Is It Too Cold to Clean Windows? What Des Moines Homeowners Should Know
It's the middle of January. Your windows are covered in salt spray, road grime, and whatever that film is that builds up over winter. You'd love to get them cleaned, but you're wondering: can window cleaning even happen when it's this cold outside?
It's a fair question. Des Moines winters are unpredictable—we might see 45 degrees one day and single digits the next. And nobody wants a window cleaner showing up only to have the water freeze on contact.
Here's the truth about cold weather window cleaning and what it means for Central Iowa homeowners.
The Short Answer: Yes, But It Depends
Professional window cleaning can absolutely happen in cold weather. We clean windows throughout the winter in Des Moines, Waukee, West Des Moines, and the surrounding areas. But there are limits.
The magic number is 32°F—with some caveats.
When temperatures are above freezing, window cleaning works normally. The water doesn't freeze, solutions work as intended, and results are the same as any other time of year.
When temperatures drop below freezing, things get more complicated. Water can freeze on the glass before we can squeegee it off, leaving streaks or even ice sheets. Cleaning solutions can thicken or freeze in our equipment. And nobody—not us, not you—wants someone on a ladder when surfaces are icy.
But here's what most people don't realize: the temperature that matters isn't just the air temperature. It's the glass temperature.
Why Glass Temperature Matters More Than Air Temperature
Glass holds onto temperature longer than air. On a sunny winter afternoon, your windows might be significantly warmer than the 30-degree air around them—especially south and west-facing windows that have been soaking up sunlight.
Conversely, on a cloudy morning after a frigid night, your glass might still be at 20 degrees even if the air has warmed to 35.
This is why timing matters for winter window cleaning:
Best conditions for winter cleaning:
- Air temperature above 35°F
- Sun hitting the windows (warms the glass)
- Afternoon appointments (warmest part of day)
- No wind (wind chill affects evaporation and comfort)
Conditions we avoid:
- Air temperature below 28°F
- Overcast days after very cold nights
- Early morning when glass is coldest
- High winds (above 15-20 mph)
When homeowners call us for winter appointments, we pay close attention to the forecast. Sometimes we'll schedule for a specific window of warm weather—those 45-degree days that pop up even in January.
What About Interior Windows?
Here's something many homeowners forget: interior window cleaning has no temperature restrictions.
Your home is heated. The inside of your windows is room temperature regardless of what's happening outside. If your main concern is the interior side—fingerprints, pet nose prints, cooking film, dust—we can take care of that any day of the year.
For homeowners who want comprehensive cleaning during winter, we often recommend:
- Interior cleaning now (no weather restrictions)
- Exterior cleaning scheduled for early spring (March or April)
This approach gets you clean windows to look through immediately while scheduling the exterior work for more reliable conditions.
Why Would Anyone Want Winter Window Cleaning?
You might wonder why someone would even request window cleaning in January. There are actually several good reasons:
Selling a Home
Real estate doesn't stop for winter. If you're listing your home in January or February, clean windows make a noticeable difference in listing photos and showings. Natural light matters even more during the darker winter months, and clean windows maximize what's available.
Holiday Gatherings Extended
Maybe you had family visit over the holidays and noticed how grimy the windows looked. Or you've got a February event—Super Bowl party, birthday, anniversary—and want the house looking sharp.
New Year Motivation
January brings that fresh-start energy. Some homeowners want to knock out maintenance tasks early in the year rather than waiting for the spring rush.
Visibility Issues
Winter grime is real. Salt spray from roads, residue from snow and ice, and general buildup can make windows noticeably hazy. If it's bothering you, there's no rule that says you have to wait until April.
Beating the Spring Rush
Spring is our busiest season. Everyone wants their windows cleaned in April and May. Homeowners who schedule winter cleanings often get faster response times and more flexible scheduling.
How We Handle Cold Weather Cleaning
When we do clean in cold conditions, we adjust our approach:
Modified solutions: We use cleaning solutions formulated to resist freezing at lower temperatures. These work down to about 20°F on the glass surface.
Strategic sequencing: We work in smaller sections and squeegee immediately, minimizing the time water sits on glass.
Sun chasing: On partly cloudy days, we'll work on sun-facing windows while the sun is hitting them, then move to shaded windows when the sun shifts.
Honest rescheduling: If conditions aren't right, we'll tell you. There's no point in doing a job that won't turn out well. We'd rather reschedule for a better day than leave you with subpar results.
Des Moines Winter Weather Patterns
One advantage of Central Iowa's unpredictable winters is that we regularly get warm spells.
Looking at typical Des Moines winter patterns:
- December: Often has milder stretches before deep winter sets in
- January: Coldest month on average, but warm-ups into the 40s aren't unusual
- February: Can swing wildly; some years bring early spring teases
- March: Transitional; many days suitable for exterior cleaning
Even in the coldest months, we usually see at least a few days per week where exterior cleaning is possible. The key is flexibility—being ready to schedule when the weather cooperates.
This past winter, we've seen temperatures swing from -13°F to the mid-40s within the same week. Those warm days are perfect windows (pun intended) for getting exterior cleaning done.
Should You Wait or Schedule Now?
Here's our honest recommendation:
Schedule now if:
- You need interior cleaning (no weather concerns)
- You're selling your home and need clean windows for photos/showings
- You're flexible on the exact date and can work with weather-dependent scheduling
- The window grime is genuinely bothering you
Wait until spring if:
- You want exterior and interior done in one visit with guaranteed conditions
- Your windows aren't urgently dirty—just due for routine maintenance
- You prefer to schedule a specific date without weather contingencies
Either approach is fine. We're happy to put you on the calendar now with the understanding that we may need to adjust based on weather, or we can reach out in March when conditions are more consistently favorable.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you want to schedule a winter cleaning or get on our early spring calendar, we're here to help.
What we need from you:
- Interior only, exterior only, or both?
- Any flexibility on timing?
- Specific concerns (hard water stains, post-construction cleanup, etc.)?
We'll look at the forecast, find the best window of opportunity, and get your windows clean—even in the middle of an Iowa winter.
Serving Des Moines, Waukee, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, and all of Central Iowa.
Get a free quote or call us at (515) 518-0623.
Paul Miller founded Birdie Window Cleaning to bring reliable, professional service to Des Moines area homeowners. Based in Waukee, we serve Dallas County and Polk County with residential window cleaning, screen cleaning, and track cleaning services.
