How often should you clean your windows?
By Service Plus Stockholm AB3 min read
Short answer
How often should the windows of a house be cleaned?
The windows of a house in Stockholm should be cleaned on the outside two to four times a year and on the inside once or twice. The best times are April, after the winter's dirt and pollen, and October, after the summer's dust and before the darkness makes the dirt visible. Houses near busy roads, the sea or many trees may need exterior cleaning every quarter.
What affects how often the windows need cleaning?
- Location: houses by busy roads such as the E4, E18 or Nynäsvägen get a layer of dirt within a few weeks. Houses by Saltsjön or Mälaren get salt deposits.
- Trees: birches and limes near the house give pollen in May and sticky honeydew in July.
- Aspect: south- and west-facing windows show dirt more clearly in low sunlight.
- Window type: old coupled windows have four glass surfaces per sash and take twice as long as modern triple-glazed windows.
Which months are best?
April is the most important cleaning. Winter leaves a layer of road dust, soot and salt spray, and when the sun is low every streak shows. If the house is near birches, clean again after the birch pollen in mid-May.
October is the second fixed time. The summer's dust and insects are removed before the darkness means you switch on the lights and see the dirt from inside. Avoid cleaning in sub-zero temperatures, when the water freezes on the glass.
How to clean without streaks
- Use lukewarm water with a few drops of washing-up liquid or window cleaner, not hot water.
- Wash the pane with a washer sleeve or sponge and pull off with a squeegee in overlapping strokes, wiping the squeegee between each stroke.
- Dry the edges with a dry microfibre cloth.
- Do not clean in direct sunshine, the water dries before you have time to squeegee it off.
- Windows at height are cleaned most safely with a telescopic pole and pure-water system, which needs no ladder.
Window cleaning with the RUT deduction from Service Plus
Service Plus Stockholm AB cleans windows outside and inside throughout Greater Stockholm, including patio doors, glass railings, glazed conservatories and greenhouses. Our window cleaner Rutan reaches windows on the second and third floor with a ladder or telescopic pole and wipes down frames and window sills in the same visit.
Window cleaning in your home qualifies for the RUT deduction (the Swedish tax deduction for household services) of up to 50% of the labour cost. Many customers book a recurring cleaning in spring and autumn, often together with the garden cleanup.
Common follow-up questions
What does window cleaning for a house cost?
The price depends on the number of windows, the window type, whether the cleaning is to be done outside and inside, and how many windows are at height. Service Plus assesses the price on site and provides a free quote before work begins.
Can you clean windows in winter?
Yes, on days above freezing. In sub-zero temperatures the water freezes on the glass and leaves streaks, so Service Plus moves winter cleanings to milder days.
Do I need to be home for exterior window cleaning?
No. Exterior cleaning is done without access to the house. For interior cleaning we need to come in, but you can leave a key or code.
