Wash one pane at a time. For safely reachable, uncoated glass, clear loose dirt from the frame and sill, then wash with water and a little mild dishwashing liquid. Squeegee in overlapping passes, wiping the blade between passes. Dry the edges with a clean microfibre cloth before drips can run back onto the glass.
Start with a window you can reach from the floor or ground. Clean gritty tracks and dusty flyscreens before wetting the glass. Check the care instructions for coated or filmed panes.
Need a professional help? Request a FREE window cleaning quote HERE –>> https://westlinkservices.com.au/get-a-quote/
What you need before washing your windows?
Keep one cloth for the blade and a separate dry cloth for the edges.
The basic kit for ordinary glass
- A bucket of water with a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid, or a labelled cleaner suited to the glass.
- A soft washer or sponge to loosen dirt.
- A squeegee with a clean rubber blade.
- Two microfibre cloths and a towel to catch indoor drips.
Use a little detergent to limit residue. Work in shade or wait for hot glass to cool so the solution stays wet while you work.
Check whether the glass is coated, tinted or filmed
| Surface | What to use |
|---|---|
| Ordinary, uncoated glass | Mild wash solution, a soft washer and a clean squeegee. |
| Exposed coating or applied film | The cleaner and tools specified by the manufacturer or installer. |
A Low-E (low-emissivity) coating limits heat transfer. Check the installation paperwork for care instructions. Viridian, for example, advises against using a squeegee on the exposed coated interior surface in its guide.
How to wash inside and outside house windows?
Use the same sequence on both sides of ordinary glass. Clean gritty tracks and dusty flyscreens before you start.
Wash, squeegee and dry one pane at a time
- Clear loose dirt. Wipe or brush away dust, cobwebs and grit from the frame and sill so they stay out of the wash water.
- Wet the pane. Apply the solution with a soft washer or sponge. Cover the glass evenly.
- Loosen the grime. Work from the top down, paying attention to the corners. Rinse the washer if it picks up grit.
- Squeegee in overlapping passes. Start at the top and overlap the previous pass slightly to pick up the line of water along its edge.
- Wipe the blade between passes. Use a clean cloth before the rubber touches the glass again.
- Dry the edges and check the finish. Catch water in the corners and along the bottom edge with your dry cloth, then look across the pane for missed strips.
Adjust for indoor drips and outdoor grit
Inside, put a towel below the pane, especially over a timber sill or flooring. For a few fingerprints on a living-room window, apply a compatible cleaner to the cloth and wipe the marks. That gives you more control around the trim.
Outside, brush away loose dirt before the washer touches the pane. Change visibly dirty wash water between panes. For the outdoor setup, see how to clean exterior windows.
How to clean flyscreens, tracks and frames without dirtying the glass again?
On a sliding window, the sill is the ledge below the glass. The track is the channel the window moves along.
Clean safely removable flyscreens first
Remove a flyscreen only if it’s designed to come out and you can reach it safely. Follow the maker’s instructions for cleaning the mesh and let it dry. Leave fixed security screens in place and clean the reachable faces as directed.
Vacuum dry tracks, then wipe frames and sills
Start with a crevice attachment to pick up loose grit before water turns it into sludge. Use a soft brush or damp cloth that suits the frame finish for what remains, then dry the channel. For packed dirt in the corners, see how to clean window tracks.
- Take out the screen if it’s safely removable.
- Vacuum the dry track and wipe the frame.
- Wash the glass.
- Wipe drips from the sill.
- Refit the dry screen.
Why your windows still look dirty after washing?
Check where the mark sits before rewashing. A line that follows the blade calls for a different check from a spot that stays in place.
Match the mark to the next step
| What you see | First check | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Thin lines along a squeegee pass | Dirt on the rubber, a worn edge or a gap between passes | Clean or replace the blade and retry one overlapping pass. |
| An even haze after washing | A dirty cloth, cloudy wash water or excess detergent | Test a small area with fresh water, a clean cloth and the approved method. |
| Pale spots that stay put | Sprinkler overspray or another source of mineral deposits | Try a manufacturer-approved clean. Ask for an assessment if spots remain. |
| A visible scratch or a mark in the coating | What remains after a gentle wash | Ask a glazier to assess the pane before trying stronger products. |
As sprinkler water dries, it can leave mineral deposits that resemble surface damage.
Adjust cleaning to what builds up at your home
Check coastal Sydney windows after visible salt build-up. Clean street-facing panes sooner if they collect grime faster. Follow the window maker’s schedule for your frame finish.
Which windows should you clean yourself?
Clean the panes you can comfortably reach while standing on a stable floor or the ground. Hand fixed upper-storey glass to a professional for an access assessment. For shared or restricted apartment glass, check the building arrangements first.
Start with glass you can safely reach
| Situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| You can reach the whole pane from a stable position | Clean it yourself using the method suited to the glass. |
| You’d need to lean out, reach over a balcony railing or improvise access | Stop and ask a professional to assess the pane. |
| The pane is on a shared façade or access is controlled | Ask the building or strata manager who arranges the clean. |
SafeWork NSW favours working from ground level where possible.
Access can vary around the same house. In one two-storey Sydney job, Westlink assessed the windows at the front, side and rear before confirming which areas were in scope.
Check who arranges apartment exterior cleaning
Strata is the arrangement that governs individually owned units and shared property in a building. Ask the strata manager which exterior panes are on the building’s cleaning schedule, whether your balcony glass is included and who can approve access. Renters can ask their property manager to check the building’s arrangements.
How much does it cost to have house windows cleaned in Sydney?
In November 2026, Airtasker listed typical Sydney window-cleaning jobs at A$150–A$350 per job on its marketplace. Jobs vary in scope. Ask for a written price that specifies which panes and glass sides are included, how upstairs glass will be reached, and whether flyscreens or tracks cost extra.
Compare what each quote includes
A sliding door can contain two panes, so ask how the cleaner counts the glass before you compare prices. Check whether the quote covers the same storeys, access conditions and level of cleaning.
| Scope | Confirm in writing |
|---|---|
| Exterior glass only | Which outdoor faces are included, including sliding doors and any upstairs panes. |
| Inside and outside glass | Whether both faces of every listed pane are included and what access the cleaner needs indoors. |
| Glass plus screens, tracks or frames | Which components are included and whether the quote covers a quick wipe or a more thorough clean. |
Heavy build-up and difficult access can affect the quote. Ask whether a minimum charge applies and whether the total includes GST.
Send enough detail to get a useful quote
A quote request might read like this.
Single-storey house in Marrickville, about 12 panes including two sliding-door panes. Please quote both sides of the glass and the flyscreens. Could you list track cleaning separately? I’ve included a photo of the narrow side passage from ground level.
Include your suburb, property type, storeys, rough pane count and which glass faces you want cleaned. If access is tight, attach a photo taken from a safe position. Westlink prepares a written quote for the property and agreed scope.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean small window panes without a squeegee?
Yes. On compatible glass, wash with a damp microfibre cloth, then dry with a second clean cloth. Use a fresh section of the dry cloth for the corners.
How soon can I clean newly tinted windows?
Wait until the curing period specified by your film installer or manufacturer has passed. Check the care instructions for your exact film before using a cleaner or tool on it.
Why is my double-glazed window foggy between the panes?
Fog trapped between the panes can point to a problem with the sealed unit. If you’ve checked the reachable surfaces and the moisture is inside the gap, ask the installer or a glazier to assess it.
Can a window cleaner remove paint or silicone after a renovation?
Ask about specialist residue removal before you book. Tell the cleaner whether you can see paint, silicone or construction dust, and whether the glass is coated or filmed. The surface and residue determine which treatment is appropriate.
Can I book a cleaner for just the upstairs windows?
You can request an upstairs-only quote. Identify the panes and the sides you want cleaned, then ask the cleaner to assess access, confirm which panes they can include and explain any minimum charge.
How long will a professional window clean take?
Ask for a time estimate with the written quote. A few easily reached exterior panes take a different amount of work from both sides of a two-storey home’s glass plus its screens and tracks.
What should I move before the cleaner arrives?
Clear small items from the sills and make space around windows and sliding doors. Ask the cleaner whether blinds or curtains need to be drawn back and how they’d like you to handle furniture before moving anything heavy.
Clean safely reachable glass with the method suited to its surface. For the upstairs panes or the whole home, tell Westlink your Sydney suburb, the number of storeys and which glass you want included. Request a window-cleaning quote
