How Often Should You Have Your Windows Cleaned in New England?

1 day ago

3 min read

Updated: 5 hours ago

There is no law of nature that says how often windows should be cleaned. There is, though, a rhythm that works for most homes in this part of the country, and a few situations where it is worth doing more.

Table of suggested window cleaning frequency for homes near busy roads, wooded lots, storefronts, screens and skylights — A starting point. Your own windows will tell you if it needs adjusting.

Twice a year suits most homes

For a typical house in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, spring and fall cleanings keep the glass looking good all year. Spring clears away winter grime and pollen. Fall removes what summer left and sets the house up for the months when you are indoors and daylight is short.

It also happens to match the advice window makers give for screens. Andersen suggests cleaning insect screens twice a year, and it is efficient to do glass and screens together.

What each season does to your glass

Winter: road salt spray, storm grime and soot from heating systems. Windows stay shut, so interior film builds up too.
Spring: pollen. Tree pollen is the dominant pollen around Boston from March to May, according to NBC Boston.
Summer: dust, insects, spider webs and sprinkler spots.
Fall: leaf debris, late-season ragweed and the first wet, windy storms.

Water-fed pole cleaning an upper window — Upper windows get the same weather as the rest and are the ones most often skipped.

When you might need more than twice a year

You live near a busy road

Traffic leaves an oily gray film that rain will not rinse away. Homes close to highways and main routes often do best with three or four exterior cleanings a year.

Your lot is wooded

Trees mean pollen, sap, falling debris and shade. Shaded glass stays damp and grows a dull green or gray film faster than glass in full sun.

You are on the water

Lake and pond houses get wind-driven spray and far more insects, and they usually have their largest windows facing the water.

You have sprinklers or a well

Hard water spotting builds up quickly. It is much easier to remove while fresh.

You are selling, hosting or just like clean glass

Some customers add a third visit before the holidays or an event. That is a matter of taste, and a perfectly good reason.

Black dog looking out through a freshly cleaned window — Homes with dogs and small children tend to need the inside of the lower panes done more often.

When once a year can be enough

If your house is away from traffic, not surrounded by trees and you are not bothered by a little dust, one thorough cleaning in late spring may be all you need. We would rather tell you that than sell you a visit you do not need.

What about businesses?

Commercial glass works to a different clock, because customers judge it daily. In a Harris Poll survey for Cintas, 93% of U.S. adults said they would not return to a retailer after a problem with the facility. Restaurants and busy shops typically clean every one to four weeks; offices monthly or quarterly. Our post on storefront cleaning frequency goes into detail.

Is there a wrong time to clean windows?

In the middle of tree pollen season. Wait until it finishes, or you will be cleaning twice.
Right before exterior painting, power washing or roof work.
In a hard freeze, when water freezes on the glass.
In thunderstorms or high wind, for safety.

Ordinary rain is not a reason to cancel. Clean glass does not get dirty from rain; it is the dirt already on a window that rain turns into streaks.

Common questions

Do windows last longer if they are cleaned regularly?

Regular cleaning stops mineral deposits and oxidation from building up to the point where they etch the glass, and it means problems such as failed seals are noticed early.

Can I alternate inside-and-out with exterior-only?

Yes. Many customers do a full clean in spring and exterior-only in fall, or the other way round.