Can Window Cleaning Scratch Your Windows?

It’s a valid and important question that we, as professional window cleaners, hear from concerned homeowners across Perth. You're investing in a service to make your home look better, so the last thing you want is permanent damage. The short answer is: **yes, window cleaning *can* scratch windows, but only if it's done incorrectly.**

True professional window cleaning is a science designed to be completely safe for your glass. The scratches don't come from the cleaning process itself, but from common mistakes that drag abrasive materials across the surface. Let's break down the real culprits and how we guarantee a scratch-free result.

The Real Culprits: What Actually Scratches Glass

Glass is a hard surface, but it's not invincible. Scratches are almost always caused by a harder material being dragged across it with pressure. In window cleaning, this happens in two main ways:

1. Abrasive Dirt and Debris

This is the number one cause of scratched windows, especially in Perth. Our environment is full of tiny, hard particles:

• Sandy Soil: Much of Perth is built on sand, which is made of tiny quartz particles. Wiping a dusty, sandy window with a dry cloth is like rubbing it with fine-grit sandpaper.
• Construction Dust: If you live in a new or developing suburb like Baldivis or Wanneroo, the air is filled with abrasive red construction dust.

The biggest mistake is trying to "dry wipe" a dirty window before properly washing it. This grinds those hard particles directly into the glass, causing thousands of microscopic scratches that make the glass look dull over time.

2. The Wrong Tools

Using improper tools is another common way DIY cleaning can go wrong. Things like abrasive green kitchen scourers, steel wool, or even low-quality paper towels (which don't effectively lift dirt) can trap a hard particle and drag it across the glass. Even using a razor blade incorrectly to remove paint or a sticker can easily cause a deep, permanent scratch.

How Professionals Guarantee a Scratch-Free Clean

Our entire process is built around eliminating the risks above. We follow a meticulous, safety-first method on every job.

1. It Starts with Pure Water

For all exterior windows, we use a water-fed pole system. The first and most important step is to flood the window with 100% pure, de-ionised water. This gentle flow of water serves to **lift and rinse away** the majority of loose, abrasive particles like sand and dust *before* any scrubbing tool touches the glass. This pre-rinse is a critical safety step.

2. Professional-Grade Tools

Our water-fed poles use ultra-soft, specialised brushes designed specifically for glass. They gently agitate the remaining, bonded dirt without ever being abrasive. For interior windows, we use high-quality microfibre applicators that trap dirt within their fibres rather than dragging it across the surface.

3. Proven, Gentle Techniques

Our process is all about lubrication and lifting, never brute force. By ensuring the window is always sufficiently wet with our pure water or eco-friendly solution, our tools glide over the surface, lifting the dirt away. This is the secret to both a safe clean and our famous streak-free finish.