Why Clean Windows?
The obvious reasons are:
Better View
Heat Efficiency
Professional Business Image
Beyond the obvious reasons, the most important reason for glass maintenance is to avoid glass degradation. Glass will, over time, become permeated with a variety of contaminants:
Hard Minerals (from sprinkler systems and building run-off)
Oxidization (from windows encased in metal frames and screens)
Acid Rain
Sea Spray
Over spray (from paint, chalking, mortar and more)
In most cases item #1, Hard Mineral or hard water is the biggest threat to most home and business owners .The need for basic glass restoration can be avoided with regular cleaning to exterior window glass surfaces.
I recommend no less than four cleanings per year but it stands to reason the more, the better a regular clean keeps the glass in tip top condition.
Understanding glass:
Glass is porous. A cross-section of a sheet of glass reveals peaks and valleys.
Glass is a liquid that continues to harden over time.
Because glass is porous, it's easy to understand how it's transparent look can quickly become obstructed with airborne pollutants.
Also, it's easy to understand why hard water (rain water runs over prefabricated surface i.e... wood stain, painted siding, concrete sealant and deposits minerals and acids from those substances into pores of glass as rain water flows down window glass surface) can damage glass if not maintained on a regular basis.
If you're a home or business owner, I'm sure you can appreciate the necessity of protecting your glass investment. Glass left UN-maintained over long periods of time may result in permanent damage. Phase two corrosion is the point where the glass's molecular structure has been altered.
Then to get a clear view we are talking about replacement glass with all the hassle of getting it changed much easier and cheaper to get them cleaned!!