Can You Pressure Wash Windows?
You can, but we never do. A pressure washer can force water past the seals around your glass and into places it shouldn’t go. We clean every window by hand with a squeegee instead, and the glass comes out cleaner anyway.
What high pressure does to windows
- Seals. Double-pane windows are sealed around the edges to keep the space between the panes dry. A high-pressure stream aimed at those edges is hard on the seals, and once a seal fails, moisture gets in and shows up as fog between the panes that no cleaning can reach.
- Frames and caulking. Pressure can push water behind window frames and past caulking, into places that are slow to dry.
- Screens. A strong spray can stretch or tear screen mesh.
- Film left behind. Spraying alone doesn’t lift the film that sticks to glass, so windows often dry cloudy or spotted.
How we clean instead
- Scrub. We wet the glass and scrub it with a window cleaner’s mop to loosen dirt, pollen and buildup.
- Squeegee. Smooth strokes pull every drop off the glass, so it dries streak-free.
- Detail. We clean and detail the frames and sills, and wash screens on our XERO machine when you add screen cleaning.
On some second-story glass you may see us use a water-fed pole: a long pole with a soft brush and pure, mineral-free water at a gentle flow, not a pressure washer. Here’s how the two methods compare.
“I waited until the next morning to post this. I wanted to see if there were any streaks coming in the windows from the morning sun. Nothing. No streaks at all. Terence was very professional, courteous, and efficient. And his skills washing windows are impressive. …”
Getting your house or driveway pressure washed?
We don’t pressure wash, but if you’re having your siding, deck or driveway washed, schedule it before your window cleaning. The spray and the dirt it knocks loose land right on the glass, so cleaning the windows last means they stay clean.
Hard water spots need hands-on work
Pressure won’t take mineral spots off glass. Sprinkler spots are stuck to the surface and come off with the right cleaner and careful hand work. Here’s how to get hard water spots off your windows.
Want clear glass without the risk? Get a free quote or call or text (208) 484-5207.