How much does window cleaning cost in Virginia?

There is no single standard price for window cleaning in Virginia, and businesses price the work differently: per window, per pane, per visit or by the hour. The useful answer is to know what drives the number, describe your house the same way to every business, and compare written quotes line by line.

What drives the price

How much glass. The count of windows matters, and so does their make-up. A window divided into many small panes, a large picture window, a glass door or a sunroom all take longer than a plain sash.

How high and how hard to reach. This is usually the biggest factor. First-floor windows can be done from the ground. Second-storey windows mean ladders or extension poles, more setup and more risk, and windows above a deck roof, a steep slope or deep planting beds add time again. The window type helps: tilt-wash double-hung windows tilt inward so the outside can be cleaned from inside the house,^[1] which is quicker and needs no ladder.

Outside only, or inside and outside. Inside work avoids ladders but means moving furniture, blinds and curtains, and being careful in your home. Many businesses quote it separately.

Screens, tracks and sills. Washing screens and vacuuming tracks and sills is often an add-on. If you want it, put it in the request so every quote includes it.

The state of the glass. Routine dirt washes off quickly. Hard water spots from sprinklers, paint overspray, stickers and construction residue take more time and sometimes different methods. Fog or droplets between the panes is not a cleaning job at all; it means the window's seal has failed, and the fix is a window repair or replacement.

How often you book. Andersen recommends washing windows twice a year, in the fall and again in the spring.^[1] MI Windows and Doors says to clean its products at a minimum once a year, and at least once a month in a coastal area.^[3] A business may price a twice-a-year plan lower per visit than a one-off clean of glass that has gone years without one.

Methods worth asking about

The cheapest quote is not a bargain if it damages the windows. Window makers are specific about what not to use. Marvin says glass scratched by a scraper is not covered under its warranty.^[2] MI lists a power washer or garden hose, razor blades, putty knives and abrasive pads among the tools that may void its warranty or damage its products,^[3] and Andersen says pressure washing is not advised because it may damage parts of the window.^[1]

If your windows are still under warranty, find the maker's care guide and tell each business what it says. Ask how they handle stubborn spots or paint on the glass, and whether they will skip any method your window maker warns against.

The costs that are easy to miss

Insurance. A crew working on ladders at your house is the main risk in this job. Virginia's Workers' Compensation Act does not cover employees of a business that regularly has fewer than three employees in Virginia, unless they choose to be covered.^[4] It also does not count domestic servants as employees.^[4] So do not assume a small window cleaning business, or a person you pay directly, carries workers' compensation. Ask what liability insurance and workers' compensation the business has and ask to see the certificate. A business that pays for both often has to charge more than one that does not.

Local business licences. Virginia counties, cities and towns may levy license taxes on businesses, trades, professions and occupations,^[5] so an established business may be paying for a licence where it works. Ask whether it holds one in your locality.

Door-to-door offers. If someone knocks and offers to clean your windows today, keep Virginia's Home Solicitation Sales Act in mind. It covers a consumer sale where the seller personally solicits it at your home and you agree to it there.^[6] The Act does not cover cash sales of less than $25,^[6] but for a covered sale, you may cancel until midnight of the third business day after the sale, and the seller must give you a written notice of that right.^[7]

How to get quotes you can compare

Virginia's Board for Contractors gives homeowners advice that applies to any home service: get at least three written bids based on the same specifications, not automatically take the lowest, and check references.^[8] For window cleaning, the specification is your list: the number of windows per floor, outside only or both sides, screens and tracks, and any problem glass. Ask for the price in writing with that list on it, and ask what a second visit later in the year would cost.

If you are weighing doing it yourself, see how to clean windows without streaks and whether hiring a window cleaner is worth it. For how often to book, see how often to clean windows.

Stop and call a pro if

• The windows you want cleaned are on a second storey or higher and are not tilt-wash, or reaching them means standing on a roof.
• A ladder would go near the service wire or a power line.
• The glass is fogged between the panes, cracked, or the sash is rotten. That calls for a window repair, not a cleaning.

Getting quotes on Loclis

You can browse window cleaning businesses, look up cleaning services around Blacksburg, or read the other cleaning answers. Loclis's own fees are on the pricing page. To get quotes, describe the window cleaning job once and local businesses can quote it.