For most homes it’s once or twice a year — but pollen, trees, rain and nearby construction can change that. Here’s how to find the right schedule.
Most Fraser Valley homes look their best with exterior window cleaning once or twice a year — typically in spring after pollen season and again in fall. Homes under heavy tree cover, near busy roads or construction, or with a lot of exposed glass often benefit from more frequent cleaning.
There’s no universal schedule for windows. What your glass is exposed to matters more than the calendar.
What makes windows get dirty faster
- Pollen — spring pollen leaves a yellow-green film on glass, sills and tracks
- Rain spotting — rain and sprinklers leave mineral spots as they dry
- Trees — sap, debris and shade that keeps north-facing glass hazy
- Road dust and construction — common in growing neighbourhoods around Chilliwack and Abbotsford
- Screens — dirty screens make even clean glass look dull
The best times of year
| Timing | Why |
|---|---|
| Late spring | After the heaviest pollen has fallen, so the clean lasts |
| Early fall | Clears summer dust before the wet season and shorter days |
| Before an event or listing | When the house needs to look its best, whatever the season |
Signs your windows are due
- Spots and haze that are obvious when the sun hits the glass
- A film on north-facing windows that never seems to clear
- Grimy frames and sills, or dusty screens
If spots come back within days of washing, the water — not your technique — is usually the problem. See why exterior windows get water spots again after cleaning.
Don’t forget the screens
Screens hold dust and pollen and make freshly cleaned glass look unfinished. Screen cleaning can be added to a window cleaning — screens that need to come off are removed by the homeowner beforehand. More in the benefits of screen cleaning.
Book it with your other exterior cleaning
Window cleaning is one of the most common additions to a house wash, and it’s included in our exterior cleaning packages. See our window washing and screen cleaning service, or the Fraser Valley exterior cleaning checklist for how windows fit into a yearly plan. Businesses can see storefront window and entrance cleaning.