Most Florida homes look best with exterior window cleaning at least twice a year, and about every three months if you live near the water, have heavy tree cover, or get sprinkler overspray on the glass. Interior glass usually needs less attention: once or twice a year is typical.
Why Florida windows get dirty faster
Florida is hard on glass. Near the Gulf, bays, and canals, salt in the air leaves a thin film that holds onto dust. Humidity and morning dew help that film stick. Spring brings pollen, summer brings daily rain that splashes soil and mulch onto lower windows, and construction dust from the next lot over never really stops.
Rain doesn't solve it. A shower rinses off loose dust, but it dries into spots and streaks, which is why windows often look worse after a rainy week than before it.
A simple schedule to start with
These are starting points, not rules. Let your glass tell you when it's time.
- Near the water (Gulf, bays, canals, Intracoastal): about every 3 months.
- Heavy tree cover (oaks, palms, pines): every 3 to 4 months, plus a cleaning after spring pollen.
- Inland with little tree cover: every 6 months is usually enough.
- Lanais and pool cages: every 3 to 6 months, since the glass and screens collect pollen and dust quickly.
- Interior glass: once or twice a year, or after painting, remodeling, or a lot of cooking.
Signs it's time for a cleaning
- A hazy film that doesn't go away, even after rain
- Spots or streaks you can see when the sun hits the glass at an angle
- A yellow-green coating after pollen season
- White or rusty-looking spots where sprinklers reach the glass
- Dirt and debris building up in tracks and on sills
Don't ignore sprinkler spots
If your sprinklers spray onto windows, especially if your irrigation runs on well water, minerals and sometimes rust get left behind every time the water dries. The longer those deposits sit, the harder they are to remove, and over time they can permanently etch the glass. The cheapest fix is to aim the sprinkler heads away from the windows, then have existing spots cleaned early.
What about screens, tracks, and sills?
Screens and tracks collect pollen and grit that blows straight into the house when you open a window. If your glass is clean but a room still feels dim or stuffy, window screen cleaning is often the missing piece. Want to do it yourself? See our guide to how to clean window screens. Shine Otter also offers track, sill, and frame cleaning alongside window cleaning.
If you'd rather not think about it
A Home Care Membership puts exterior window cleaning on a regular quarterly schedule so it just happens. Not sure a plan is right for you? Read is a home care membership worth it. Prefer to start with a single visit? See our window cleaning page.
Frequently asked questions
Does rain clean my windows?
Not really. Rain rinses off loose dust, but it leaves spots and can splash dirt from landscaping onto the glass, so windows often look worse after a rainy stretch.
Is it better to clean windows in the shade?
Yes. Cleaning solution dries too fast on glass that's hot from direct sun, which causes streaks. Professionals plan around this. If you clean your own windows, pick a cool, shaded time of day.
Do interior windows need cleaning as often as exterior ones?
Usually not. Interior glass collects dust, fingerprints, and kitchen film, but it doesn't take on salt, pollen, and sprinkler spots the way exterior glass does. Once or twice a year is a common rhythm.
About Shine Otter
Shine Otter is a family owned and operated exterior cleaning company serving Southwest Florida, from Englewood and Venice to Cape Coral and Fort Myers. We handle window cleaning, roof and gutter cleaning, soft washing, driveway and patio cleaning, window screen cleaning, storm debris cleanup, and solar panel cleaning. Call or text (425) 977-5156 for a free quote. Meet the owners.