How Often Should You Clean Your Windows? What Window Manufacturers Actually Recommend

Short answer: Every six months is the right baseline for most homes, in line with what major window manufacturers recommend. Homes with sprinklers hitting the glass, heavy dust, or trees close by benefit from cleaning every three months. Sheltered homes can often stretch to once a year.

You’d expect a window cleaning company to say “more often.” So don’t take our word for it. Here’s what the companies that build the windows say.

What Window Manufacturers Recommend

Pella: at least twice a year. Pella recommends cleaning all parts of your windows at least twice a year for optimal quality, and says you can clean them as often as once a month if you like. Pella — 6 Steps to Clean Windows for a Streak-Free Finish

Andersen: twice a year. Andersen recommends cleaning windows twice a year: once to wash away winter dirt and road salt, and again to remove the dust and pollen that collect over the summer. It recommends cleaning insect screens on the same schedule. Andersen — How to Clean Window Screens

Marvin: once or twice a year. Marvin says windows should be washed once or twice a year, depending on how much exposure they get to dirt, tree sap, and bird droppings. Marvin — The Best Way to Wash Windows (Like the Pros)

The takeaway is simple: about every six months. The exact months matter less than the interval. Whenever you start, schedule your next cleaning six months out.

Why It Matters Beyond Looks

Glass, frames, screens, and tracks collect dirt, pollen, minerals, road grime, sap, and bugs. The longer that buildup sits, the harder it is to remove, and some contaminants wear on seals, finishes, and moving parts. A regular cleaning is also when small problems like failed seals, torn screens, or sticky tracks get noticed while they’re still cheap to fix.

Why Utah Windows Get Dirty Faster

• Sprinklers and hard water. Overspray leaves white mineral spots that bake onto the glass in the summer sun.
• Winter road grime and salt. This is the buildup Andersen specifically calls out.
• Construction dust. It’s constant in growing areas like Herriman, South Jordan, and West Jordan.
• Pollen and trees close to the house.

Hard Water: Catch It Early

Light mineral spots come off during a regular cleaning. Deposits left for months or years bond to the glass and can permanently etch it. At that point you need restoration, which is a separate and more intensive service.

Two simple fixes:

1. Adjust any sprinkler heads that hit your windows. Otherwise, new spots start forming right after a cleaning.
2. Keep windows on a regular cleaning schedule so deposits never get the chance to build up.

Ember’s Glow Quarterly and Fire Monthly plans include hard water removal at every visit.

Do You Need a Professional Every Six Months?

No. Manufacturers recommend maintaining your windows, not hiring someone to do it. Plenty of homeowners handle their ground-floor windows themselves.

A professional makes sense when your windows are on a second or third story, you have lots of panes or oversized glass, there’s heavy mineral buildup, or you want screens and tracks done right without giving up your Saturday.

How Often Should Salt Lake County Homes Clean Their Windows?

Every 6 months — most homes

This is the baseline for most homes, and it matches what Pella, Andersen, and Marvin recommend.

Every 3 months — higher-exposure homes

Consider cleaning every three months if sprinklers hit your glass, there’s construction nearby, you live on a busy road, trees overhang the house, or you simply want your windows spotless year-round.

Once a year — sheltered homes

A home with no sprinkler overspray, little traffic, and few trees can often go a full year between cleanings.

Ember’s Plans Are Built Around This Schedule

• Ember BiAnnual: a professional cleaning every six months, scheduled for you so you never have to think about it.
• Ember Glow Quarterly (Most Popular): every three months for higher-exposure homes. Includes hard water removal and Glow Protection, a post-cleaning treatment that helps glass resist water spots and dust between visits.
• Fire Monthly: for homes and storefronts that want spotless glass year-round. Includes hard water removal and Glow Protection.

See Ember Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cleaning windows twice a year really necessary?

For most homes, yes. It’s what Pella and Andersen recommend, and it keeps buildup from becoming permanent.

Can hard water damage windows?

Yes. Mineral deposits left on glass long-term can etch the surface. Stopping sprinkler overspray and cleaning regularly prevents it.

Does it matter what time of year I clean my windows?

Not much. Consistency matters more than the calendar. Pick a start date and stay on a six-month rhythm.

How much does window cleaning cost in Salt Lake County?

It depends on how many panes you have and how tall your home is. Ember gives free, fast quotes. Call 801-259-8440 or request one online.

The Bottom Line

Pella, Andersen, and Marvin all agree: clean your windows about twice a year. Do it yourself or hire a pro. Just don’t let them go for years.

Professional Window Cleaning in Salt Lake County

Ember Window Cleaning serves homeowners in Taylorsville, Murray, Midvale, West Jordan, Sandy, Draper, Herriman, Salt Lake City, and surrounding communities. We offer window cleaning, screen cleaning and repair, and hard water removal.