A straight answer about rainy-day cleans
Yes, we clean windows in the rain
Light rain and ordinary showers do not spoil the finished result. Our purified-water system is designed to leave your windows clean when they dry—and our Rain Guarantee gives you complete peace of mind.
The short answer
There is no need to cancel just because it is raining.
- Light rain is fine. Your windows will still dry clean.
- We know when to stop. Torrential rain and unsafe weather are treated differently.
- You are covered. Every rainy-day clean comes with our Rain Guarantee.
If you have always believed that windows should only be cleaned on a dry day, that concern is understandable. It comes from an older experience of window cleaning—and from a time when the air around our homes was often much smokier and dirtier than it is today.
Why did rain used to mean marked windows?
For customers who remember coal fires, smoky streets and more soot in the air, rain really could bring visible grime down with it. It could also mix with dirt already sitting on the glass, frames and sills, moving that residue around and leaving marks as it dried.
Traditional window cleaning also relied on tap water and detergent, followed by hand drying with a cloth or squeegee. Done properly, that method can leave a good finish. But if any soap, minerals or dirt remained around the window, fresh rain could make the residue visible again.
So the old advice to avoid a rainy-day clean did not come from nowhere. It made sense for the conditions and cleaning methods people were familiar with.
The air has changed—and so has window cleaning
Thankfully, the heavy coal smoke and soot once common around British towns is largely a thing of the past. The air is not perfectly clean—traffic, dust and pollen still exist—but it is very different from the smoky air many people remember.
More importantly, our cleaning method is completely different. We use a professional water-fed pole system with purified water. The minerals and impurities found in normal tap water have been removed, and we do not add soap or detergent.
How it works
A clean that is meant to dry naturally.
- 1
We agitate the glass, frames and sills to loosen dirt.
- 2
Purified water rinses that dirt away without leaving detergent behind.
- 3
The windows are left wet on purpose and dry naturally to a clean, clear finish.
Why light rain won’t spoil the finish
We clean with purified water rather than soapy water, so there is no detergent residue left on the glass to cause smears or streaks. Once the dirt has been rinsed away, light rain simply leaves the glass wet—it does not make it dirty again.
Once the glass has dried, the finished result is the same. That is why we are very confident continuing to work through light rain and passing showers.
Our Rain Guarantee is there for your peace of mind
We know that a rainy-day clean will not leave your windows marked, but we also understand that seeing is believing. That is why we have offered our Rain Guarantee ever since Pure Clean Yorkshire started in 2013.
In 13 years, we have never once been called back because rain spoiled the finish. Even so, the guarantee remains: allow the windows to dry, and if you believe the rain has affected the result, tell us within 24 hours. We will return and put it right free of charge.
The bottom line
Rain in the forecast? You do not need to cancel.
Let the clean go ahead as planned. If the weather becomes unsuitable, we will make that decision and contact you. Otherwise, your windows will be cleaned as usual and protected by our 13-year Rain Guarantee.