For hosts · Santa Cruz County

Window Cleaning for Vacation Rentals and Airbnb Hosts

Guests book the view, so the view glass has to be clear. We clean ocean-facing windows, sliders, screens and tracks at rentals across Santa Cruz County, between stays or on a schedule, with lockbox access, photo reports and one flat price per visit.

Call or text a few photos. Flat quote, usually the same day.

  • Between-stay service
  • Sand out of slider tracks
  • Photo reports
  • Invoices to owner or manager
Short answer

Clean View Glass Without Driving Over

Beach rentals take salt film from fog and spray every day, and guests track sand into slider tracks. We clean the glass and tracks on a schedule that fits your bookings, let ourselves in with your code, and text you photos when we’re done.

Ocean-view windows on West Cliff Drive in Santa CruzOcean-view windows on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz
What hosts needHow we handle it
Glass clean before the next check-inScheduled around your turnover window
No one on siteExterior work with gates open; lockbox or smart lock for inside
Proof the work was doneBefore and after photos by text
Predictable costsOne flat price per visit, agreed up front
Billing to the right personOwner, manager or management company; W-9 on request
Sticking slidersTracks vacuumed and wiped, weep holes cleared
Booking season coming up?Text the address and your turnover times. Flat price per visit, usually the same day.
Why rentals are different

What Guests Notice on Rental Glass

Hosts and guests see the windows differently.

Balcony and deck glass gets its own care. See glass railing cleaning.

Scrubbing exterior window strip washerScrubbing exterior window strip washer

Owners often see the house between seasons. Guests see it at its most used: after weeks of fog, spray and other guests’ fingerprints on the slider. At the coast, fog settles on the glass and dries every morning, leaving salt behind that catches dust. A view window that looked clear in March can look hazy by June, especially during the coast’s foggy early summer.

Problem guests noticeCauseFix
Hazy ocean viewSalt film from fog and sprayExterior wash and pure water rinse
Slider that drags or squealsSand and grit in the trackTrack vacuumed and wiped every visit
Handprints on doors and railingsHeavy useQuick inside clean between stays
Spots on lower windowsSprinklers hitting the glassSeparate hard water treatment
Bugs and webs in screen cornersShade and coastal dampScreens brushed and rinsed

See why Santa Cruz windows get dirty so fast and how to protect windows from salt air.

Scheduling

A Window Schedule for Rental Properties

Set it once, adjust it as bookings change.

Rental typeFull inside and outside cleanQuick view-glass clean
Beachfront or cliff-topStart and end of the busy seasonEvery few weeks in season
A few blocks from the beachTwo or three times a yearBefore peak weekends
Mountain or valley rentalTwice a yearAfter pollen or fire season
Condo in a managed complexWith the HOA’s exterior scheduleInside glass between stays

These are suggested schedules. For timing by season, see the best time of year for window cleaning and how often to clean windows.

Where rentals are

Rental Areas We Serve

Most of the county’s coastal rentals sit in a few neighborhoods.

Two beach neighborhoods with a lot of rentals have their own pages: Pajaro Dunes and Twin Lakes.

Santa Cruz County’s vacation rental rules name three designated areas with their own permit limits: Live Oak, the Seacliff, Aptos and La Selva Beach area, and Davenport and Swanton. The same ordinance requires a local property manager who can respond within 60 minutes. Vendors who can work without anyone on site make that easier to manage. Rules change, so check the county’s current requirements for your own permit.

AreaWhat the glass deals withLocal guide
Pleasure Point and Live OakSurf spray, fog, sand in tracksPleasure Point, Live Oak
CapitolaSalt film and beach sandCapitola
Seacliff and Rio Del MarBluff and beachfront salt filmSeacliff, Rio Del Mar
La Selva BeachSalt film plus hard water spotsLa Selva Beach
West Cliff and WestsideOcean-view glass on the cliffsWest Cliff Drive

Sources: Santa Cruz County Code 13.10.694, Vacation Rentals (Board-approved ordinance, January 2021).

What’s included

What a Rental Visit Covers

Book the full clean or just the glass guests see most.

Scrubbing bottom window paneScrubbing bottom window pane
ItemFull cleanBetween-stay clean
Ocean-facing view glass, outsideYesYes
View glass and sliders, insideYesYes
All other windows, inside and outYesOptional
Screens brushed and rinsedYesOptional
Slider tracks vacuumed and wipedYesYes
Glass railings and balcony doorsYes, if bookedYes, if booked
Photo report by textYesYes

Hard water spot removal, gutters, solar panels and skylights can be added to the same visit. See what a professional window cleaning includes.

How it works

How Rental Window Cleaning Works

Simple for you, predictable for us.

Send the details

Address, a few photos, how you want us to get in and your usual turnover times.

Get a flat price

One price per visit for the scope you choose, usually the same day.

Set the schedule

Visit by visit, or a recurring schedule you can change any time.

We arrive and text

A text when we arrive and when we leave, with the gate and door left as we found them.

Photos sent

Before and after photos of the view glass and sliders.

Invoice to the right person

Owner, property manager or management company, with a W-9 on request.

Manage several rentals?One schedule and one invoice across every property you manage.
Between visits

A Window Checklist for Hosts and Cleaners

A few things your turnover cleaners can check in a minute.

CheckWhy it mattersWhat to do
Run each slider open and closedSand in the track makes it drag, and guests noticeVacuum the track; book us if it still drags
Look at the view glass from the main seatThat’s where guests see haze firstNote it in the turnover report
Check screens are in and not tornGuests leave screens out or damage themPhoto and report
Wipe handprints on glass doorsThe most-touched glass in the houseDamp microfiber, then dry cloth
Check sprinklers aren’t hitting windowsMineral spots build up every dayTurn the heads away from the glass

Check what your window maker and any window film maker allow before your cleaners use ammonia sprays or abrasive pads on coated glass or tinted film. Leave the salt film and spot treatment to us. See what water window cleaners use for why rinsing with pure water matters at the coast.

Guest experience

Why Hosts Book Window Cleaning

It’s about what guests mention, not what owners see.

Guests rarely praise clean windows, but hazy views, sticking sliders and spotted glass doors are easy to notice in a house rented for its view. Keeping the glass on a schedule means the view looks the way it does in your listing photos when guests arrive. If your listing photos were taken on a clear day after a cleaning, the glass should match them.

For managers

Managing More Than One Rental

One vendor across the portfolio keeps it simple.

Washing soapy storefront windowWashing soapy storefront window
  • One recurring schedule across all your properties
  • A flat price per property, agreed in advance
  • Visits grouped by area to fit tight turnovers
  • One invoice per month or per visit, as you prefer
  • A photo report per property

For condo complexes and HOAs, see window cleaning for property managers and HOAs. For homes going on the market, see window cleaning for real estate agents.

Set expectations

What Cleaning Fixes, and What It Doesn’t

We’ll tell you before we start if something won’t come off.

What you seeCauseDoes cleaning fix it?
Grey haze on ocean-facing glassSalt film from fog and sprayYes
White rings on lower windowsSprinkler mineralsUsually, with separate treatment
Haze that never clearsEtched glassNo
Fog between the panesFailed seal in a double-pane unitNo; the unit needs repair
Gritty, dragging sliderSand in the trackYes, tracks are included
Torn or corroded screensSalt air and ageCleaned; repair is separate

See what causes white film on coastal windows for how to tell these apart, and screen repair for damaged screens.

Through the year

What Rental Glass Faces Each Season

Plan the big cleans around the weather.

SeasonWhat builds upWhat to book
SpringWinter streaks, pollenFull clean before the season starts
Early summerSalt film during the foggy weeksQuick view-glass cleans between stays
Late summer and fallDust, salt, ash in fire yearsFull clean at the end of the season; gutters before the rains
WinterRain streaks, storm debrisInside glass on dry days; gutter checks after storms

See the June Gloom window care guide, gutter cleaning before storm season and how to clean wildfire ash off windows.

Questions

Vacation Rental Window Cleaning: FAQ

Do you clean windows at vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County?

Yes. We clean view glass, sliders, screens and tracks at vacation rentals and Airbnb homes across the county, either between stays or on a set schedule.

Are there companies that clean for Airbnb and VRBO hosts between guests, without a full-time maid?

Yes, for the windows. We clean view glass, sliders, screens and tracks between stays or on a schedule, using your lockbox or smart lock code. We text when we arrive and leave, send before and after photos, and work around your other cleaners. We don’t do general housecleaning.

How often should rental windows be cleaned?

Ocean-facing view glass at beach rentals often needs a quick clean every few weeks in the busy season and a full inside and outside clean at the start and end of it. Rentals away from the coast usually do well with two or three full cleans a year.

Do you need a key or lockbox code?

For exterior-only work, no, as long as side gates are open. For inside glass, we can use a lockbox or smart lock code you send us, and we text when we arrive and leave.

Can you send photos after each visit?

Yes. We can text before and after photos of the view glass and sliders, so you can see the result without driving over.

Do you clean sliding door tracks?

Yes. Beach sand ends up in slider tracks quickly at coastal rentals, and it makes doors drag. Tracks are vacuumed and wiped and weep holes cleared on every residential visit.

Do you clean glass railings and decks?

Yes. Glass railings, balcony doors and deck sliders are included in the exterior clean when you book them.

Who do you invoice?

Whoever you tell us to: the owner, the property manager or the management company. We can send a W-9 before the first visit.

Can you clean gutters and solar panels at the same time?

Yes. Roof work is done first and windows last, so nothing lands on clean glass. It saves a second visit between bookings.

What if a guest damaged a screen?

We point out torn or bent screens with a photo so you can decide whether to have them repaired.

Do I have to sign a contract?

No. You can book visit by visit or set a recurring schedule and change it whenever bookings change.

How do I get a quote for my vacation rental?

Text the rental’s address, a few photos of the glass and your usual turnover times. You’ll get a flat price per visit, usually the same day.

Do you clean windows on rentals in the mountains too?

Yes. Rentals in Scotts Valley, the San Lorenzo Valley and Bonny Doon get pollen, needles and ash in fire years rather than salt. Gutters and skylights are often the bigger job there.

Can you work on weekends?

Tell us your turnover days when you ask for a quote and we’ll confirm what we can schedule. Exterior work can often be done on a day guests are checking out.

What should I tell guests?

If guests are staying during an exterior-only visit, a short note that window cleaners will be outside on a set day is enough. We don’t need to come inside.

How thoroughly do Airbnb hosts clean between guests?

It varies by host and by their cleaners, so check what your turnover checklist covers. Guests see a rental at its most used, with fog, spray and fingerprints on the glass. We handle the glass side: view glass and sliders inside and out, and slider tracks vacuumed and wiped, with a photo report by text after each visit.

A guest left cup stains on the window sill. What should I do?

Wipe it soon with a damp microfiber cloth and a little mild soap, then dry it with a clean cloth. Test first on painted or wood sills. If the ring has soaked into bare wood or the finish, cleaning may not lift it and the sill may need refinishing. We wipe sills as part of a full window clean.

Free quote

Get a Free Window Cleaning Quote in Santa Cruz County

Send your address and a few photos. You’ll hear back the same business day with a flat number.

(831) 203-3111
  • Same-day response, Monday through Saturday
  • Flat quote, good for 30 days
  • Add gutters, solar or skylights to the same visit

Serving Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Scotts Valley, Felton, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Watsonville and everywhere in between.