How to Get Your Brossard Home Ready for Window Cleaners

You don't need to do much before a window cleaning visit, but twenty minutes of prep makes the day faster and the result better. Clear a path along the walls of the house, unlock the side gate, put pets inside, and tell the crew about anything fragile or unusual. If you booked interior glass or screen washing as add-ons, clear the windowsills and the floor in front of each window too.

Late October is when this matters most in Brossard. The exterior season runs roughly from March to November, so the last visits of the year happen with leaves on the lawn, patio furniture still out and garden hoses about to be put away. Here is the checklist, split by outside, inside and the details people forget.

Outside the house

The exterior clean is done from the ground with a water-fed pole and pure deionized water. The crew walks the full perimeter of the house, so the main job is making that walk easy and safe.

• Clear a strip along every wall. About a metre of space next to the foundation is enough. Move planters, bikes, the barbecue, recycling bins and anything stacked against the siding.
• Unlock gates and side passages. Many Brossard homes, especially in sectors like L, M and N, have a fenced backyard with a single side gate. If it has a padlock, leave it open or tell the crew where the key is.
• Bring in or cover delicate items. Pure water is harmless to plants and furniture, but runoff does drip from the frames and sills. Cushions, outdoor rugs and anything you'd rather keep dry can go in the shed or the garage.
• Rake or blow leaves away from the walls. Wet leaves on a sloped yard or a paved walkway get slippery. A quick pass along the foundation helps the crew move the pole safely.
• Leave an outdoor tap available. Mention it when you book if your taps are already shut off for the winter, so the crew can plan for it.
• Park cars out of the way. If a window sits above the driveway, move the car or leave room so the crew can stand close to the wall.
• Keep pets and kids inside during the visit. Hoses, poles and moving equipment are not a great mix with a curious dog in the yard.

Inside the house, if you booked add-ons

The flat rate covers the exterior: glass, frames and sills, with screens rinsed in place. Interior glass, screen removal and washing, and track cleaning are optional paid add-ons. If you chose any of them, the crew will be working inside, and a bit of prep keeps your furniture and floors protected.

• Clear the windowsills. Plants, picture frames, candles and small objects should come off the sills. The crew can work around them, but it slows the visit and raises the odds of something getting bumped.
• Open a path to each window. Pull the sofa, the desk or the bed out a little where they block a window. About half a metre of floor space is enough to work comfortably.
• Raise or tie back blinds and curtains. Roll blinds all the way up and tie heavy curtains to the side. This also makes it easier to see the glass once the job is done.
• Note which windows are hard to open. Older casement cranks and painted-shut sashes are common in houses from the 1970s and 1980s. Point them out so nobody forces them.
• Put away anything valuable or breakable near the glass. Collections, electronics and heirlooms in a bay window are safer in another room for an hour.

Screens and tracks

Screens are where fall prep pays off. Exterior service rinses screens in place. If you added screen removal and washing, the crew takes them out, washes them and puts them back. Altara does not repair screens, but the crew will point out tears or bent frames so you can get them fixed before spring.

A few things help here. If some screens are already stored in the garage or basement, tell the crew so nobody looks for them. If a screen has a missing tab or a loose spline, mention it before the visit, since those are the ones that can pop out during handling. For track cleaning, clear out anything sitting in the tracks themselves (dead insects are normal, but forgotten toys and dog hair clumps are worth a quick vacuum first).

Things to tell the crew before they start

Most surprises on a window cleaning day come from information nobody passed along. A short note in your booking or at the door covers it.

• Your real window count. The flat rate is based on the window-count tier you pick on the pricing page. Count every pane you want cleaned, including basement windows and the patio door, so the tier matches what is on the house.
• Height and access. The pole reaches up to three storeys from the ground. If part of the house is higher, or a window sits above a steep slope, a deck or a pool, say so. Taller or hard-access homes get a site visit first.
• Skylights, a solarium or heavy hard-water stains. These are quoted separately, so it is better to flag them in advance than to discover them on the day.
• Fresh paint or caulking. If you had trim painted or windows recaulked in the last few days, tell the crew so they can stay clear of anything still curing.
• Security systems and window sensors. If interior work is booked, disarm the alarm or warn the crew about glass-break sensors.

What you don't need to do

You don't need to pre-rinse the windows, scrape off bird droppings or buy any products. Pure water does the work on the glass and frames, and it dries without leaving soap film. You also don't need to be home for an exterior-only visit, as long as the gate is open and the crew can reach every side of the house.

After the visit, take a walk around the house in daylight. Altara offers a streak-free guarantee: if you spot a streak, report it within 24 hours and the crew comes back to fix it at no charge.

Timing a late-season visit in Brossard

From late October, booking earlier in the season is the safer bet. Exterior work wraps up around November, and cold mornings can push a visit to later in the day. Interior glass can be cleaned year-round, so if you only want the inside done before the holidays, that can wait.

If you want windows cleaned on a schedule instead of remembering every year, recurring service comes with discounts: 10% for quarterly, 15% for bi-monthly and 20% for monthly visits. Bi-annual and annual programs come with automated reminders so the spring and fall visits don't slip, without a discount.

Frequently asked questions

Does someone need to be home when window cleaners come?

For an exterior-only visit, usually not. The crew needs an open gate, a clear path around the house and access to every wall. If you booked interior glass or screen removal, someone has to let the crew in.

Should screens come out before window cleaning?

No. Screens are rinsed in place with the exterior service, and removal and washing is available as an add-on. If some screens are already stored for the winter, just let the crew know where they are so nothing gets missed.

Can windows be cleaned in Brossard in November?

Exterior work runs until about November, depending on the weather, so early November visits are common. Interior glass can be done at any time of year, including the middle of winter.

Does furniture need to be moved away from the windows?

Only for interior work. Leave about half a metre of space in front of each window and clear the sills. For an exterior visit, focus on the outside: planters, bins and anything along the walls.

Book the last visit of the season

Count your windows, pick your tier on the pricing page and choose any add-ons you want. If your house is taller than three storeys or has tricky access, describe it through the contact form and the team will arrange a site visit. More details for the South Shore are on the Brossard service page.