Is Professional Window Cleaning Worth It in Boise?
Professional window cleaning is worth it for most homes with second-story glass, a lot of windows or sprinkler spots: it saves you a long day on a ladder and gets the glass, frames and sills clean in one visit. If your home is one story and you can reach every window from the ground, doing it yourself works fine.
What do you get with a professional window cleaning?
More than clean glass. With us, every outside cleaning covers:
- The glass, by hand. Scrubbed with a mop and squeegeed dry, and on some second-story glass, a water-fed pole. Never pressure washed, which is hard on window seals.
- The frames and sills. Cleaned and detailed, so the next rain has less dirt to carry onto the glass.
- Screens out and back in. Washing them on our XERO machine is an add-on: see screen cleaning.
- Everything we need, water included. You don’t move furniture, and for an outside-only cleaning nobody needs to be home.
- A fix if it’s not right. Find a streak? Tell us within 48 hours and we’ll make it right at no charge. If rain the same day leaves spots, we come back for free.
See exterior window cleaning and interior window cleaning for the full process.
How much time does it really save?
More than most people expect. Each window means screen out, scrub, squeegee, dry the edges, wipe the frame and sill, and screen back in. Then you move the ladder and do it again. The inside is a second pass on every window.
Time yourself on one window and multiply by how many you have. On a house with a lot of glass, it can eat a whole weekend day. We get it done in one visit, along with any add-ons you pick. Here’s how long a professional cleaning takes.
What about the ladder?
Ground-floor windows are safe for most people to do. The risk is the ladder. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff report estimated that, from 2017 to 2021, adults 65 and older averaged 36,280 emergency room-treated fall injuries a year involving ladders. Window cleaning puts you on that ladder with a wet squeegee in one hand, reaching sideways, over and over.
If you climb, set the ladder on firm, level ground, have someone hold it, and never lean past the rails. Second-story glass, tall entryways and windows over stairs are where hiring out makes the most sense. More in is it safe to clean second-story windows yourself?
Do professionals get better results?
Usually, and it comes down to tools and practice more than effort:
- No streaks. Spray and paper towels push dirt around and leave lint. A squeegee pulls the water off clean. In direct sun, cleaner dries before you can wipe it, and that leaves streaks.
- Hard water handled safely. Sprinkler spots tempt people to grab steel wool or a razor blade. Steel wool scratches glass, and a blade can leave long scratches on tempered glass. With us, light spots get worked on during every cleaning, and heavier spots are priced on site.
“Fantastic service with upbeat enthusiasm! My windows look great after having them professionally cleaned by these guys. First time hiring out for this type of service for my home - glad I did! Thanks guys!”
Why is it harder to keep windows clean in the Treasure Valley?
- Sprinklers. Irrigation water here carries a lot of minerals and dries on glass as white spots that get harder to remove the longer they sit. Here’s how to deal with hard water spots.
- Dust and wind. Dry summers, open fields and all the construction around the valley leave a steady film on glass, frames and screens.
- Pollen and cottonwood fluff. In late spring it packs into screens and sticks to the glass.
- Winter. Snow, rain and gray inversion days leave windows dull and streaky by spring.
That’s why most homes here need cleaning at least twice a year. Here’s how often to clean your windows in Boise.
When does doing it yourself make sense?
DIY is a fine choice if:
- Your home is one story and you can reach every window from the ground.
- You don’t have many windows, and few of them are split into small panes.
- Sprinklers don’t reach your glass, or you catch spots while they’re fresh.
- You have a free morning and you like the work.
Work in the shade or early in the day, use a squeegee instead of paper towels, and label each screen with painter’s tape so it goes back in the right window. For fresh hard water spots, try equal parts white vinegar and warm water, kept off natural stone sills. Here’s how to clean windows without streaks.
When is hiring a pro worth it?
- You have high glass: a second story, a tall entryway or windows over the stairs.
- You have a lot of windows, or windows split into many small panes.
- Sprinklers hit your glass and the spots have been building for a season or more.
- Ladders aren’t a good idea for you anymore, for any reason.
- You’re selling. Clean glass shows in listing photos. Here’s window cleaning before selling your home.
- You run a business. Customers see your glass every day. See commercial window cleaning.
- You’d rather have your Saturday back.
Can you hire out just part of the job?
Yes. One way to split it: hire us for the outside and clean the inside yourself. Outside only costs less than inside and out, and nobody needs to be home. Add track detailing or gutter cleaning only when you want them.
Is it cheaper to clean your own windows?
On supplies alone, yes. With a pro, you’re paying for your time, staying off the ladder and a result you don’t have to redo. Your price depends on how much glass you have, what you want cleaned and how high it goes. Here’s what window cleaning costs in Boise.
If you’ll clean more than once a year, a membership takes money off every cleaning. Monthly and Quarterly members also get free RainBlock (our pure water rinse), the 7-day Rain Guarantee and hard water removal on up to 5 panes every visit at no charge. Here’s how our window cleaning plans work.
So, is professional window cleaning worth it?
If your windows are easy to reach and you enjoy the job, do it yourself and save the money. If you have high glass, lots of panes, sprinkler spots or full weekends, a pro buys back your time and keeps you off the ladder.
We clean homes in Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Star, Nampa, Caldwell and across the Treasure Valley. Get a free quote, or call or text (208) 484-5207, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 7pm. Texting a few photos of your windows works too.