Last updated: September 2026
How do professional window cleaners clean their windows?
Professional window cleaners wash exterior glass with deionized water and water-fed brushes, hand wash interior panes with microfiber, and clean screens and tracks as separate steps. Each stage removes a different kind of buildup, so the glass stays clear longer than it does after a single squeegee pass.
We start every job by walking the house. Two-storey coastal homes in La Jolla or Point Loma usually get pole work from the ground, because a ladder on a sloped, planted lot is a bad idea.
What happens to the outside of the glass?
Exteriors get a water-fed brush and deionized water. The brush loosens salt film or dust, and the water rinses it away.
Deionized water carries nothing dissolved in it. It dries without leaving mineral spots, so the exterior pane does not need a squeegee pass.
That matters on west-facing glass in Del Mar and Carmel Valley, where late afternoon sun shows every spot.
Why do interiors get done by hand?
Inside, the work is hand washing. We use microfiber on the glass, the frames, and the sills.
Furniture, plants, and window coverings are in the way, so we move slowly. Big fixed picture windows, common in Rancho Santa Fe, often need interior access arranged with the homeowner in advance.
Where do screens and tracks fit in?
Screens hold a layer of dust. The first time the wind blows, that dust redeposits onto freshly cleaned glass. So we do screens and glass in the same visit.
Screens go through a screen machine and bristle brushes, then the frame is hand-detailed.
Tracks are a separate job. They collect the grit that later scratches the glass, which is why we treat track detailing as its own service instead of folding it into a wash.
- Walk the house and note slopes, screens, and tracks.
- Clean the exterior glass with water-fed brushes.
- Wash interior glass, frames, and sills by hand.
- Clean screens, then detail the tracks.
- Check every pane before we call it done.
How is the coast different from inland?
Coastal glass in Pacific Beach or La Jolla takes salt spray off the ocean. It films the pane faster, so those homes need a shorter interval.
Inland in Poway, Scripps Ranch, and 4S Ranch, the problem is dust and hard-water sprinkler overspray, which leaves mineral spotting low on the pane.
Neither is a bigger job. They are different jobs, and we say so when we quote.
If we cleaned your windows, we would love to hear about it on Google. Mention the service and your neighborhood so other homeowners can see what we did. You can see our work on the services page or find your area on our service areas page.