Preparing for a window cleaning appointment takes about 15 minutes. Clear the sills, open the blinds, unlock the gate, turn off the sprinklers and put the dog somewhere comfortable. For exterior only service you do not even need to be home. For inside and out, someone needs to let us in and we take it from there.
This is the checklist we send Omaha and Bellevue customers before a visit. It keeps the crew moving, protects your things, and gets you the best result for the price.
Before we arrive: outside
Most of the prep for exterior work happens the night before or the morning of.
- Turn off the sprinklers. Skip the irrigation cycle the morning of your appointment and the evening after. Fresh water on freshly cleaned glass leaves spots.
- Unlock gates. Side yards and back gates need to be open so we can reach every window.
- Move vehicles. Pull cars out of the driveway or away from the garage windows so ladders have room.
- Clear the path. Move grills, patio furniture, planters, hoses and kids' toys a few feet away from the house under each window.
- Trim if needed. If a shrub is pressed against a window, a quick trim helps us reach the glass. If not, we work around it.
- Note any issues. A cracked pane, a loose screen or a window that does not latch. Tell us so we handle it carefully.
Before we arrive: inside
For inside and out service, a little clearing goes a long way.
- Clear the sills. Plants, candles, picture frames, and anything on a windowsill. We will move small items if needed, but it is faster and safer if you do it.
- Open blinds and shades. Raise them or tilt them open. We adjust curtains as we go.
- Move furniture a few feet. A couch or bed pushed against a window needs enough space for one person and a bucket.
- Take down anything fragile near windows. Suncatchers, hanging plants and decorations in the way.
- Unlock windows. We remove screens from the inside, so windows need to open.
- Tell us about alarms. If window sensors trigger your security system, disarm it or let us know which ones to avoid.
Pets and kids
We like dogs. Dogs like open doors and ladders less than we do. Keeping pets in a closed room or crate keeps everyone safe and keeps the door from being left open while we carry equipment.
Kids are welcome to watch. Just keep them clear of ladders and buckets.
Do you need to be home?
| Service | Need to be home? | What we need from you | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior only | No | Gates unlocked, sprinklers off, path clear | 1 to 2 hours |
| Inside and out | Yes, to let us in | Sills cleared, blinds open, windows unlocked | 2 to 3 hours |
| Gutter cleaning | No | Gates unlocked, cars moved from under the roofline | 1 to 2 hours |
For exterior only, most customers are at work. We text when we arrive and again when we finish. You come home to clean glass.
What to expect on the day
- Arrival text. We text when we are on the way so you are not waiting around.
- Quick walk around. We check pane count against the quote and note anything unusual. The price does not change unless you add something.
- Exterior first. Wet, scrub, squeegee and detail each pane. Frames and sills wiped.
- Interior next. Floors protected, then room by room, glass cleaned, sills wiped, and screens and tracks done if you added them to your quote.
- Final check. We walk the house with you if you are home and fix anything you spot right then.
Full service details are on our residential window cleaning page.
What about the weather?
Light rain usually does not stop us. Rain does not dirty windows. Dust and pollen that dry on wet glass do. If a storm rolls through in the two weeks after your cleaning and your windows look spotted, our 14 day rain guarantee covers a touch up.
In heavy storms, lightning or high wind we reschedule for safety and text you as early as we can.
What not to do
A few well meant things make the job harder:
- Do not pre clean the windows. You are paying us to do that.
- Do not water the lawn the morning of the visit.
- Do not leave screens out in the yard. We remove and reinstall them ourselves.
- Do not spray the windows with a hose to "rinse them off" the day before. That leaves mineral spots.
After the visit
- Keep sprinklers off the glass for at least a day, and ideally aim heads away from the house permanently
- Wait for the tracks to dry before closing windows tight
- Check the glass in the afternoon sun and text us if anything looks off
- If you liked the result, a referral gets you a $50 restaurant gift card when your friend books
Prep for gutter cleaning
If you are bundling gutter cleaning on the same visit, the prep is even simpler. Move cars and anything you do not want under a ladder away from the roofline, and make sure downspout extensions are attached so we can confirm flow. We bag debris on the ladder, so nothing hits your lawn.
FAQ
Do I need to be home for window cleaning?
Not for exterior only. Unlock the gate and we text you when we finish. For inside and out, someone needs to let us in for the first part of the visit.
Should I take down my blinds or curtains?
No. Open the blinds and pull curtains to the side. We work around window treatments carefully and put everything back.
What if it rains after my cleaning?
Our 14 day rain guarantee covers it. If your windows are spotted from a storm within two weeks, text us and we come back for a touch up.
Can you clean around a window that does not open?
Yes. We clean the glass on both sides. If a screen cannot be removed from the inside, we clean it in place or from the exterior.
Bottom line
Fifteen minutes of prep, clear sills, open blinds, unlocked gates and sprinklers off, is all it takes. Exterior only means you do not even need to be home. Ready to book in Omaha or Bellevue? Request a free quote and we will text you a price and a time.
Want the crew to handle it?
Fontenelle Window Cleaning serves Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion and the whole metro. Free quotes by text, usually within the hour.
