Holiday guests, family photos by the tree, a few weeks of open curtains on cool mornings: the end of the year is when a lot of us look at our windows more closely than usual. And in Northeast Florida, late fall is one of the best times of year to get them cleaned.
Here's why, what to check before you book, and how to time it so your windows look their best when company arrives.
Why late fall is a smart time for window cleaning
Summer's mess is finally over. By November, the heavy summer storms have calmed down, and hurricane season officially ends on November 30. Any salt spray, wind-blown dirt or storm residue left on the glass from the past few months has nowhere to go but your next cleaning, and it's less likely to get coated again right away.
Lovebug season has passed. Our fall lovebug flight usually winds down by now. Their remains are acidic and stick hard to glass, frames and screens, so it's worth getting them off before they've sat for months.
The weather is easy on the glass. Mild temperatures and lower humidity mean cleaning solution doesn't flash-dry on the glass the way it can on a hot July afternoon. That makes for a cleaner, streak-free finish.
It's ahead of spring pollen. Pine and oak pollen season hits Northeast Florida hard in late winter and spring. A fall cleaning gives you a clear stretch through the holidays before the yellow dust shows up. (We wrote more about that in our guide to salt air, pollen and your windows.)
Why dirty windows suddenly look worse this time of year
If your windows seem dirtier in November than they did in August, it's not your imagination. In winter, the sun sits lower in the sky, so it hits your windows at a sharper angle and for more of the day. That low light shows every streak, water spot and film that the high summer sun hid.
The same thing happens with indoor lights at night. Once the days get shorter and the lamps and holiday lights go on, smudges and fingerprints on the inside of the glass show up more.
A quick pre-holiday window checklist
Before you book, take a walk around your home and look for:
- Hard water spots on windows near sprinklers. These look like white, cloudy spots and are common on the lower windows of Jacksonville homes.
- Salt film on windows that face the water, especially if you're near the beach, the Intracoastal or the St. Johns River.
- Bug residue and spider webs in corners, frames and under eaves.
- Dirty screens. Screens trap dirt and push it right back onto clean glass. (Our screen and track cleaning guide covers why.)
- Gritty tracks and sills on sliding doors and windows that you'll be opening more on cool days.
- Fingerprints and nose prints on sliding glass doors, from kids and pets, at the height guests will see them.
Make a note of anything that looks like more than everyday dirt, like scratches or seal problems. A window cleaning won't fix a failed seal (that foggy look between double panes), but it's good to know about it.
What a professional cleaning covers
When Emerald's cleans your windows, we clean the glass along with the frames, sills, screens and tracks, so the whole window looks finished, not just the middle of the pane. Clean screens and tracks also keep dust and pollen from landing right back on fresh glass.
We're licensed and insured, and we treat your home with care.
Learn more about our residential window cleaning service.
When to book before the holidays
The weeks just before Thanksgiving and the stretch before Christmas fill up quickly. A few tips:
- Book one to two weeks out from when you want it done, especially for a date close to a holiday. That said, we're happy to accommodate short-notice calls whenever we can.
- Clean before you decorate. It's much easier to clean windows before window clings, garlands and lights go up.
- Do the outside before the inside sparkle matters. If you only do one side, the outside usually makes the bigger difference, especially on coastal homes.
- Think about a regular schedule. If you like the way your windows look after the holidays, ask us about a recurring cleaning so they stay that way all year. Our post on how often to clean windows in Jacksonville can help you decide how often makes sense for your home.
Serving homes across Northeast Florida
Emerald's provides residential window cleaning in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Green Cove Springs, Yulee and the surrounding towns. We're open 7am to 7pm, and we'll find a time that works for you.
Get your windows holiday-ready
Clear windows make the whole house feel brighter, and they're one less thing to worry about before guests arrive.
Call (904) 902-2002 or request a free quote to get on the schedule before the holiday rush.