How often do you wash your homes windows?

[COcheesehead]

Following onto the car wash thread, how often do you wash or get your homes windows cleaned?
We have nice views and I hate looking out of hazy windows especially when the sun shines through.
It can cost a lot to get your windows washed so I bought the extension poles and the supplies to do it myself.

We get dirty rains. A dusty wind followed by rain which creates a thin layer of mud on everything.

So I end up cleaning the windows 2-3 times a month. Takes me about 30 minutes. Using the right streak free solution is key and a good squeegee.

 

[euro]

WE are basically the opposite. We live in a heavily forested area with very little dust. We almost never wash our windows.

 

[Sunset]

About every 10 years. Although I do spray them with water from the hose once per year.

Largely the issue is screens in front of the windows are a pain to remove from inside, then go outside to wash and then replace the screens from inside.

 

[COcheesehead]

About every 10 years. Although I do spray them with water from the hose once per year.

Largely the issue is screens in front of the windows are a pain to remove from inside, then go outside to wash and then replace the screens from inside.

We have the luxury of screens on the inside.

 

[MarieIG]

Inside or outside? First floor or second floor?

Our windows don't seem to get noticeably dirty, or maybe I just can't see.

Inside is no big deal, and I do as the spirit moves me. First floor outdoors is also easy as we can walk around outside and do - as long as the weather is nice. Outdoor upstairs requires both screen removal and reaching outside. Somehow outdoor upstairs windows get much less attention.

Oh, I loathe the screens in the kitchen window. They only behave for DH. When I try to put them back in they PRETEND they are cooperating and then nosily jump out and throw themselves on the kitchen floor as soon as I leave the room.

 

[Midpack]

DW washes windows every 2-3 years. Good timing, she just did the windows and screens on the back of our house this afternoon…

 

[COcheesehead]

Our house is a single story, but on a slope. So I have to access some windows that are really on the equivalent of a second story, but the extension poles do the trick.
The insides rarely get cleaned. It’s the outsides where we live that get dirty with almost every rain.

 

[FlyingCircus]

My informal statistically inaccurate survey shows a standard deviation of 18 years. Some of the windows have been washed once in 24 years. Some of them have been washed 2 or 3 times. ;-) Even with tilt out frames. I do take the screens out every fall though.

 

[CO-guy]

DW washes windows every 2-3 years. Good timing, she just did the windows and screens on the back of our house this afternoon…

Same! All the windows on the second floor are double hung so she can clean them from the inside of the house.

 

[Pointby2]

We should wash our windows once a year. It's not expensive, the guy does a great job and we live where our windows get dirty from the wind, rain and dust. But we do a few of the worst ones and the have them all done every 2-3 years.

 

[APP01]

We do ours at least 1 time per year sometimes 2, in addition to the general hosing them down. We are in the woods and the pollen, especially from the pine trees is awful. Everything right now is covered in green/yellow dust.

When we downsized 3 years ago, we built a 1 level ranch, so it is simple for us to clean them from the ground.

 

[Cognito]

I have Clerestory windows that are 13' peak. Plus 4 large double patio doors. I had them cleaned last month professionally. The job was a success. The un-accessible Clerestory from inside and roof access cleaning made a big improvement. The patio doors I could do myself but....

 

[Car-Guy]

I power wash the entire exterior of the house every few years. So that's when the windows get done too.

 

[COcheesehead]

I wonder if the desire for clean windows depends on if you have something you want to see.

 

[marko]

The guys come twice a year. Fall, they take off the screens, wash the windows inside and out. In the spring, they wash the screens and again wash inside and out. $600 each visit.

Our old house was directly on the ocean so they'd also come midsummer as well.

 

[Gumby]

We wash the windows, inside and out, at least once per year, usually twice (Spring and Fall). We did the whole downstairs yesterday and will get to the upstairs in the next few days if it doesn't rain. We have 44 windows/windowed doors, so it takes a while.

 

[rk911]

Following onto the car wash thread, how often do you wash or get your homes windows cleaned?...

Me? Never. I hire out that job 2-3 times a year.

 

[COcheesehead]

Me? Never. I hire out that job 2-3 times a year.

The original question covered both scenarios

 

[Jerry1]

I bought the extension poles and the supplies to do it myself.

Using the right streak free solution is key and a good squeegee.

I’m moving to a house with a second story. I’m guessing I’d clean the windows a couple times a year. Please share the supplies you use and the “right streak free solution”. Most of the windows will fold in so they’re easy to wash but there’s an arch window that doesn’t open and I’ll want to get that without getting on a ladder.

 

[COcheesehead]

I’m moving to a house with a second story. I’m guessing I’d clean the windows a couple times a year. Please share the supplies you use and the “right streak free solution”. Most of the windows will fold in so they’re easy to wash but there’s an arch window that doesn’t open and I’ll want to get that without getting on a ladder.

This is the good stuff. HomeDepot or Lowe’s. Long, extendable pole and a clean, wide squeegee. Spray the window liberally, squeegee off and enjoy.

 

[Koolau]

Our windows are washed twice per year by the HOA. It's kinda fascinating to see the window washers swinging on ropes attached to the top of the building. They always warn us of impending washing so that everyone is dressed (or else closes the blinds) before the event.

 

[Cayman]

I do not wash our home's exterior windows. Very grateful that my awesome hubby does, about 2x/year.

 

[NameTaken2]

Remove screens every fall for improved view.
Every spring before replacing screens, I clean the windows.

Related note:
For 40yrs, went through bending/popping/replacing poly muntins to clean Anderson 200 windows.
This spring, trashed the muntins and what a difference -like going from jail bars to a picture window.
Windows overdue for replacement anyway -just filled the holes left in frames w/caulk.
Wished I'd done it years ago -ambience of muntins not worth the obstructed view IMO.

 

[GBcycling]

We wash after farmers finish planting and majority of pollen is fallen. About now. Then again in the fall after seasonal rains are over, before Halloween. Have added power washing of the house every two years. Purchased a 20ft telescoping wand last year. Gave me a workout, but fun to see the results(2 story home)

 

[Surewhitey]

1-2/yr. Single story. I splurged on the right tools & takes ~1 hr. Outside only...

AC 2/yr after pollen & end of summer.