Different weather affects window cleaning success. Putting in the hard work of cleaning your windows, only to still see streaks or have dust build up quickly is not ideal. In order to be successful in cleaning your windows, you need to understand which conditions yield the best results, and which conditions can ruin your results and cause safety hazards.
Overcast Days
The most ideal weather conditions for cleaning windows include mild temperatures and overcast skies. Direct, harsh, sunlight can evaporate or dry cleaning solutions too quickly and can leave behind residue, such as streaks and waterspots, as you clean. Cooler temperatures are ideal because they also keep cleaning solutions from evaporating too fast.
Overcast days and cooler temperatures also affect the temperature of the window or surface you are cleaning. Harsh sunlight will heat up the glass, making it more difficult to clean.
Freezing temperatures
One of the least successful weather conditions is freezing temperatures. If you clean your windows during low temperatures, you risk cleaning solutions freezing on the glass, which can prove ineffective and dangerous. Like sunlight, freezing temps also cause streaks.
Frost can also cause glass to become brittle, which means it could shatter during cleaning. Some professionals will use antifreeze in their cleaning solutions in the winter to avoid cracks or any other problems.
If you need to clean your windows in the winter, try to clean when the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the temperature is lower, try to move quickly and avoid icy areas and or standing on unstable, snowy surfaces. If you are worried about being successful, it is better to call a professional than risk an injury.
Rainy Weather
A common misconception about rainy weather is how it makes windows dirty as it falls. Rain is relatively pure and clean, so it doesn’t dirty windows. You may think it does because rain clings to the dirt already present on the windows wet, thus making marks that were hidden show up prominently. This is why it is important to keep up on window cleaning, to avoid messy windows during rainy days.
Rain may not affect how dirty windows get, but heavy rain does bring the chance of problems, including lack of visibility. If it is raining too hard to safely see the windows you are cleaning, is it best to stop and wait until it is safe, you don’t want to slip and injure yourself.
Really heavy rain can also wash away cleaning solutions before you have a chance to finish. But if it is only raining lightly, you can use the rain to enhance your cleaning. When combined with cleaning solutions, rain can act as a natural rinse aid, leading to a sparkling finish.
When cleaning windows during a rain shower, make sure to clean the window thoroughly and make sure to include the window frame, as it can collect dirt and debris that will become visible after heavy rainfall.
So, while rain isn’t weather that affects window cleaning, it does mean you need to take your time and pay more attention to detail to have beautiful streak free windows.
Windy Conditions
Heavy gusts of wind can ruin your window cleaning by blowing dirt, pollen, and other debris onto freshly washed surfaces. Windy conditions can also be dangerous as it could make it harder to control cleaning equipment and stay stable on ladders. Wind can also cause cleaning solutions to dry quickly, leading to streaks, water spots, and other marks.
While you can clean your windows during sunny or rainy days, for your own safety, you should avoid cleaning windows on really windy days if possible, especially if you are cleaning windows on a high level of a building.
Choose the Best Weather for a Streak-free Finish
While you can find success when cleaning windows in any weather condition, is it best to choose weather conditions that work for you, not against you. Sunny days may seem ideal but the harsh light can work against you. Wind and rain can also cause hazards, so make sure to only clean your windows if you feel safe.
You should also make sure to keep on your windows regularly, so you avoid dirt buildup and damage from neglect as weather affects window cleaning differently depending on the time of year.
If you can, clean your windows, or call up the professionals, on a nice, overcast day and see your windows shine.