FAQs
General
Does Spotless offer service warranties?
We offer a 100% 7-day satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason you are not satisfied or the results of your service were not as promised, please call us and we will do all that we can to make it right.
Additionally, we offer a 24-hour window cleaning “rain guarantee”. If a rainstorm occurs within 24 hours of your service appointment (or even if it rains while we are performing your service), and you notice spotting on your windows as a result, we will return to your home to touch up these areas free of charge, no questions asked!
Do I need to pay for my service in advance?
Payment is due upon satisfactory completion of service. We accept payment by check, credit card or ACH. Spotless does not accept cash payments.
Do you offer financing?
Spotless partners with consumer financing company, Wisetack, to provide consumer financing options to Spotless customers who prequalify. Your estimate will include information about financing prequalification.
Is it customary to tip the crew members after the service is complete?
It is 100% up to you whether you would like to tip the team of technicians. Please do not feel obligated to tip, as it is not required or expected. That said, if the team does an exceptional job and you feel like tipping, that is fine.
Do I need to be at home for my service appointment?
We strongly prefer that our customers be home during service appointments to be available for any questions that our team may have during the service visit.
That said, for softwashing, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and outside only window cleaning (on homes that do not have screens or storm windows), it is not required that the homeowner be present since the service will take place entirely outside the home.
Do you carry insurance?
Spotless carries the following policy coverage: commercial general liability, automobile liability, umbrella / excess general liability, and workers compensation insurance. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate of insurance upon request.
Can I request a particular technician for my service appointment?
Spotless sends multiple teams out into the field each day, and it is difficult to predict if a particular technician will be available on the day of your service. We can’t make any promises about future dispatching of a technician to a particular job, but we can guarantee that you will be satisfied with the service and your team will be pleasant, professional, and do a quality job.
Can I schedule my service several months in advance?
Yes! We can schedule a single appointment or multiple appointments up to a year in advance. The best way to secure your preferred date is to schedule in advance!
Can I choose the exact day and time of my appointment?
We always try to accommodate customer requests for a specific date and time of service. There is more opportunity for scheduling flexibility the further out the customer is willing to schedule.
Does Spotless conduct background checks on its employees?
The Company conducts pre-hire criminal background checks for all employees through a reputable third-party service.
Do you perform in-person estimates or virtual estimates?
For property locations close to our branch office, Spotless estimators typically will perform in-person site visits before issuing a quote. Estimators are trained to use information provided by the customer and satellite imagery to develop an accurate service quote.
Does it cost anything to receive an estimate?
No, all of our price quotes and customer consultations are free of charge and entirely complimentary.
Does your company have trip charges or minimum service charges?
Spotless does have minimum service charges that vary by service and customer location. Please ask your customer service representative for information on minimum service charges for your area.
Are Spotless technicians licensed and trained?
Spotless has a rigorous safety and training program that ensures teams are well-equipped to deliver quality service. We train our technicians using materials provided by OSHA, the American Ladder Institute, and the International Window Cleaning Association. All Spotless technicians must be certified through IWCA’s “Window Cleaning Foundations” course.
I have requested and approved multiple different services, can all of these be performed on the same day?
Our standard process is to perform different services (gutter cleaning service, pressure washing service / softwashing service, and window cleaning service) on different days with separate crews. Depending on the situation, we are often able to honor same-day service requests for multiple different services. Please discuss your request with our customer service team, and they will be happy to assist.
Will you reschedule my service if it rains?
We will typically wait until the morning of your service appointment to determine if rain will impact the day’s jobs. The weather forecast in Virginia changes frequently, so it does not make sense for the Company to reschedule jobs prior to the day of service.
For safety reasons, we cannot have our technicians working outside and climbing on the ladder during consistent rain or strong winds. However, we will always do our best to perform the scheduled service if the weather allows. If the rain/wind forecast looks like it will improve during the course of the workday, we can typically wait out brief periods of bad weather.
When is pollen season over?
Pollen counts are highest in Virginia during the spring months. The yellow pollen you see on your windshield and home windows is tree pollen, which tends to peak in late March / early April. Pollen is a temporary phenomenon in Virginia, and visible traces of pollen tend to wash away after a rain storm.
Can you perform your services when it’s cold outside?
Yes, as long as temperatures are sustained above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, we can usually work outside. With severe overnight low temperatures and sustained temperatures below freezing, it can become more challenging to complete work, as cleaning agents become less effective in the cold, gutter runs can freeze, etc.
Window Cleaning
When is the best time of year to have my windows cleaned?
Whenever they start looking dirty! We clean windows year-round, and very cold or hot weather does not have an adverse impact on the quality of the service.
How often should I have my windows cleaned?
We recommend 2-4 cleanings per year for ultimate damage prevention and maintenance best practice. This ensures your windows stay shiny and streak free year-round. For the most basic window maintenance, you should clean your windows no less frequently than every 12 months.
Will rain spot my windows?
Rain is almost 100% pure water and will not spot clean windows. However, we do offer a 24-hour rain guarantee. If you notice spotting due to rain within 24 hours after we perform the service, we will return to your home the next day and fix any blemishes caused by rainwater free of charge.
Do I need to remove furniture, personal belongings, or drapes/curtains from my windows before cleaning?
Yes, we do ask that in preparation for our technicians that you raise all of your blinds and/or shades to their highest positions and remove breakable and valuable items from your windows and windowsills. We ask that our technicians not be held responsible for moving any large or antique furniture in your home, although they may assist with moving small items if needed.
How does the window cleaning process work?
Here are the steps to our standard maintenance window cleaning process:
- Preview and inspect the window
- Scrub window with mop and detergent
- Squeegee the glass to remove all dirt suspended in solution
- Wipe the sill with a sponge to remove excess water and loose dirt
- Detail glass edges with a chamois (i.e., special window cleaning towel)
- Carefully inspect the work to ensure spotless results
Do you recommend inside and outside cleaning?
The best results and customer satisfaction come from a full inside and outside window cleaning.
Do your employees wear protective booties when inside my home?
Yes, all employees that enter your home will wear protective shoe covers to ensure that no dirt or debris is tracked on your floors.
Do I need to be worried about dirt/debris or water droplets being left inside my home by your crew?
Our employees take great care inside your home and are trained to use a drop cloth to catch any excess moisture and clean up as they move through your home.
What is included in the standard window cleaning service?
Spotless includes the following in our standard window cleaning service:
- All window glass on exterior of home (inside & outside)
- Exposed sills (inside & outside)
- Detailing of glass edges
- Dusting of frames 6” to 8” away from glass on the outside
- Wipe-down of screens
What IS NOT included in the window cleaning service?
Your maintenance window cleaning service excludes the following items (unless otherwise noted on estimate):
- Scraping of paint or debris using a razor blade
- Cleaning broken or cracked windows
- Opening windows that are painted shut
- Cleaning windows that contain AC units
- Hard water stain removal (i.e., water spot stains)
- Deep cleaning of tracks or sills (the Premium option does include this service)
Does your window washing service include screen cleaning?
The crew will wipe large debris, such as leaves, spider webs, and bird droppings from the screens, and that is included in every window cleaning quote. Looking for a deeper screen cleaning? In our detailed screen cleaning process, technicians will remove all screens and wash them thoroughly with water.
Do you clean interior glass partitions or interior transoms?
Yes. Please let the estimator know if you’d like to add interior glass, such as glass rails, wine cellars, showers, transoms, glass doors, or partitions to the service scope. Our window cleaning teams can certainly handle glass fixtures inside the home!
Do you clean mirrors?
We are able to wash some mirrors for an added fee. However, Spotless does not clean antique mirrors.
Do you clean exterior light fixtures?
Yes, we are able to clean most exterior lamps and light fixtures, wiping away insects, dirt, and debris. Lamps can be separately quoted and are not included in the base window cleaning price.
Do you clean interior light fixtures?
Yes, we are able to clean most interior light fixtures. We do not clean older fixtures or antiques, like chandeliers. Interior light fixtures can be separately quoted and are not included in the base window cleaning price.
How do you clean skylights?
Skylights located on a flat roof can be cleaned by hand with a mop-and-squeegee. Skylights higher up on the home or located on a steeply sloped roof can be accessed by water-fed extension poles. Skylight window cleaning requires the right tools to do the work correctly.
We just had our windows glazed/painted – will you be able to get the paint spots off our windows?
We provide maintenance cleaning that will make your windows sparkle. However, our maintenance service does not include any scraping or abrasive scrubbing. If you require a post-construction window cleaning or restoration window cleaning service, please speak with your estimator, and they would be glad to discuss our process for removing paint, glue, glazing or other substrates from your windows.
What type of window cleaning chemical do you use?
We use a green, biodegradable cleaning agent specifically formulated for professional window cleaners.
Do you clean sill tracks (portion of sill that is covered by window sashes)?
If our technicians are not required to open the window to clean the inside and outside of the glass, which is the case for almost all windows that do not have exterior storms, then we will not open each window and wipe the sill tracks as part of our regular cleaning service. We will clean the exposed parts of the sill on the inside and outside of the home.
For storm window cleaning, our technicians will typically need to raise the bottom sash of the main windows to remove the storms. Therefore, it is our standard practice to wipe the sill tracks in addition to cleaning the sills themselves when we are cleaning windows that have exterior storms.
Can sill track cleaning be added to my service?
Certainly. Our Premium service offers a detailed cleaning of all sills and the lower sill tracks using Spotless’ proprietary process.
My windows tilt-in, so can you just clean them from the inside?
We will tilt-in windows to clean if the outsides are at higher elevation or difficult to access from the outside. In general, we clean the outside from the outside and the inside from the inside of the home so that dirt on the outside stays on the outside.
Should I wait to have my windows cleaned if I’m planning to paint my house?
We strongly recommend waiting to have your windows cleaned until after your painting service.
My windows are stuck, can you open them?
If your windows are painted shut, we recommend you have a painter or handyman attempt to cut them open. We do not allow our technicians to use razor blades or excessive force to attempt to open stuck windows. This is to protect your property from damage.
Do you sell or install window tinting?
No, window tinting is not included in the services that we offer. We feel that window tinting will shorten the life of the seal in thermal-pane (double- or triple-insulated glass) windows due to the increased heat that will be generated on the glass.
Should I have my windows cleaned before selling my home?
Yes! According to a survey of 2000 real estate agents conducted by HomeGain.com and reported on in Money Magazine, professional window washing is one of the most cost-effective and high-return investments you can make on your home to get it ready to sell. HomeGain.com – Home Sale Maximizer Guide – Money Magazine – June 2003 Home Economics Article.
I have storm windows and would like to have them cleaned on the outside only. Does your price include the outside of the storm and main windows?
Typically, a quote for “outside only” cleaning for homes with exterior storm windows includes 3 of 4 sides of glass (both sides of storm window and outside of main window). If the main window does not open and shut, then our technicians will be able to clean the outside of the storm glass only.
Why are my windows spotted?
The appearance of dried water spots on your windows typically indicates the presence of hard water staining. Hard water spots come from glass exposure to hard water that dissolves on the glass, creating mineral concentrations that bond to glass as water evaporates. Our hard water stain removal process can remove these spots, so please discuss with your estimator if this is a concern.
Why is there a permanent fog on my windows?
Thermal pane windows are constructed with two panes of glass, and when the glass seal fails, humid air seeps between the panes. This leads to the presence of visible condensation or a foggy appearance. Your window must be repaired to permanently address the condensation.
Can your window cleaning process remove glass scratches?
Our window cleaning process does not remove pre-existing scratches (maintenance cleaning removes topical debris from glass; glass restoration is needed to remove scratches) or cause scratches (a wet mop and rubber squeegee do not scratch architectural glass).
Will your window cleaning service remove mold on my mullions or window frames?
We can certainly provide you with a quote to remove mold that is embedded in your window frames or mullions – usually this service involves detailed scrubbing and the use of bleach products to kill the organics. Mold removal is not, however, included in our standard window cleaning service.
What is the price difference between outside only window cleaning and inside & outside window cleaning?
The majority of each inside & outside window cleaning service price is attributable to work performed on the outside of the home, as most of the heavy soil and hard work occurs outside of the home. Inside window cleaning can usually be completed from the technicians’ feet on lightly-soiled glass.
Can I just give you my window counts so you can give me a price over the phone?
For first-time customers, we typically will require an estimator to review the job on an in-person site visit. In certain instances, we are able to provide a virtual price quote without conducting a site visit.
The last time you cleaned my windows I used a price discount. Does this apply again? Do you have any regular customer discounts?
Please ask your customer service representative if the Company is actively running any seasonal discounts. We do offer a standard 10% Military Discount and 10% Senior Citizens Discount.
Pressure Washing & Softwashing
Are power washing and pressure washing the same thing?
“Power washing service” and “pressure washing service” are used interchangeably to describe exterior cleaning with the use of water pressure.
How much water pressure do you use in your pressure washing service?
Spotless uses commercial-grade pressure washing equipment that has an output of between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is within the range of most commercial pressure washers. The PSI of our pressure washers can be manually lowered using a wider orifice washing tip or by holding the apparatus further away from the area to be cleaned.
What is the difference between pressure washing and softwashing?
Pressure washing service uses the power of water to clean surfaces. This style of cleaning is completed about 1-2 feet away from the surface, using a pressure washing machine at higher PSI.
Softwashing service involves gentle application of cleaning agents to the home, a short chemical dwell time, and thorough rinsing of the cleaning area as well as surrounding vegetation. Softwashing can be completed safely from the ground from 10 to 20 feet away from your home. Using pressure to clean siding may cause serious damage. Using a softwash technique is safer for your home and produces a superior cleaning result that lasts several times longer than power washing.
What’s in your softwash mixture and is it safe?
Our cleaning mixture for softwashing service typically consists of:
- Water
- House washing surfactant (similar to soap detergent)
- Sodium hypochlorite (bleach to kill organics)
Our softwashing service mixture is safe, acting as a mild fungicide to lift dirt and mold from the home. The cleaning agents are heavily diluted by the time they are applied to your home, and our technicians will pre-rinse all surfaces and surrounding landscaping before applying our cleaning mixture, and we wash away all cleaning agents at the end of the service.
How does the softwashing service work?
- Preview and prepare the property: All furniture, flags, door mats, potted plants, etc. are moved to a safe location. Identify any openings to the home that may not be secure or could be prone to water intrusion.
- Prepare cleaning solution mixture
- Soak plants and patios: Pre-wet all plants and patios to ensure they are unharmed during the cleaning process.
- Apply cleaning solution: Mixture applied to the home one side at a time. The mixture will kill mold and mildew, as well as lift dirt off of your siding, so it can be rinsed away with low pressure.
- Rinse thoroughly: Gently rinse siding, landscaping, and surrounding surfaces.
- Inspect the work: Team completes a final walk-through to double check that the work meets client expectations.
What is included in the home softwash service?
For your main home softwashing service, our technicians will clean:
- All siding and trim*
- All window frames
- Front porch, railing, and steps
- Side porch, railing and steps
- Screen porch exterior trim
- Outside of gutter (topical debris only, some black streaks may not be removed)
- Pressure washing of the front sidewalk
*Note: If your home is unpainted brick, the brick portion will be thoroughly sprayed with water. The focus of softwashing service on brick homes will be the trim and any siding.
What will the softwashing service remove?
Our softwashing service will typically remove:
- Mold and mildew
- Spider webs
- Dirt
- Bird droppings
- Mud dauber nests (wasp nests)
- Insects and debris
What does the softwashing service NOT clean?
Several conditions may not be positively impacted by the softwashing service (and in certain cases house washing service can make these pre-existing conditions worse), so please discuss with your estimator if any of the below are areas are of concern for your home.
- Artillery mold
- Faded, chipped or oxidized paint
- Rust stains
- Mineral stains on your foundation skirt
- Mold that is deeply embedded in your window frames or glazing
Can your team pressure wash other parts of my property while they’re here softwashing?
Yes, please speak with a member of our team about the different areas you would like us to pressure wash. Patios, driveways, fences, walls, sidewalks, sheds, porches, and pool decks are common add-on’s to a main home softwashing service.
Can you pressure wash my deck or patio furniture?
Yes, we can safely clean most types of outdoor furniture, usually with a gentle softwashing approach.
Do you offer driveway pressure washing service?
Yes, we can safely pressure wash most driveway substrates, including concrete, exposed aggregate, asphalt, and pavers. Certain substrates require caution and special approaches. For instance, cleaning professionals should avoid excessive pressure when washing paver driveways with sand joints, as water pressure can loosen or blast out the joints.
Do you seal concrete and exposed aggregate?
Yes, in addition to exposed aggregate pressure washing and concrete pressure washing, Spotless offers sealing services to protect your surfaces, maintain a cleaner appearance, and increase the lifespan of your hardscapes.
Do you pressure wash walls?
Yes, brick wall pressure washing is a service we commonly provide throughout Virginia. Brick walls present unique cleaning considerations. Historic brick walls may have layers of organic material and efflorescence that have built up through the years. Brick walls can also be subject to weakening mortar joints due to weathering and the age of the wall. A carefully tested chemical cleaning process is often the best approach when pressure washing brick walls. We encourage all clients who have a brick wall that they would like cleaned to request a free consultation with one of our estimators to discuss expectations for this service.
Do you offer sidewalk and patio pressure washing service?
Yes, we can pressure wash most sidewalk and patio surfaces. Certain caution is needed for patios with weakened mortar joints or polymeric sand joints.
Do you provide deck pressure washing services?
Yes, however our approach depends on the type of deck at your home. Vinyl or composite decking, as well as solid stain or painted wood decking, can easily be washed with a gentle softwashing process. For untreated wood decks, we try to avoid using too much pressure, so we employ a deck washing and brightening approach that gently removes grime from your deck and brings back some of its natural wood color.
Do you offer fence pressure washing service?
Yes, our teams are experienced in cleaning all different types of fences. The first step in a good fence pressure washing service is identifying the type of fencing material. Some fences should be softwashed (painted wood fences, vinyl fences), while untreated wood fences can be cleaned with light pressure and wood brightener to help restore the fence’s natural wood color.
Do you offer roof washing services?
No, Spotless does not currently offer roof washing services.
Do you offer stucco or exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) pressure washing service?
Softwashing with different or more concentrated chemical formulations is most appropriate for stucco or EIFs. Typically, our team will perform a test spot to ensure that the cleaning agent is appropriate for the soil level of the surface to be cleaned.
What types of surfaces are best for softwashing vs. pressure washing?
Softwashing is used to clean vertical surfaces (e.g., siding, vinyl fencing). Pressure washing is best for stronger substrates that easily absorb dirt and grime (driveway, sidewalk, patios, etc.). Softwashing works well for surfaces that are non-porous (plastic, painted wood, vinyl, painted brick) and pressure washing is effective for stronger materials that have a porous composition (concrete, certain types of wood, brick, exposed aggregate).
Is it okay to softwash part of my home, for example, just the front side?
We very strongly recommend softwashing service for the entire home. Softwashing only a small section of the home can create an unusual contrast in appearance between the cleaned area and the area that has not been cleaned. That said, as long as the homeowner has this understanding, we are willing to accept these requests.
Will softwashing remove cobwebs and debris from my windows?
Yes, softwashing will remove organics (algae, mold, mildew) and topical debris and dirt from your home’s window frames.
Why do my windows look streaky after the softwashing service?
Softwashing does a fantastic job of removing dirt and debris from your home, but it can leave some spotting on windows due to overspray and the lifting of dirt from your home’s siding which then settles on your window glass. While our technicians rinse the home thoroughly at the end of the service, softwashing uses groundwater, which is not pure, so some light streaks may still be present on your glass.
How do you price your pressure washing services?
Pressure washing service and softwashing service are priced using several basic variables, including surface area to be cleaned, square footage, soil level, type of substrate, and environmental conditions.
Gutter Cleaning
Why should I have my gutters cleaned?
Gutter cleaning service keeps your gutters and downspouts clear, which is essential to channeling rainwater away from your siding, roof, and foundation. Gutter overflow can lead to water damage to your home’s foundation, which can cost over $10,000 to repair. Standing water may also lead to basement water damage and mold.
How do you clean gutters?
We use a commercial-grade gutter vacuum and pole system to perform gutter cleaning service. With an industrial strength vacuum and aluminum telescoping poles, our technicians can safely remove dirt and debris from your gutters without leaning and reaching from the top of a tall ladder. It is a safer approach to gutter cleaning service, and the best part is, it produces the same excellent results as a hand cleaning approach.
Do you haul away debris from the home after cleaning my gutters?
Yes, our gutter cleaning service includes bagging and haul-away of leaves and debris. Our gutter vacuum system makes bagging and removal of debris a very clean process.
How do I know that my gutters were cleaned after the service is completed?
Our technicians should provide you with before and after photos of your gutters so that you can see the cleaning results for yourself.
Does your gutter cleaning service remove leaves even when they are wet?
Yes, our gutter cleaning vacuum system works with both wet and dry leaves. The only challenge we encounter is when gutter debris freezes, so we do not recommend cleaning gutters when temperatures are sustained below 32 degrees.
Do you install gutters or gutter guards?
No.
How does your gutter cleaning service address gutter guards or screens?
Our gutter cleaning process removes debris from the top of the gutter guards or gutter screens so that water can easily flow into the gutters as intended. We do not remove gutter guards, helmets, or screens to clean beneath them.
Does your gutter cleaning service include downspout flushing?
Yes, we will flush the top of each downspout to ensure the downspout is flowing properly.
How often should I have my gutters cleaned?
For homes with moderate to high tree coverage, we would recommend cleaning your gutters 3-5 times annually. With at least one cleaning in the early spring and/or summer, and 2-3 cleanings in the fall season. If you’d like, our estimator can review your property and recommend a gutter cleaning schedule that fits your home’s needs.
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