While pressure washing is a fantastic way to revitalize a commercial or residential property, you may worry about your windows. With the highly pressurized water, the last thing that you want is for something that’s supposed to clean your property to end up damaging it and costing you expensive repairs.
If you’re wondering if pressure washing can damage windows or screens, the answer is yes – if you don’t work with a highly trained professional. In order to avoid window or screen damage, pressure washing must be done correctly. Here’s what you need to know.
How Can Pressure Washing Damage Windows Or Screens?

Pressure washing can absolutely damage windows and screens when not in the hands of a trained professional. High pressure can rip screens and bust window seals, and the use of pressure on these surfaces is never recommended.
Some of the damages that can occur if you use highly pressurized water to clean windows and screens are as follows:
- Shattered glass when the pressure is directly at a single point, particularly with old windows.
- Loosened window caulking and seals, causing water to seep into the frame.
- Ripped or torn window screens.
- Water can shoot under siding or into crevices, resulting in mold, mildew, or rotting wood.
It’s generally not recommended to wash windows with high pressure. Rather, you want to ensure that you’re using a low pressure setting. A house can definitely be cleaned with the screens in-place to rinse all of the dust off of them, or the screens can be removed before a pressure wash in order to rinse any debris away that can get caught between the screen and window.
How Can Windows And Screens Be Washed Safely?
Windows are constantly exposed to the elements, and dirt and grime can build up on them gradually. You may not even realize just how dirty your windows have become – until you compare your windows to your neighbor’s freshly cleaned ones. Sure, you can always bust out the ladder and the glass cleaner, but who really wants to spend their valuable free time trying to clean their windows – especially when it seems so easy for them to end up streaky?
Soft washing provides an effective solution to this conundrum.
A pressure washer can still be used to clean windows and screens, so long as the machine is handled by experienced professionals and the water used is set at a gentle pressure, not something so intense that it could damage your windows. Our proprietary soap mixture also contains a detergent specifically for cleaning glass surfaces. This soap + a gentle rinse is all you need to tidy up your exterior glass
The key to pressure washing windows and screens without damage is knowing the appropriate settings, methods, and soaps to use. This preserves the integrity of your windows, while enabling you to enjoy a sparkly clean finish.
Can’t You Use A Pressure Washer To Clean Your Windows Yourself?

Any “Can’t I…?” question usually has the answer of, sure, you can… but should you?
This is especially true when it comes to pressure washers, and even moreso when we’re talking about cleaning your windows. While pressure washing may seem straightforward, many people end up injuring themselves or damaging their property because they didn’t know how to do it properly.
As such, it’s best to leave pressure washing, especially such a delicate surface as your windows, to the pros.
Professional Pressure Washing Services You Can Trust
When you work with Cardinal Pressure Washing, you don’t have to worry about whether our pressure washing services will damage your windows or screens. Our entire house cleaning process is a low-pressure, detergent-based cleaning, followed by a high volume rinsing. Our machines range from 6-12 GPM, however the pressure coming out of the hose can be gentle enough to wash your hands.
If you’re looking for high-quality pressure washing services in and around the Columbus area, Cardinal Pressure Washing is here to help. We specialize in commercial exterior cleaning and also provide residential pressure washing. To learn more about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.