A streak-free window costs the same as a streaky one. The difference is which operator the household called.

Pricing is per pane (or per window, two-sided), with modifiers for tracks, screens, and access. Minimum call-outs are common — usually $150–$250.

Came back to streaks on every external window. He said they were “hard water spots” and not his fault. Got a proper operator in next month — pure water, no streaks. Different trade entirely.

Window cleaning is unregulated as a trade — no licence required to operate. But the work itself sits inside the WHS height-work envelope. Above 2m, fall protection is required. Above 4m, ladder use becomes regulatorily fraught.

A professional operator with a pure-water pole reaches second-storey windows from the ground — no ladder, no risk. Cheaper operators climb. Their insurance, when they have it, often excludes ladder work above 3m.

• · Quarterly — standard residential cycle, balances cost and result
• · Bi-monthly — coastal or heavy-tree properties
• · Monthly — commercial frontage, brand-sensitive
• · After major events — bushfire ash, dust storms, salt spray, renovation
• · Don't clean: direct hot sun (chemistry flash-dries), windy day (overspray on render), within 24h of rain (drip lines).

A “full clean” should be four things: external glass, internal glass, tracks & sills, and flyscreens. Operators who quote “windows” sometimes mean glass only — you find out when the tracks remain dirty.

1. · 1. Remove flyscreens for external access — wash with soapy water, rinse, replace.
2. · 2. Wash tracks & sills — vacuum debris, scrub with stiff brush, wipe.
3. · 3. External glass — pure water or squeegee method.
4. · 4. Internal glass — spray + microfibre or squeegee with drop cloth.
5. · 5. Frames wiped down on internal side.

Pure-water systems use de-ionised water and special poles that reach 8m+ from the ground. The water dries with no mineral residue — truly streak-free. This is the modern professional method for any home with windows above the first storey.

Hard water spots are mineral deposits left when calcium-rich water dries on glass. They look like cloudy patches that won't wipe off. Common cause: garden sprinklers overspraying onto windows. Once etched, ordinary cleaning won't remove them.

Restoration options

• · Mild deposits — oxalic acid treatment + buffing, $40–$80/window
• · Moderate etching — cerium oxide polish, $80–$160/window
• · Deep etching — mechanical polishing with diamond pads, $250–$500/window
• · Severe damage — replace pane (sometimes cheaper than restoration)

Prevention is dramatically cheaper than cure: move sprinklers, install water-softener filter on outdoor taps, clean immediately if overspray occurs.

The professional window cleaner can usually handle adjacencies — solar panels, skylights, glass awnings. Three things to confirm before they include these:

• · Solar panels — pure-water method only (no detergents, voids panel warranties). Annual clean increases output 3–7%.
• · Skylights — outside cleaning from ladder or pole; inside via fixed reach. Cracked seals are noted, not repaired.
• · Glass pool fence panels — same method as windows, twice-yearly recommended for clarity.
• · Glass balustrades — specifically request these — not always included in “windows”.

The single biggest determinant of how long a clean lasts is what you do in the first 48 hours. Light rain on freshly cleaned external glass is fine — it's heavy splash, dust storms, and pollen events that re-soil quickly.

Subscription economics

Quarterly subscription pricing typically saves 15–25% per visit vs ad-hoc. The operator schedules you in their route, batches efficiently, and locks predictable revenue. Both sides benefit. Most professionals offer this; cash operators usually don't.

• · Set window-cleaning schedule alongside lawn-care or other regular trades
• · Keep flyscreens off windows during heavy pollen weeks if affordable
• · Move sprinklers and rotate impact so they don't overspray windows
• · Squeegee external windows yourself between cleans if hard water staining is a risk