Keeping windows clear between professional visits

How pure water cleaning works

Water-fed pole cleaning uses filtered water with the minerals removed, so when it dries it leaves nothing behind. That is why professionally cleaned glass can be left to dry rather than squeegeed and buffed. It also means the frames, sills and any grime running out of the rubbers get washed rather than just the glass face, which is where a lot of the streaking on DIY-cleaned windows comes from.

This guide sits under our Window Cleaning work, covering 20-mile radius of Plymouth.

Why your tap-water clean spots

Tap water in this part of Devon carries dissolved minerals. Wash a window with it and let it dry and those minerals stay on the glass as spots. If you are cleaning between visits, dry the glass rather than leaving it, or use a small amount of detergent and a proper squeegee finish. The same principle explains why a sprinkler or a hose left running near a window leaves a permanent-looking haze.

Hard water spotting that will not come off

Repeated mineral deposits, particularly from irrigation, an overflowing gutter or a leaking downpipe, etch into the glass surface over time and stop being a cleaning problem. Mild cases respond to a specialist treatment. Severe cases are permanent. The practical fix is to solve the source, because otherwise the marks return no matter how often the glass is cleaned.

Condensation is a glazing issue, not dirt

Mist between the panes means the double-glazed unit seal has failed and moisture is inside the sealed cavity. No amount of cleaning touches it and the unit needs replacing. Condensation on the inside face is usually humidity and ventilation. Condensation on the outside face in the morning is actually a sign of a well-insulated unit and needs nothing doing.

Frames, sills and rubbers

uPVC frames go grey-green in shaded positions and yellow with UV. A soft brush and mild detergent keeps them clear; abrasive pads and cream cleaners scratch the surface so it holds dirt worse next time. Sills collect grit that scratches the glass when you wipe across them, so do the sill before the glass. Keep the drainage slots along the bottom of the frame clear, because blocked ones let water sit in the track.

Coastal salt haze

Properties near the water pick up a fine salt film that dulls glass surprisingly quickly, especially after a blow. A rinse with clean water between visits makes a real difference and is worth doing on the seaward elevation more often than the rest of the house. Salt on frames and ironmongery is also worth rinsing, since it accelerates corrosion on hinges and locks.

Trees, sap and bird droppings

Sap and droppings are acidic and will mark glass and paintwork if left in sun. Deal with them promptly with warm water rather than scraping them off dry, which drags grit across the surface. If a particular tree is a persistent problem, trimming back the overhang is a cheaper long-term answer than more frequent cleaning.

How often to have windows cleaned

Four to eight weekly suits most homes; monthly suits coastal and roadside properties and anywhere under trees. The advantage of a regular schedule over an occasional deep clean is that the frames and rubbers never get a chance to build a stubborn film, so each visit is quick and the result is consistently good.