. Many newer double-hung windows do, which lets you clean the outside face from inside the room. For fixed or upper windows, use a squeegee and scrubber on an extension pole from the ground.
What should I wash exterior windows with? A bucket of warm water with a small squirt of dish soap handles normal dirt, pollen and spider webs. Add a splash of white vinegar if sprinkler spray has left white mineral spots, and rinse well.
Why do my outside windows streak after cleaning? Too much soap, cleaning in direct sun, or a dirty squeegee blade. Use less soap, work on the shady side of the house, and wipe the blade after every pull.
How often should outside windows be cleaned? Twice a year is a good rhythm, in spring after the pollen and in fall before the windows close up. Windows near trees, a busy road or sprinklers may need it more often.
Does a house cleaning include outside windows? No. Exterior windows and anything that needs a ladder above a two-step stool aren't on any of our cleaning checklists.
Book a cleaning
We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.
