Pollen Seasons in WNC - When to schedule window washing in Highlands and Cashiers, NC

Spring is in the air! That means beautiful flowers, budding trees, and......pollen.....sniff...sniff. Pollen is not only a problem for seasonal allergy sufferers. It is also a problem for homeowners and window cleaners. Many of our clients in Cashiers and Highlands, NC want to have their windows cleaned early in the spring but hiring a window washer before the pollen season is over can sometimes mean needing to have the windows cleaned again later in the year.

When should you hire a window cleaner?

As professional window cleaners we know that window cleaning is an important part of your regular home maintenance and we want your home to look its best. When should you schedule a window washing for the best results? We found some great information about the pollen seasons of NC on the Hickory Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Clinic's website. Click here to check out the page directly. On this website we see that there are different kinds of pollen throughout the year. Don't worry your windows aren't doomed to be dirty forever. The main pollen that interferes with window cleaning is tree pollen. It's the nasty stuff that floats through the air making us sneeze and making our cars turn yellow no matter what color they were when we bought them. The season for tree pollen runs from March through June and peaks in April throughout most of NC. Since Cashiers and Highlands are at a higher elevation, sometimes their pollen seasons are a bit behind the rest of the state. That being said, usually the worst months for pollen in Cashiers and Highlands, NC is April and May. That means that scheduling a window washer anytime in June or later will ensure that your windows stay cleaner longer.

Does that mean that you should not have your windows cleaned before June? Not necessarily. Pollen sticks to dirty surfaces easier than it does to clean ones. So if you have your windows cleaned before the pollen season is over your windows will still look clean but, if the pollen season is exceptionally bad, you run the risk of your windows getting a little dirty again. If that happens, it is very easy to clean them. That means that if you want your windows to look great all spring and summer, you can schedule a window cleaning early in the year then have a touch up window cleaning after the pollen is over. Touch up window washing is usually very inexpensive. The window washer will usually only clean the exterior windows, and you can choose which windows to have cleaned, and which ones to leave alone. So you can control how much you want to spend!

The Bottom Line

When should you have your windows washed? We recommend hiring a window washer anytime from late May and afterwards. From our experience usually the pollen in the Cashiers and Highlands, NC area is over by then. However, if you need a window cleaning earlier, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

My windows are hazy. What do I do?

Your professional window cleaner just cleaned the outside of your windows but they still look hazy. You think to yourself: "maybe it's on the inside". Well, after he cleans the inside, the haze is still there. You ask him if he missed a spot and he says: "the seals are broken". Well, what does that mean? And, how can you fix it?

If you live in a house that was built or remodeled after the 1920s chances are you have double pane windows. That means your windows are made up of two pieces of glass with a pocket of gas sandwiched between them. This gas in the middle helps insulate your home. Awesome, right? The only problem is over time as that gas heats and cools with the changing of the seasons and sun exposure, the seal on your window can break allowing that gas to escape and moisture to get inside. This moisture condensates and deposits minerals and other nasty things on the inside of your window causing them to look hazy or even leaving lines and spots inside.

What can you do? If the window isn't too far gone there are a few companies out there like Glass Renu, a franchise, that will actually drill two tiny holes in the window, spray a cleaning solution inside, and then cover the holes with a type of mesh sticker that allows the window to breathe. I know it sounds a little crazy but it actually works.

Most of the time though if your window looks hazy or has spots inside the only option is replacement. Replacing a window can be quite costly but there are a few things you can do to cut down on the cost. First, check with the manufacturer of your window to see if there is any kind of warranty for this type of thing. All window seals will break eventually. It's just a matter of how long it will last. Some manufacturers say that their product should last x-amount of years before this happens. If your window is within that time limit they may replace it for free! Look in the corners of the glass or on the jamb or screen to find out who the manufacturer is and contact them to see if there is anything they will do. You may also be able to contact your contractor to see if he has any more information.

Another option instead of replacing the entire window is you may be able to replace the insulated glass unit (or IGU). Having the IGU replaced is usually much cheaper than replacing the entire window. This is usually only practical on vinyl or aluminum frame windows. Although you can do it on some wood frame windows as well. You can contact your local window and door shop to find out what they can do for you.

Long story short, window seals do break but you may have options. If you have any questions or suggestions please leave a comment below.

How to keep your windows cleaner longer

One of the most annoying things for homeowners about window washing is the streaks that are left behind, or the lint left on the windows from their towels. That is why they pay professionals to clean their windows for them. Today we would like to share how you can wash windows on your own to keep them looking their best between professional window washings.

First of all, to wash windows properly you need the right equipment. What do you need? To start with, you need a bucket. You probably already have one that you use to mop the floors or to clean up other messes. Anything that will hold water will work.

Next, you will need an applicator. This can be something as simple as a washcloth or you can pick up a scrubber at your local home-improvement store. They usually consist of a T-shaped handle with a cloth cover.

Finally, you will need a squeegee. These are also available at your local home-improvement store. These usually are not the highest quality but they are usually pretty cheap.

Ready to start washing? Not so fast. You need to make sure you have the right cleaning solution. Now for the super duper top secret window washing solution...drum roll please...dish soap and water! Wait, that's it? Yep, that's it. Just fill your bucket up with water and add a few squirts of your favorite dish washing liquid. There are lots of other products out there to choose from but since you will probably only be doing this once in a while, dish soap will work just fine. Now soap up your window. After that it's time to use your trusty squeegee.

You want to make sure you start your squeegee on a somewhat dry part of the glass. You can accomplish this by using a towel or dry cloth to wipe one edge. Place your squeegee on that dry section and pull straight down. Wipe off your squeegee and repeat. Once you're finished use a dry towel to wipe the edges of the window. If you leave a mark in the middle of the glass it's usually best to soap up the glass again. Otherwise you run the risk of leaving a spot of lint where you touch the glass.

That's really all there is to window washing. Sure, there are lots of techniques that you pick up over time but that is the essence of it. I hope this has helped. If you have any other questions leave us a comment below.