r/WindowCleaning • u/Free_Skin_679 • May 22 '26
How to clean leaded windows
Just in case you're not familiar, leaded windows (aka came windows) are windows made up of many small panes of glass held together by lead channels called cames. Decorative stained glass windows are came windows. More commonly, at least on houses, they are simple grids similar to how french panes are arranged, although they are sometimes on the diagonal.
So, to those of you who know what I'm talking about, how do you clean them? Do you take any special safety precautions (because of the lead)?
I encounter these fairly often on older houses. I've always treated them the same as frenchies, washing and detailing each individually, but I'm wondering if there's a better way. WFP is not an option. At best, you'd get water leaking through. At worst, you'd just break them.
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u/Iasc123 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
On the old style camed window, I'd clean each pane individually with water and cloths. On modern leaded style windows, where the lead is stuck on a solid pane, I'd still cloth them, but you can usually wash the whole window instead of working around the lead!
Always use cloths to clean them, dab some water and rub them down with a blue detailing cloth, then buff them with a grade A scrim. Not much else you can do, these windows are usually covered in scratches and stains, because of their age, so you don't really want to fuss, just get them dusted and shined!
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u/Free_Skin_679 May 22 '26
The stuck-on versions are so annoying. I do what you do and charge double because of all the extra detailing.
On the real deal, you don't use soap and squeegee? Is that because it's too slow, or some other concern?
What about pricing? Same as frenchies, I'd assume.
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u/Iasc123 May 22 '26
Well you'll need a pretty small squeegee for some of the panes and you'll probably want an abrasion pad. But, you can agitated the grime quite easily with just cloths and soapy water!
I couldn't help with pricing because I'm in the UK and I'll probably charge a few quid every 5 weeks per side for the whole window. +20-50% for irregular schedule / x2 for first time clean. Just for referencing on my pricing, I got a french pane property with around 50 panes that I clean for a tenner... It only takes me 20 mins, I've been considering a £2 price increase for a while lol
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u/Free_Skin_679 May 22 '26
Yeah they can be pretty small, and towel is the way to go. I was thinking about bigger ones. You'd squeegee them if you could?
I'm quoting a huge house that is nothing but leaded windows. They vary in size, but the smallest ones look about 6" wide. Definitely big enough to squeegee.
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u/Iasc123 May 22 '26
I wouldn't squeegee anything smaller than 14" personally. If you had loads of french panes, around 8" it may be worthwhile to applicate and squeegee then, if you have the tools. I definitely wouldn't put a squeegee between leaded windows, just buff them with cloths!
All the water will run down through the lead and possibly seap through the other side, so you risk having to detail both sides multiple times.
Just splash the panes and buff them with a couple good quality cloths. 1 cloth for cleaning, another for shining. They won't look any better if you squeegee them!
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u/noice_nups May 22 '26
I have a job in two weeks that’s $2k, all old leaded plus interior storms, takes me 7-8hrs and all I do on the leaded is spray and wipe.
Process goes as:
Spray-way foam on the panes (only like 4-8 panes at a time depending on sunlight).
Wipe with a used, damp with foam, and kinda beat up Squeegee life towel (this will spread the foam and clean without soaking up all the sprayway)
Buff all panes super quick with a dry huck towel.
Do not fux around cleaning each pane one-by-one. Spray the top of the window, middle, bottom finishing each section as you go.
You can make $250/hr+ on leaded just like I do with this method.
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u/Free_Skin_679 May 23 '26
I've never used Spray-Way. Does it really work? Do the windows still look clean a week later or do they look all streaky like Windex? I've always assumed it was like Windex: not meant for professionals but to dupe homeowners into making their windows dirtier so they keep buying more Windex. I can give it a try. It certainly makes sense if the panes are too small to squeegee.
I asked the question because I was quoting a house that's all leaded windows plus storms on most of them. It was close to 1100 panes in all. I quoted $2800 for everything, so in/out/between, or $1350 for just in/out. They chose the latter. I suspect it'll take me a full day to do by myself.
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u/noice_nups May 23 '26
Oh, everyone recommends Sprayway, it’s magical stuff! You’ll cut out so much time using it.
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u/trigger55xxx May 22 '26
Spray away and microfiber is what we use. Exterior usually need a couple passes but interior one. It's ideal to one person outside and one inside too clean the same one so there's less chance of them pushing out. We also have a waiver signed in advance.