WINDOW CLEANING TERMS
Window Cleaning Glossary: Terms Every Bend Homeowner Should Know
Plain-English definitions of the window, glass and cleaning terms you’ll hear from a window cleaner, a builder or a glass shop.
Spots, Stains and Damage
Hard water spots
White or chalky marks left when water with dissolved minerals dries on glass. In Bend they usually come from sprinkler or irrigation overspray, not city tap water.
Mineral deposits
The buildup of minerals left behind by repeated wet and dry cycles on the same glass. Early deposits can usually be removed.
Etching
Permanent damage to the glass surface after minerals have bonded to it over a long time. Etched glass looks cloudy even when wet and can’t be cleaned back to clear.
Glass restoration
Specialized cleaning that removes mineral deposits and light surface damage beyond what normal washing can do.
Overspray
Paint, stucco or sprinkler water that lands on glass unintentionally.
Streaks
Lines left when cleaning solution dries on the glass before it’s removed, common in direct sun and dry air.
Seal failure
When the seal of a double-pane window breaks and moisture gets between the panes, causing fog or haze inside that cleaning can’t reach.
Glass and Window Types
Tempered glass
Safety glass that breaks into small pieces instead of sharp shards. It’s required in doors and many large or low windows and needs extra care with scrapers.
Fabricating debris
Tiny particles that can bond to tempered glass during manufacturing. A razor blade can catch them and drag long scratches across the pane.
Low-E coating
A thin, nearly invisible coating that reflects heat. Razor blades should never be used on coated glass.
Insulated glass unit (IGU)
Two or more panes sealed together with a gap between them, the standard double-pane window.
Clerestory window
A high window set above eye level, often near the roofline in vaulted rooms.
Skylight
A window set into the roof. Most skylights aren’t built to hold a person’s weight.
Skylight curb
The raised frame around a skylight on the roof, where needles and debris often collect.
Parts of a Window
Sash
The frame that holds the glass and moves when the window opens.
Sill
The flat ledge at the bottom of a window, inside or out.
Track
The channel a sliding window or door runs in. Dust and pollen pack into it.
Weep holes
Small drainage slots at the bottom of a window frame that let water out. Clogged weep holes can trap water.
Mullion
A vertical or horizontal bar between separate window units.
Grilles or muntins
Bars that divide a window into smaller panes, either real or set between the glass.
Screen spline
The rubber cord that holds screen mesh in the frame.
Tools and Methods
Squeegee
A rubber blade on a handle used to pull cleaning solution off glass without streaks.
Strip washer
A sleeve-covered tool used to apply soapy water and scrub the glass before squeegeeing.
Water-fed pole
An extension pole that delivers purified water through a brush, used to clean upper windows from the ground.
Purified water
Water filtered to remove minerals so it dries without leaving spots, often used with water-fed poles.
Scraper
A blade tool used to remove paint or stuck debris from uncoated glass, used carefully, wet and in one direction.
Post-construction cleaning
The first cleaning of new windows after a build or remodel, removing labels, paint, stucco and construction dust.
Central Oregon Terms
Juniper pollen
Fine pollen from western juniper, released from late winter through spring and common across the high desert.
Pine pollen
Heavy yellow pollen from ponderosa pines in May and June that coats glass, decks and cars.
Smoke season
The summer and early fall stretch when wildfire smoke drifts into Central Oregon and leaves a film on glass.
Rain guarantee
A promise to return and touch up windows if rain spots them within a short time after cleaning.
Learn More
For hands-on advice, see our Bend window care guide and our guide to white spots on windows.
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