Window Cleaning in Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek
Homes along Highway 9 from Felton and Mount Hermon up through Ben Lomond to Boulder Creek, many of them under tall redwoods. In the valley the job is less about glass and more about everything that falls on it: needles, pollen, sap and the debris that fills gutters and covers skylights.
Call or text a few photos. Flat quote, usually the same day.
- Gutters under the redwoods
- Skylights and windows
- Solar in the shade
- Long driveways welcome
What Makes Windows Dirty in the San Lorenzo Valley?
Trees, mostly. Redwoods drop needles and a brown tannin residue all year, and oaks and pines add pollen in spring. The valley also gets more rain than the coast, so debris washes onto glass, sits in gutters and stains skylights. Homes in shade dry slowly, which lets mildew grow on frames and sills.
Skylight on a residential roofIs the water hard in the San Lorenzo Valley? It varies by system. San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s 2022 report lists an average hardness of 108 ppm (range 52 to 460) for its main system and 218 ppm (range 110 to 290) for its Felton system (source). Homes on private wells can differ. If sprinkler-side windows have white rings, that’s minerals, and it’s a separate fix.
A Window and Gutter Schedule for the Valley
Under redwood cover, once a year usually isn’t enough for gutters.
Removing wet debris from gutter| When | What to clean | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Early fall | Gutters, downspouts, skylights | Clear the summer drop before the first storms |
| Mid-winter | Gutters under heavy redwood cover | Needles keep falling and refill gutters |
| Late spring | Windows, skylights and solar panels | Remove pollen and the winter’s streaks |
| Any time | Mildew on shaded frames and sills | Soft wash, not pressure |
Gutters and downspouts
Cleaned by hand, downspouts flushed, before and after photos sent.
Gutter cleaningSkylights
Needles and tannin stains cleaned off from the roof so the light comes back.
Skylight cleaningSolar under the trees
Shaded panels already make less power. Pollen and debris make it worse.
Solar panel cleaningTowns We Cover in the Valley
Same crew, same standard, whatever the drive.
Felton and Mount Hermon
95018. Homes near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, downtown Felton and the Mount Hermon area.
Ben Lomond
95005. Homes along Highway 9 and up the side roads into the hills.
Boulder Creek
95006. Homes under heavy redwood cover, including properties toward Big Basin and Bear Creek Road.
About a mile south of Boulder Creek on Highway 9, see Brookdale.
What We Clean in the San Lorenzo Valley
Every service is available from Felton to Boulder Creek. Town guides: Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek.
Residential window cleaning
Inside and out, with tracks, sills and screens included.
Residential window cleaningCommercial window cleaning
Storefronts, offices and rentals on a set schedule.
Commercial window cleaningSolar panel cleaning
Deionized water and soft brushes, no soap and no pressure washer.
Solar panel cleaningHard water stain removal
Graded first and tested on a corner before we do the rest.
Hard water stain removalPressure and soft washing
High pressure for concrete, soft wash for stucco and paint.
Pressure and soft washingThe San Lorenzo Valley at a Glance
Small towns along the San Lorenzo River in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
| Town | Facts | What it means for your windows |
|---|---|---|
| Felton | A census-designated place on the San Lorenzo River; 4,489 residents in 2020; elevation 285 feet; home to the 1892 Felton Covered Bridge and Roaring Camp Railroads | Homes along the river and under redwoods get needles, sap and mildew |
| Ben Lomond | A San Lorenzo Valley community along Highway 9 between Felton and Boulder Creek | Homes on wooded side roads with heavy debris on roofs |
| Boulder Creek | A census-designated place at the north end of the valley; 5,429 residents in 2020; elevation about 479 feet; the gateway to Big Basin Redwoods State Park | The heaviest tree cover and rainfall in our area |
More rain than the coast
Boulder Creek gets roughly 50 inches by published averages of rain a year, compared with about 30.8 inches in the city of Santa Cruz. More rain means gutters work harder, debris washes onto windows and skylights, and shaded glass stays damp longer, which lets mildew grow on frames and sills.
| Place | Average annual rainfall |
|---|---|
| Boulder Creek | Roughly 50 inches |
| Santa Cruz (city) | About 30.8 inches |
Sources: Wikipedia, Felton, California; Wikipedia, Boulder Creek, California; Santa Cruz average rainfall by month.
What Redwoods Do to Windows, Gutters and Skylights
Redwoods shed all year, not just in fall.
Water-fed pole cleaning conservatory roof| What falls | Where it ends up | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Fine needles | Gutters, valleys in the roof, skylight edges | Packs into a dense mat that blocks downspouts |
| Small cones | Gutters and downspouts | Lodges in downspout elbows |
| Tannin-stained runoff | Windows, skylights, siding | Leaves brown streaks as it dries |
| Shade and moisture | Frames, sills and north-facing glass | Mildew and green film |
That’s why gutters under redwoods usually need cleaning more than once a year, and why we clean gutters and skylights before glass. If cleaning twice a year gets old, ask about gutter guards. A fine micro-mesh handles redwood needles better than coarse screens.
Mildew on Frames and Siding in the Valley
Shaded homes that stay damp after rain often grow black or green film on frames, sills and siding.
Wide spray washing house wall| Window frames and sills | Stucco and painted siding | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Hand wipe-down with a mild cleaner | Low-pressure soft wash |
| Pressure washing? | No | No; high pressure can damage stucco and paint |
| Done with windows? | Yes, every visit | Booked as soft washing |
See pressure and soft washing for siding, decks and walkways, and moss removal for roofs and paths.
Is the Water Hard in the San Lorenzo Valley?
It depends on the system. San Lorenzo Valley Water District’s 2022 water quality report lists average hardness of 108 ppm (range 52 to 460) for its main system and 218 ppm (range 110 to 290) for its Felton system. For water, ppm and mg/L are effectively the same.
| System | Average hardness | Classification at that average |
|---|---|---|
| SLVWD main system | 108 ppm | Moderately hard |
| SLVWD Felton system | 218 ppm | Very hard |
| Hardness (mg/L as calcium carbonate) | Classification |
|---|---|
| 0 to 60 | Soft |
| 61 to 120 | Moderately hard |
| 121 to 180 | Hard |
| Over 180 | Very hard |
Homes on private wells can be very different. If sprinkler-side windows have white rings, those are minerals from the water, and old rings may need hard water stain removal.
Sources: San Lorenzo Valley Water District 2022 water quality report; USGS, Water Hardness FAQ.
Long Driveways, Steep Lots and Tall Trees
Valley homes can be harder to reach. We plan for it.
Pressure washing house siding wandLong drives welcome
Distance doesn’t change how we quote. Access, height and job size do.
Steep lots
Ladders are set on stable, level footing; where that isn’t possible, we use a water-fed pole or tell you upfront.
Roof safety
We assess roof pitch and surface before going up, especially on damp, needle-covered roofs.
Skylight Cleaning Under the Trees
Skylights in the valley collect needles, tannin stains and mildew, and the room below gets darker each season.
| What’s on the skylight | What we do |
|---|---|
| Needles and leaves | Cleared by hand from the skylight and the surrounding roof |
| Brown tannin streaks | Washed off with a cleaning solution and rinsed |
| Green film or mildew | Cleaned off gently; we tell you if the surface is etched or crazed |
| Debris at the curb or flashing | Cleared so water drains away from the skylight |
We pair skylights with gutters so the roof is done in one trip. See skylight cleaning.
Why We Do the Roof First and the Glass Last
In the valley, roof work always sends debris down. The order matters.
Moss covered tile roof before cleaningGutters and roof valleys
Needles and debris cleared by hand, downspouts flushed, photos taken.
Skylights
Cleaned once the roof around them is clear.
Solar panels
Rinsed with deionized water and soft brushes.
Windows, frames and screens
Cleaned last, so nothing from the roof lands on clean glass.
Walkthrough and photos
Before and after photos of roof work you can’t see from the ground.
A Window Care Calendar for the San Lorenzo Valley
Built around average monthly rainfall for nearby Santa Cruz, about 30.8 inches a year, most of it from November through March.
| When | Average rain (Santa Cruz) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| October | 1.34 in | Gutters, skylights and windows before the storms |
| November to February | 3.27 to 6.47 in a month | Check gutters after big storms; inside glass on dry days |
| March and April | 4.06 and 1.97 in | Full window clean to remove winter streaks and spring pollen |
| May to September | 0.88 in or less a month | Solar panels and exterior glass; little rain, frequent morning fog near the coast |
Sources: Santa Cruz average rainfall by month.
Window Cleaning in the San Lorenzo Valley: FAQ
Do you clean windows in Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek?
Yes, along with Mount Hermon and homes up the side roads off Highway 9.
How often should San Lorenzo Valley gutters be cleaned?
At least twice a year: early fall before the storms, and again mid-winter, because needles keep falling.
Do you charge more for the San Lorenzo Valley?
Location doesn’t change how we quote. Access, height and the size of the job do.
Can you clean skylights stained by redwood needles?
Yes. We clean them from the roof and tell you upfront if the stain has etched the surface.
Is San Lorenzo Valley water hard?
It varies. San Lorenzo Valley Water District reported average hardness of 108 ppm for its main system and 218 ppm for its Felton system in 2022.
Do I need to be home for gutter or window work in the valley?
Not for gutters or exterior work. For interior windows, someone needs to let us in.
Does the San Lorenzo Valley get more rain than Santa Cruz?
Yes. Boulder Creek gets roughly 50 inches by published averages a year, compared with about 30.8 inches in the city of Santa Cruz.
Why are there brown streaks on my windows?
Usually runoff stained by redwood needles and debris. It comes off in a normal cleaning.
Do you clean mildew off window frames?
Yes. Frames and sills are wiped down by hand every visit. Siding is soft washed separately.
Is Felton water hard?
San Lorenzo Valley Water District reported an average of 218 ppm for its Felton system in 2022, which is very hard on the commonly used scale.
Can you work on steep or hard-to-reach lots?
Usually, yes. We set ladders on stable footing or use a water-fed pole, and we’ll tell you upfront if any window can’t be reached safely.
Do you clean gutters in Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond?
Yes, all through the San Lorenzo Valley, usually in early fall and again mid-winter under heavy redwood cover.
Why do you clean windows last?
Gutter, roof and skylight work knocks debris and dirty water down onto the glass. Cleaning windows last keeps them clean.
Do you serve Mount Hermon?
Yes, along with Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek and the side roads off Highway 9.
When should I book gutter cleaning in the valley?
Early fall, before the first storms. Under heavy redwood cover, book a second visit for mid-winter.
How do you keep fir needles out of gutters?
A fine micro-mesh gutter guard keeps out most needles. Coarse screens and foam inserts tend to trap them. Guards still need checking, because needles and fine debris can sit on top. Under heavy tree cover, we suggest a cleaning in early fall and again mid-winter.
How can I clean my gutters without climbing on the roof?
Have someone with the right setup do it. We clear gutters by hand using proper ladder setups and safe roof access, check that downspouts run, and bag and remove the debris. You get before and after photos the same day, so you can see the work without climbing a ladder.
Get a Free Window Cleaning Quote in the San Lorenzo Valley
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.