Window cleaning vs pressure washing

Window cleaning vs pressure washing: professional glass care vs high-pressure exterior surface cleaning. Compare methods, costs, and what each is safe to use on.

Professional window cleaning uses squeegees, scrubbers, pure water-fed pole systems, and specialized glass-safe solutions to deliver streak-free results on all types of glass — including tempered, low-E coated, and tinted windows. Interior and exterior surfaces are cleaned, along with screens, tracks, and sills. Whole-house window cleaning costs $150–$400 for a typical home (10–25 windows), with pricing per window ($5–$15 each) or per pane. Multi-story homes cost more due to ladder or water-fed pole access. Many companies offer packages twice a year: spring and fall. Pressure washing (also called power washing when heated) uses 1,500–4,000 PSI water streams to blast away dirt, mold, mildew, algae, and stains from hard exterior surfaces. It's highly effective on concrete driveways ($100–$200), wood or composite decks ($150–$300), vinyl or brick siding ($200–$400), fences ($100–$250), and as surface prep before painting or staining. Whole-house pressure washing including siding and driveway typically runs $200–$500. Critical safety note: pressure washing should never be used directly on windows — the high pressure can break seals between double-pane glass, crack glazing, force water behind frames, and damage weatherstripping. Even on soft-wash mode (low pressure with chemical cleaning), overspray on windows can leave mineral deposits. The overlap is exterior house cleaning: window cleaners handle the glass; pressure washers handle everything else. For a full exterior refresh, you often need both services — pressure wash the siding, deck, and driveway first, then have windows cleaned after to avoid recontamination from splash-back.