How to clean outside windows safely

To clean outside windows safely, do the ground-floor glass from outside with a bucket of soapy water, a scrubber and a squeegee. For upstairs windows, clean them from inside: if your windows tilt in, tilt each sash toward you so the outside faces the room. Never lean out of an upper-floor window, never stand on a sill, and leave windows you can't reach from inside or the ground to a window cleaner.

Clean glass isn't worth a fall. Safety decides which windows you do yourself.

Which windows can you do yourself?

• Ground-floor windows, from the sidewalk, the yard or the porch, standing on the ground.
• Tilt-in windows on any floor, from inside the room.
• Windows you can reach through an open sash with an extension pole, without leaning out.

Everything else, like upper-floor windows that don't tilt, windows over a stairwell or a roof, and anything that needs a tall ladder, is a job for a window cleaning company with the right equipment and its own insurance.

What do you need?

• A bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap
• A window scrubber or a sponge
• A squeegee, 10 to 14 inches, with a clean rubber blade
• Microfiber cloths and an old towel for the sill
• A soft brush, for cobwebs and the frame
• An extension pole for ground-floor windows above head height

How do you clean ground-floor windows from outside?

1. Wipe off cobwebs, dust and dead bugs from the frame and sill with a damp cloth. Don't dry-brush or scrape peeling paint.
2. Wash the glass with the soapy scrubber or sponge, top to bottom, and get the corners.
3. Squeegee in straight strokes from the top down, or in a reverse-S, overlapping each stroke a little. Wipe the blade on a cloth after every stroke.
4. Wipe the edges and the bottom of the frame with a dry microfiber cloth.
5. Wipe the sill and the frame last.

Pick a cloudy day, or a time when the sun is off that side of the house. Glass in direct sun dries before you squeegee it and streaks.

How do you clean tilt-in windows from inside?

1. Raise the bottom sash a few inches.
2. Slide the two tabs at the top of the sash inward, and tilt the sash toward you until it rests on a towel or the sill.
3. Wash and squeegee the outside of the glass, which is now facing you.
4. Do the top sash the same way: lower it, tilt it in, and clean it.
5. Tilt each sash back until the tabs click into the track.

If your windows don't have tabs, check the maker's instructions before you try to tilt or remove them.

What about city grime?

Windows that face the street collect a grey film from traffic and the weather. Soapy water cuts it better than vinegar alone. Rinse with a damp cloth or a little clean water before you squeegee if the glass is very dirty. Do the screens and the tracks at the same time; our screen guide and sills and tracks guide cover both.

How often should you clean outside windows?

Plan on twice a year: in spring, once the pollen settles, and in fall before the heat goes on. Street-facing windows may need it more often. The inside glass is a separate job, in our inside window guide.

Want help with the inside of the house?

Book House Cleaning online. If inside windows are a priority, ask about them when you book and put them in your booking notes.

FAQ

How do you clean the outside of upstairs windows from inside? If you have tilt-in windows, unlock the sash, slide the tabs at the top in, and tilt it toward you so the outside of the glass faces the room. Clean it, then tilt it back until it clicks. Don't lean out of an upper-floor window or sit on the sill.

What should you use to clean outside windows? A bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap works well on outside glass, which usually carries more grime than inside glass. Wash with a sponge or scrubber, then squeegee from top to bottom and wipe the blade between strokes.

When should you hire someone to clean outside windows? When the windows are above the ground floor and don't tilt in, when you'd need a tall ladder, or when the glass is over a stairwell, a roof or a street. Look for a window cleaning company with its own insurance and safety equipment.

Book a cleaning

Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.