Getting Your Home Ready for a Window Cleaning Visit

Having your windows cleaned is one of the easier home services to prepare for. There is no furniture to move out of the house and no long list of tasks. But a little bit of thought beforehand makes the visit faster and the result better, and it saves you from finding a displaced candle or a bent blind slat later.

Clear the sills

The most useful thing you can do is remove personal or delicate items from the windowsills and the area directly in front of each window. Plants, glass figurines, framed photos, candles, anything that tips easily or that you would be sorry to see broken. Premier asks homeowners to do this, and it is easy to see why: the technician needs clear access to the glass, the sill and the frame, and nobody wants to be handling your grandmother's porcelain.

Take a quick lap through each room and look at every window. If a piece of furniture blocks access, such as a dresser right under the glass or a desk pushed against it, pull it out a foot or two. That small gap gives the crew room to work without a struggle.

Window treatments

Blinds, curtains and shades are moved carefully during the visit and put back as they were found. You do not need to take them down. It helps if you open or raise them in advance so the crew can see the whole window, and if anything is especially fragile or delicate, tell the team before they start.

Screens, and what happens to them

For most homes, you do not need to remove screens yourself. The crew takes them out, cleans them and reinstalls them as part of the visit. Screens collect a surprising amount of dust and pollen, and cleaning them makes the airflow and the view noticeably better.

High-rise condos and apartments are the exception worth knowing about. If your windows are on an upper floor and the crew will be cleaning the exterior from outside, screens need to be removed if they cannot be operated from outside. A screen that slides from the outside can usually stay. One that can only be taken out from the inside needs to be removed before the crew arrives, or the exterior glass cannot be done. Check this when you book and ask what the team needs from you.

Do you need to be home?

Not necessarily. For residential work, access is confirmed ahead of time, so you and the office agree on how the crew will get in. Some people are home and working in the next room, and others are out for the day. Either is fine as long as the arrangement is clear before the appointment.

If you are home, you do not have to supervise. The technicians are uniformed and background-checked, and they are used to working in occupied homes. Stephanie, who reviewed Premier on Google, described the crew as efficient and very respectful of her home, and noted they covered their shoes. That is the standard you should expect: protected floors, furniture and landscaping.

Pets, kids and alarms

Put pets in a room where they will not slip out when someone opens a door, and tell the crew about any dogs that react to strangers. If you have a security system with sensors on the windows, let the office know so nobody sets off the alarm while working. A quick call beforehand is easier than explaining a siren to your neighbors.

Know what is included

A standard residential visit covers the glass, sills and accessible frames, inside and outside. The scope is confirmed in advance, so you are not guessing on the day. If you have a window you are particularly worried about, such as one that sticks, has a crack or has a seal that looks cloudy, point it out when you book. Windows with existing damage need care, and it is better for everyone to know ahead of time.

• Remove personal and delicate items from sills and the floor near the windows.
• Open blinds and curtains, and pull furniture away from windows that are hard to reach.
• Tell the office whether screens slide from the outside, especially in a high-rise.
• Confirm how the crew will get in if you will be out.
• Mention pets, alarms and any problem windows when you book.

After the visit

Do a quick walk-through once the crew is done. Look at the glass from a couple of angles, since streaks and smears show best when light hits the window sideways. Premier backs its work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee: if any part of the work is not right, the team comes back and makes it right. Say so right away instead of living with it.

Most homeowners find that clean windows make a house feel brighter and larger, and that the prep is worth the five minutes. If you would like to schedule a visit or get a free estimate, call Premier at (267) 534-5198. The office is open every day from 6 am to 4 pm.