What’s included in exterior window cleaning?
An exterior window clean covers the outside face of the glass, the window frames and the sills, on every window the crew can reach safely from the ground or a ladder on a low section. Sliding door glass and the outside of glass balustrades can be added by arrangement. We confirm the list when we quote, so you know what is in and out.
What a typical visit looks like:
- Glass. The outside of each pane is washed and finished so it dries clear, without smears or water spots.
- Frames. Aluminium or timber frames are washed down with the glass rather than left to drip dirt back onto it.
- Sills. Dust, cobwebs and dead insects are cleared from the sills.
- Extras by arrangement. Outside door tracks, fly screens and glass balustrades vary a lot from house to house, so we price them when we see them.
Inside windows are not part of this service. Keeping it exterior only means the crew doesn’t need to come inside your home, and the job can be done while you are out.
How often should windows be cleaned near the coast?
Near the coast, plan on more frequent cleans than the rest of the city. The Window & Glass Association says windows in coastal areas need frequent washing to remove wind-blown sea salt. Inland, it suggests washing powder-coated aluminium windows about every three months. Many North Shore homes are close to the water, so a regular schedule makes sense, with the most exposed sides washed most often.
Salt matters for two reasons. It leaves a hazy film on the glass that rain doesn’t fully rinse off, and it sits on aluminium frames and hardware, where regular washing is part of the maintenance joinery makers recommend. Houses along the east coast bays, on clifftops or around the harbour edges usually feel this most.
Other things that bring the next clean forward:
- Building work or new subdivisions nearby, where cement dust settles on glass and frames.
- Trees overhead dropping sap, pollen or leaves.
- A fresh house wash or roof treatment, after which clean glass finishes the job.
- Selling or hosting, when clear windows make a big difference to how a house looks.
The association’s three-monthly suggestion works out at four washes a year for a sheltered inland home, and more for an exposed one. Many people split that between professional cleans of the glass and a gentle hose-down of the frames themselves in between. We can suggest a schedule once we know how exposed the house is.
What are water-fed poles and pure water?
A water-fed pole is a telescopic pole with a soft brush and small jets at the top, fed with purified water. The brush loosens dirt, then the pure water rinses it away. Because filtering through reverse osmosis and deionisation removes the dissolved minerals, the glass dries without the spots that ordinary tap water leaves, so no squeegee is needed on high panes.
The principle is simple. When tap water dries on glass, the minerals dissolved in it stay behind as spots and rings. Purified water has almost nothing dissolved in it, so when it dries, nothing is left behind. It also picks up dirt readily while the brush works.
Poles let a window cleaner reach first and second-floor glass while standing on the ground, which cuts down ladder work. They suit most outside glass on houses and townhouses. Low windows and glass doors are often easier to finish by hand with a squeegee. We’ll tell you at quoting how the crew plans to reach each part of your house.
How do you clean aluminium window frames?
Wash aluminium frames with clean water, a soft-bristled brush and a mild pH-neutral detergent, then rinse with a gentle spray and dry the glass. That is the approach the Window & Glass Association sets out for powder-coated aluminium joinery. Avoid solvents and harsh cleaners, and don’t force water into seals and drainage slots with a strong hose jet.
Most aluminium joinery on North Shore houses is either powder coated or anodised. Both finishes last well when they are washed regularly, and both can be marked by the wrong products. The association warns that any house-wash product used near windows should state that it is suitable for aluminium and glass, and that solvents put joinery at risk.
Seals and the drainage slots in the bottom of the frame deserve a gentle touch. A hose turned to a hard jet pushes water where wind-driven rain never would. A soft brush along the bottom track and sill clears the grit and insects that block the drainage holes, which helps the frame shed water the way it was designed to.
Paint splashes, sunscreen and cement dust are the usual culprits for marks that won’t wash off. Those are best dealt with straight away with water and a soft cloth, never a scraper.
How are upstairs windows cleaned safely?
Upstairs windows on houses and townhouses are cleaned from the ground with a pole wherever possible, and from a ladder only for short tasks on firm ground. WorkSafe’s guidance on safe working with ladders and stepladders describes ladders as access for light, short jobs that give no protection from a fall. Working from the ground avoids that risk.
We quote residential homes and townhouses only. Glass that cannot be reached safely from the ground or a short ladder, such as high apartment façades, isn’t something we take on, and we don’t offer rope access or commercial high-rise work.
For anyone thinking of doing it themselves: stay off the roof, keep both feet on the ground where you can, and use a ladder only on firm, level ground, set at the angle WorkSafe recommends. Our guide on how to clean outside windows, including upstairs ones covers ways to reach high glass without climbing.
Can window cleaning be combined with a house wash?
Yes, and it is a sensible pairing. A house wash loosens dirt, mould and salt on the cladding, and some of that runs down over the windows. Cleaning the glass after the wash, on the same visit, means the windows are finished last and stay clear. Booking both together also saves a second trip to the house.
The order matters. Wash the walls, soffits and frames first, rinse, then clean the glass. Done the other way round, the house wash undoes the window clean.
Products matter too. Joinery makers ask that any wash solution used near windows is labelled as suitable for aluminium and glass, and that it is rinsed off well. Wash water and cleaning solutions also need to stay out of the stormwater drains, which is part of how a house wash is planned. Ask about both services together and we’ll quote them as one job.
What window cleaning costs
Cleaning the outside windows of a single-storey, three-bedroom home typically costs $180 to $280, based on prices Auckland window cleaners publish. Two-storey homes, big villas and houses with a lot of glass cost more because they take longer and need poles or careful ladder work. We don’t do inside windows. We confirm your price once we know the size of the house and how easy the windows are to reach.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Single-storey home, about 3 bedrooms, outside only | $180–$280 |
A guide only, built from prices Auckland window cleaners publish (checked October 2026). Two-storey homes, large villas and houses with a lot of glass cost more because of access and time; we price those after seeing the house. We confirm your price before the crew starts.
How an exterior window clean runs
- You tell us the suburb, number of storeys and roughly how many windows; we quote, and confirm extras like door tracks or balustrades.
- The crew walks around the house first, noting any cracked glass, damaged seals or windows that can’t be reached safely.
- Frames and sills are brushed down so loose dirt and cobwebs don’t drip onto clean glass.
- Glass is washed and finished, from the ground with a pole where possible and by hand on low panes and doors.
- A final walk-around checks for missed spots before the crew packs up.
Questions people ask about window cleaning
Is it worth getting your outside windows cleaned?
For most homes, yes, at least a couple of times a year. Salt, dust and rain spots dull the glass and sit on aluminium frames, and joinery makers recommend regular washing to keep frames in good condition. A professional clean also takes care of the upstairs windows that are awkward or risky to reach yourself, without anyone climbing onto the roof.
How do professionals clean windows?
Two methods are common on the outside. A water-fed pole with purified water scrubs and rinses the glass, which then dries spot-free, and lets the cleaner reach upper floors from the ground. For low windows and doors, a wash applicator and a squeegee give a quick, streak-free finish by hand. Frames and sills are brushed down as part of the job.
How often should windows be cleaned?
Inland, washing aluminium windows about every three months is the joinery industry’s general suggestion. Homes close to the sea, near building sites or under trees need it more often, because salt and dust build up faster. On the North Shore that usually means planning cleans around exposure, with the side of the house facing the sea done most often.
Do you do inside windows?
No. This service is exterior only: the outside glass, frames and sills of houses and townhouses. That keeps the crew outside your home and lets the job go ahead while you are out. If you want the inside of your windows done as well, you’ll need a separate interior cleaner, and we’ll say so plainly when you ask for a quote.