Window Cleaning with Pressure Washing: What to Know

From getting on a ladder to finding the right cleaning products, window cleaning is a challenge. Pressure washing can provide a deep clean in the blink of an eye, and some homeowners swear by it. Although it may be tempting to power wash your windows, it may not be the best choice.

Here’s what to know about window cleaning with pressure washing.

Can You Power Wash Your Windows?

If you already own a pressure washer and know how to operate it safely, you might think it’s the best way to get window washing done quickly. But as the old saying goes, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

For every online tutorial you’ll find about window cleaning with pressure washing, there are just as many posts – if not more – explaining why you might want to think twice before taking that route. While power washing your windows can be safe in theory, there’s a lot of room for error. There are also certain kinds of windows that it isn’t safe for at all. Before moving forward with window cleaning by power washing, you’ll need to consider a few factors.

Factors to Keep in Mind Before Power Washing Your Windows

1. The Type of Windows You Have

Aluminum and vinyl window frames are durable enough to withstand pressure washing, but wooden frames tend to require gentler treatment. Pressure washing can cause heavy damage to wood, whether it’s in good shape or not.

Window cleaning by pressure washing doesn’t always work well for double-paned windows. The high pressure can break the seals and let moisture in, causing fogging between the panes.

2. The Condition of Your Windows

Before attempting to pressure wash your windows, you’ll want to check:

• • The glazing between the frame and glass
• • The weather stripping
• • The caulking around the window frame

If these things aren’t intact, it can lead to severe damage, including shattered glass and water leaking into your home.

3. The Condition of Your Home

You might not realize it, but trying to power wash your windows could lead to damage elsewhere on your home. The water force created by standard pressure washers can harm your home’s exterior if you aren’t careful. Worse still, if your home is older or its exteriors aren’t in the best shape, water can creep into cracks and crevices. The water may get under flooring or into insulation, causing serious issues like mold, mildew, and rotting wood.

4. Your Pressure Washing Experience

If you have little to no experience using a power washer, the last place you should try it out is your windows. Used improperly, a power washer can damage your windows in several ways, like shattering glass and dislodging window putty. Window cleaning by pressure washing can only be safely done in a very specific manner. You’ll need to be mindful of the PSI (how powerful the pressure washer is), the angle of the spray pattern, and the cleaning products you use.

A Better Way to Clean Your Windows

FISH’s team of window cleaning experts uses proven techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to deliver a clean you’ll notice. Our residential window cleaning services are built around the use of water-fed poles, which use purified water to clean your windows safely and without any soap at all! Your windows will dry without any streaks or spots, leaving them in top shape for the warm weather ahead.

Choose FISH Window Cleaning for results you’ll absolutely love. Request a free estimate to find a location near you to get started.