Many homeowners think that they can just put off cleaning their windows until later. On the contrary, dirty windows are more than unattractive; they actually do serious damage to your property value and to your health. Here, we’ll explain the reasons why.

 

Air Quality:

     When windows are left uncleaned, mold and mildew can begin to grow on the glass and can expand onto the sills. This can cause poor overall air quality and lead to coughing, sneezing, or skin irritation in some individuals. Also, even just the dirt and grime that is on the windows may contain certain allergens or mold spores that could lead to worsening allergy symptoms or respiratory conditions.

 

Effects of Untouched Dirt/Dust On the Glass:

     When dirt and dust are left untouched, they can become etched into the glass and can lead to permanent cloudiness in the window. Once this happens, it results in a repair far more expensive than what it would’ve cost to keep up with regular maintenance of the windows.

 

Mental Health/Overall Health:

     Natural light is vitally important to our body’s ability to regulate its circadian rhythm. When our circadian rhythm is out of balance, our sleep quality suffers and our overall health declines. In addition, a lack of natural light has been shown to affect our mental health by lowering serotonin levels and worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression.

 

Broken Seals:

     Without proper maintenance, the seals on a window will dry out and crack, causing moisture to enter the window. Once this happens, you’ll need to get the whole window replaced, leading to a repair that is more expensive than it would’ve been to just keep up with regular maintenance.

 

Damage to the Frames:

     As mentioned before, a lack of cleaning your windows can cause a buildup of mold and mildew. This not only can expand to the sills, but it can even make its way to the surrounding walls or window frames, leading to bubbling in the paint or wood rot in the frames themselves.

 

Energy Inefficiency:

     Foggy windows can decrease solar heat gain in the winter and block UV reflection in the summer, meaning you will likely end up upping your heating and cooling bills as a result of neglecting to clean your windows.

 

Disguising Larger Problems:

     When a professional cleans your windows, he is likely to notice scratched, broken, or cracked glass or damaged seals that could lead to bigger problems down the line. When these problems are addressed sooner rather than later, the customer will end up saving money in the long run due to the prevention of larger issues.

 

Neglecting to have a professional clean your windows can lead to health effects due to the lack of natural light and poor air quality, and can also lead to expensive repairs down the line for numerous reasons. It is important to get your windows cleaned at least twice a year by a professional so that you can avoid negative health effects and expensive repairs.