Window Cleaning Cost Guide: What to Expect in Kitchener-Waterloo

Clean windows change the entire feel of a home — inside and out. Natural light improves dramatically, curb appeal jumps, and the view from every room becomes crisper. But how much should you actually pay for professional window cleaning in Kitchener-Waterloo? This 2026 guide breaks down real local pricing by every variable that matters.

What Drives Window Cleaning Prices

Window cleaning pricing is not arbitrary. Every factor in your quote reflects real differences in time, equipment, and difficulty. Understanding what goes into the price helps you evaluate quotes fairly and decide where to invest.

Number of windows and panes is the foundation of every quote. A small bungalow with 12 windows is fundamentally different from a two-storey home with 30 windows. Most professional companies count individual panes (each glass section within a window frame), not just windows as units — a large picture window counts differently than a small single-hung window.

Storeys and accessibility add meaningful time and complexity. Ground-floor windows are cleaned from the outside efficiently. Second-storey windows require extension poles or ladder work, adding time and safety overhead. Any window that requires repositioning equipment or navigating obstacles (dense gardens, decks, locked gates) adds to the price.

Condition of the glass is a significant wildcard. Lightly dusty windows that were cleaned last spring clean quickly. Windows with years of hard water mineral deposits, paint overspray, or construction debris require abrasive cleaning, specialized chemical treatments, or scraper work — all of which add time and cost.

Interior vs exterior nearly doubles the scope of the job. Exterior-only cleaning is the most common service. Interior cleaning requires working inside the home, protecting floors and sills, and careful technique around furnishings — it's a materially different (and more time-consuming) job.

Typical Window Cleaning Prices in Kitchener-Waterloo (2026)

Here are real-world price ranges for professional window cleaning in the Waterloo Region market in 2026:

Per-pane pricing in the KW market typically runs $8–$15 per pane exterior and $14–$22 per pane interior + exterior combined. Many companies use a minimum job fee ($80–$120) that applies to very small properties, so a home with only 8 windows may not come out much cheaper than one with 12.

Interior vs Exterior: What's the Difference?

Exterior-only window cleaning covers the outside glass, exterior sills, and typically the frames and tracks. This is what most homeowners book for routine maintenance — it's what neighbours see and what most affects curb appeal and light penetration.

Interior window cleaning involves cleaning the inside glass surface, wiping down the interior sill, and clearing the window track of debris. Interior cleaning requires the crew to work inside your home, so it involves scheduling, access, and moving furnishings or window coverings as needed. It typically adds 40–60% to the base exterior price.

Many homeowners opt for exterior-only service in spring and fall for regular maintenance, then book a full interior + exterior clean once every 1–2 years (often before a holiday season or special event). This is a cost-effective approach that keeps windows looking great while managing budget.

Screen Cleaning: The Often-Forgotten Add-On

Window screens accumulate a remarkable amount of dust, pollen, and organic debris — and dirty screens significantly reduce the light transmitted through even a freshly cleaned window. Screen cleaning is worth including, particularly in spring when pollen and winter grime have accumulated.

Screen cleaning in the KW market is priced at approximately $2–$5 per screen when added to a window cleaning job. For a home with 20 windows and 18 screens, this might add $40–$90 to your total. Screens that are heavily soiled or damaged may be removed, cleaned separately, and reinstalled.

Some companies include basic screen cleaning in their window cleaning price; others quote it separately. Always confirm whether screens are included when comparing quotes.

Hard Water Staining: A Waterloo Region Issue

Waterloo Region has notably hard water — water with high dissolved mineral content (primarily calcium and magnesium). When hard water sits on glass and evaporates, it leaves behind a white mineral deposit. Over time, repeated mineral layering etches into the glass surface, leaving cloudy spots or streaks that standard window cleaning doesn't fully remove.

Hard water stain removal is a specialized service that involves acidic cleaning agents (typically diluted white vinegar or commercial calcium/lime removers), fine-grade 0000 steel wool or specialized scrubbing pads, and significantly more time per window. In the KW market, hard water treatment adds approximately $50–$150 to a standard window cleaning job, depending on severity and the number of affected windows.

Prevention is far more cost-effective than treatment. Regular professional cleaning (twice yearly) prevents mineral buildup from progressing to the etching stage. If you're already seeing persistent cloudiness that doesn't wipe off, it's time for a treatment service.

Cleaning Frequency and Bundle Savings

How often should you clean your windows professionally? The honest answer depends on your home's exposure, tree coverage, and local air quality. For most Kitchener-Waterloo homes, twice yearly is the sweet spot — once in spring (to clear winter road salt, pollen, and condensation residue) and once in fall (to remove summer dust and organic buildup before the low-angle winter sun reveals every smudge).

Many window cleaning companies offer a loyalty discount for repeat customers or pre-booked recurring service. If you commit to twice-yearly service with the same company, you can often negotiate 10–15% off the per-visit price. This is worth asking about when getting quotes.

Window cleaning also bundles well with other exterior services. Booking window cleaning alongside gutter cleaning or soft washing means one crew visit, one set of disruptions, and usually a meaningful bundle discount. D&D Home Services offers bundle pricing on all service combinations — ask when you get your free quote.

DIY vs Professional: The Real Cost Calculation

Many homeowners consider doing their windows themselves. This is a perfectly reasonable choice for single-storey homes with easily accessible windows. For two-storey homes, the calculation shifts significantly.

Consider the true cost of DIY window cleaning for a two-storey home:

• Extension pole and squeegee kit: $40–$80 (quality matters — cheap squeegees leave streaks)
• Bucket, cleaning solution, microfibre cloths: $20–$30
• A-frame ladder (if you don't own one tall enough): $150–$400
• Time for a 25-window home (exterior only, not counting setup): 3–5 hours
• Physical risk: ladder work on uneven ground around a house, fatigue, risk of falls

A professional service for that same home costs $200–$280 and takes 1.5–2.5 hours. The time savings alone may justify the cost — but the quality difference (professional technique, proper squeegee work, no streaks) and the safety aspect of keeping yourself off a tall ladder are the arguments that convince most homeowners to delegate this particular task.

"Window cleaning looks simple until you do it yourself on a second floor with a 20-foot extension pole in the wind. Professional results come from proper technique — the right solution ratio, squeegee pressure, and stroke pattern. It takes years to do it streak-free every time."

— David, D&D Home Services Co-Founder

D&D Home Services TeamExterior Cleaning Experts

D&D Home Services is Kitchener-Waterloo's trusted exterior cleaning company serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph.