Most homeowners should hire a professional when cleaning second-story windows requires an extension ladder. The job may also involve removing exterior screens, working around landscaping or roof overhangs, treating mineral deposits and reaching the full pane without leaning. Each of those issues affects the safety of the work and the quality of the result.
Some second-story windows tilt inward and can be cleaned safely from inside. A ground-based system may work for others. When the exterior glass has to be reached from a ladder, professional service is the safer choice.
I have seen this decision play out at my own house. My husband once dragged out our old, rickety wooden ladder to clean the windows and asked me to hold it. I put both hands on the rails and looked up at him, then at the ladder, wondering what I was expected to catch first if either one came down. Apparently I was the safety plan.
Shane Brinkley, owner of Squeegee Squad Tulsa, said his team evaluates the access before cleaning begins. The crew considers the ladder position, ground conditions, nearby obstacles, window size, screens and the condition of the glass.
Access is the main complication with second-story windows. A ladder needs firm footing, the correct setup angle and enough open space to reach the window. Sloped ground, soft soil, bushes, fences, roof overhangs and nearby power lines may limit where it can be placed.
Wide windows can require several ladder placements. Reaching to one side instead of moving the ladder shifts the user's weight and increases the chance of a fall. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identifies improper ladder selection, setup and use among the common causes of ladder falls.
The height does not have to be extreme. In a CDC study of occupational ladder falls, nearly 90% of the nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments, when fall height was recorded, involved falls of less than 16 feet. Falls from six to 10 feet were the most common. These figures cover workplace injuries, but the heights are common around two-story homes.
The home can be damaged too. Ladder rails may scratch exterior paint or siding. Indoors, ladder feet may slide on hardwood or a rug, and moving a ladder through a furnished room puts walls, floors and belongings at risk.
Exterior screens often have to be removed before the glass can be cleaned. That may require ladder access even when the cleaner plans to wash the window with a pole from the ground. Older screens can become brittle after years of sun exposure and may bend or break during removal.
The material on the glass determines how it should be cleaned. Routine dust and pollen are different from hard-water deposits, paint, adhesive and construction debris. Shane warned that common green scrub pads sold in cleaning aisles can scratch glass permanently.
A professional can assess the glass before choosing a product or restoration method. This protects the window from damage and gives the homeowner a more accurate understanding of what the service will require.
The problem with an extension pole is control. As the pole gets longer, keeping even pressure on the glass gets harder. Shane said technicians get good results because they use the equipment regularly. A homeowner may still need a ladder to remove an exterior screen before the pole can touch the glass.
Shane said regular use makes a difference. Someone who cleans windows with an extension pole every week will have more control than a homeowner using one occasionally. Screens, storm windows, recessed glass and divided panes may still require direct access.
Buying a pole also does not address hard-water buildup or other material bonded to the glass. A ground-based tool can reduce the need for a ladder, but it cannot make every window suitable for routine DIY cleaning.
A professional crew decides how each window can be reached before equipment is placed against the home. Squeegee Squad Tulsa evaluates the window height and size, the ground, landscaping, overhangs, screens and the condition of the glass.
The crew also inspects its equipment throughout the job. “An inspection of the ladder is performed each time a ladder is used,” Shane said. The angle and the surface beneath the ladder are checked with each placement.
Inside the home, the crew has to account for flooring, furniture and the space available to carry and position equipment. Outside, the access plan should protect siding, paint, landscaping and the windows themselves.
This work takes place before the washing begins. It is part of what a homeowner is paying for when hiring an experienced, insured window-cleaning company.
The answers should tell you whether the company is prepared for elevated residential work:
Melissa Brinkley, CEO of Squeegee Squad Tulsa, recommends verifying insurance through the company's agent. Ask the agent to send you a current certificate of insurance and describe the planned work, including second-story windows and exterior ladder use.
The certificate is commonly issued on an ACORD form and lists information such as the named insured, policy types and limits. Ask whether the policy is active and whether the coverage applies to the work planned at your home.
Squeegee Squad Tulsa's How to Spot a Fake Certificate of Insurance explains the verification process in more detail. It was written for commercial property managers, but homeowners can use the same process.
Cleaning the windows yourself may be reasonable when they tilt inward or the full exterior pane can be reached from the ground. The screen should also be removable without exterior ladder access, and the glass should need routine cleaning with a method you know is safe for the surface.
Hire a professional when the work requires an extension ladder, the ground or landscaping prevents safe access, the window cannot be reached without leaning, an exterior screen must be removed at height or the glass may need restoration.
If you are unsure, ask the company to evaluate the windows and explain how the crew plans to reach them. A clear explanation should be part of the quote.
Yes. Tilt-in windows and some ground-based systems allow cleaning without a ladder. Exterior screens, window design and glass condition may still require direct access.
It can when the pane is fully accessible and no exterior screen blocks the glass. Long poles require practice, and some window designs still need closer access.
Many hard-water deposits can be treated professionally, but the method depends on the glass and the severity of the buildup. The window should be assessed first.
The quote should explain which windows, screens, tracks or storm windows are included and identify any restoration work. Ask how the crew will access elevated glass.
Get the insurance agent's contact information from the company. Ask the agent for a current certificate and confirm coverage for the work planned at your home.
Squeegee Squad Tulsa evaluates access, screens and glass condition before beginning second-story window cleaning. Request a residential window-cleaning quote to find out what your home requires.