Seasonal care
Seasonal window cleaning through the Canadian year
A pane that looks fine in July can carry a grey haze of road salt by March. Spacing window washing across the seasons keeps that buildup from compounding and matches the work to whatever the weather has just deposited on the glass.
Spring: clear the residue winter left behind
By the time the snow recedes, exterior glass in much of Canada has collected a film of road-salt spray, grit, and the dull mineral marks left by repeated freeze-thaw. This is the heaviest cleaning of the year for many households.
- Rinse first with plain water to dissolve and carry away salt before scrubbing, which reduces fine scratching from dragging grit across the glass.
- Wash sills and tracks as well as the pane — meltwater tends to leave sediment where the sash meets the frame.
- Spring pollen returns quickly, so an early wash often needs a light follow-up a few weeks later rather than one heavy session.
Summer: short sessions, careful timing
Warm, dry weather makes summer the easiest time to work outdoors, but direct sun is the main obstacle. Cleaning solution dries on hot glass before it can be squeegeed off, leaving streaks behind.
Work the shaded side. Follow the shade around the house through the day, or pick an overcast morning, so the solution stays wet long enough to pull clean.
Summer is also a practical window for checking screens, which trap dust and insects that later wash onto the glass during the first autumn rains.
Autumn: get ahead of the cold
Late autumn is the last comfortable chance to wash exterior glass before freezing temperatures make outdoor water impractical. A clean start matters because anything left on the pane now tends to set under the first frosts.
- Clear falling-leaf debris and cobwebs from frames and corners.
- Wash both sides while exterior temperatures are still above freezing.
- Inspect weatherstripping and seals while you are at each window — autumn is when small gaps start to matter.
Winter: focus indoors
Outdoor washing is rarely sensible in a Canadian winter; water freezes on contact and ladders on ice are unsafe. Interior glass, however, still benefits from attention, especially where condensation leaves marks. A barely-damp cloth and a dry follow-up keep interior panes clear without introducing extra moisture into cold rooms.
A quick reference
For the indoor side of the cold season, the companion notes on managing window condensation cover why interior glass fogs and how to reduce it.