Tips For Hiring Window Cleaning Pros

Tips for hiring pros to wash your windows, or doing it yourself: Window washing is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. The question is, do you hire a professional window washer? Or do you save money and tackle the task yourself, even if that means climbing up on countertops indoors and a ladder to reach high glass outdoors? Either way, squeaky-clean windows make your home look more appealing, and make you more content, so the accumulation of winter grime cannot be ignored.

If hiring a professional is on your spring to-do list, but you haven't yet lined up anyone, you'd better get going. Particularly if your windows are being cleaned for a special occasion such as a graduation party. Some window washers, especially those who have regular customers, might already be booked into June. "Spring is one of our busiest seasons," says Bill Mastro of New View Window & Gutter Cleaners in Newbury. (Fall is busy, too, he said.) "This time of year, don't wait until the last minute."

Says Ray Nicolli Jr. of Ray's Cleaning Service in Lyndhurst, "I have regulars, so it might be hard to get an appointment. I have clients whose windows I do twice a year, and some of their appointments [including those for fall] are already made." James Lee of Robin Window & Gutter Cleaning in Lakewood says sometimes he can take a job with only two days' notice if it's small job, but two weeks' notice is best. Prices depend on the company, and, of course, the number and size of the windows.

With Ray's Cleaning Service, an average bungalow with about 12 to 14 windows cleaned inside and out is about $100, says Nicolli. With storm windows (which most homes in this area have), the job would run you $175 to $250 because there is more glass to wash. Windows with wood dividers might cost a little more. With Robin Window, says Lee, a job that involves cleaning only the outside of windows runs $60 to $85, not including storms.

Some professionals don't require the job to involve every window in the house. Some are called on to clean only first-floor windows or just the outside. "I have gone to a customer's home and done just the picture window," says Mastro. "Others just want the windows in a great room washed or some other tall window."

Do-it-yourselfers will spend a lot less, but there is a technique for cleaning windows to a spotless, streak-free, professional-looking finish. Generally, you'll need a quality squeegee with a soft rubber blade, a bucket of warm (not hot) water, a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid or window-cleaning fluid, a sponge that isn't too coarse for scrubbing rough patches, and lots of clean, white cotton rags (diapers work well). It's best to clean your windows on a cool, cloudy day because the sun dries the window too quickly.

Wet the window with the cloth wipe and use the rougher side of the sponge for stubborn patches. Pull the squeegee from top to bottom, drying the tool between each swipe. Don't forget to clean water that drops onto the windowsill. Vinegar or ammonia are often recommended instead of soap, but Lee and Nicolli don't suggest them because people have a tendency to use too much. In addition, ammonia can take the finish off the glass after a time. A couple of gallons of water and a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid should do the trick. Lee recommends that do-it-yourselfers work in one room at a time or one side of the house at a time so that the job isn't so overwhelming. Ladders can be dangerous, especially when one is holding a bucket and stretching to reach corners, so at the very least have someone holding the bottom.

Betsy's List, a consumer group, surveyed some window washers around the country. Here are their tips:
• Most homes should get a thorough window washing twice a year. This includes screens and sills.
• Most glass can be cleaned with soap and water. However, some call for special cleaning solutions.
• Large panes are best cleaned with a squeegee and finished with cloth to eliminate streaks. Small panes and leaded or stained glass are best cleaned with plain water and specialized window-cleaning cloths.
• Minimize the need for extra cleaning by not taping or sticking anything to your windows that you don't want to leave there permanently.
• If you hire a pro, make sure the company is licensed.