Spring Window Cleaning Checklist for Massachusetts Homeowners
Updated: 5 hours ago
After a New England winter, windows carry a record of the season: road salt spray, storm grime, soot from the heating system and the first yellow dusting of pollen. Spring cleaning the glass is satisfying. Getting the timing right makes it last.
Key points
Tree pollen is the dominant pollen in the Boston area from March to May.
Clean too early and the glass will be yellow again within days.
Late May into June is the best time for most Massachusetts homes.
Screens should be washed at the same visit. Andersen recommends cleaning them twice a year.
Timing matters more than anything
The urge to clean windows arrives with the first warm weekend in April. That is usually too soon. According to NBC Boston's pollen coverage, allergy season in the Boston area typically begins in March, and tree pollen is the dominant pollen from March to May. Oak and pine in particular drop heavy, visible pollen late in that period.
If you clean before the trees finish, you will be looking at a yellow film again within a week. Wait until the cars in your driveway stop turning yellow overnight, then book.
Before the cleaning
Turn the outdoor water back on. If the spigot was shut off inside for winter, open that valve first and check for leaks.
Take down storm windows if you swap them for screens, or decide to leave them and have them cleaned in place.
Clear the sills inside and move furniture back from windows.
Trim back shrubs that have grown against the glass, if you can. It helps the cleaning and the window.
Note any windows that stuck, leaked or fogged over the winter.
What to have cleaned
Exterior glass and frames. Winter leaves a gray film that is part road salt, part soot.
Interior glass. Months of closed windows, cooking and heating leave a haze on the inside.
Screens. They are about to go back to work. Andersen's screen cleaning guide suggests cleaning them twice a year.
Sills and tracks, which fill with grit and dead insects over winter.
Skylights and glass doors.
Storm windows before they go into storage.
After the cleaning
Adjust sprinklers so they do not hit the glass. Hard water is what leaves white spots; the U.S. Geological Survey explains the minerals involved.
Keep mulch and soil below the level of the sills so rain does not splash dirt onto low windows.
Rinse heavy pollen off with a hose if a late burst arrives. A light rinse is fine; do not scrub dry pollen, which is abrasive.
Open the windows. Clean screens and clean glass are the reward.
Why spring is worth it
By June the days are at their longest and you are finally using the porch, the deck and the rooms that face the garden. Clean glass makes the most of it. It is also the best moment to look over the outside of the house, because whatever winter did to the caulk, the paint and the screens is now easy to see.
Common questions
Can I book before the pollen ends to get a good date?
Yes. Book early and choose a date in late May or June. The calendar fills quickly.
What if it rains after the cleaning?
Rain does not make clean windows dirty. It is the dirt already on a window that rain turns into streaks.
Is once a year enough?
For some homes, yes. Most do better with spring and fall. See our guide to how often windows should be cleaned in New England.
Book your spring cleaning
Request a free estimate or read about our residential window cleaning.
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