Living in Seattle has its perks — coffee on every corner, stunning mountain views, and no shortage of cozy, character-filled homes. But when it comes to keeping those homes clean, the PNW throws some curveballs that people in other cities just don’t deal with.
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Whether you’re in Ballard, Capitol Hill, or anywhere in between, here are five cleaning challenges almost every Seattle homeowner runs into — and a few ways to get ahead of them.
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1. Rain Means Mud, Mold, and Everything in Between

Let’s start with the obvious. It rains — a lot. And while we’re used to the drizzle, our floors and entryways often aren’t. Wet shoes track in dirt and moisture, which quickly turns into sticky floors and baseboard grime. Worse, those damp corners near windows or doors? Prime territory for mold. If you’ve ever noticed that musty smell, you’re not imagining it. A good entry mat helps, but keeping mold at bay means cleaning baseboards and wiping window frames more often than you’d think. (Yes, we do that.)
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2. Tree Pollen and Evergreen Dust = Sneaky Surface Build-Up

Seattle’s greenery is beautiful — but it also sheds. Homes surrounded by evergreens or nestled near parks like Green Lake or Seward Park tend to collect fine dust and pollen on sills, blinds, and pretty much any horizontal surface. It’s the kind of stuff you don’t always see until you run your finger across it… or start sneezing. Regular dusting helps, but most homeowners miss the places where it really piles up — like fan blades, windowsills, and baseboard edges. That’s where a deep clean makes all the difference.
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3. The Pet Hair Struggle Is Real

If you live in Seattle and don’t have a dog, are you even from here? Kidding — but really, most of our clients have a pup or two. And with dogs (or cats) comes fur… a lot of it. It floats, it clings, and somehow ends up in places you didn’t even know were accessible. Even with regular vacuuming, most people can’t keep up with the build-up in corners, under furniture, and around baseboards. A recurring clean helps stay ahead of the tumbleweeds (and keeps your home smelling fresh).
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4. Kitchens That Work Hard (and Get Greasy)

Seattle folks love to cook — and eat local — which often means more home-cooked meals and less takeout. That’s great, but all that cooking leads to serious buildup in the kitchen. Grease splatters, crumbs in hard-to-reach spots, sticky cabinet doors… it adds up. Wiping down counters helps, but it’s not enough. A good cleaner will get into the places you skip — under the microwave, behind the faucet, and around the oven knobs. Trust us, you’ll feel the difference.
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5. Big Windows = Big Dust Problems

So many modern homes and townhouses around Seattle have tall ceilings and giant windows. They let in great light, but also collect a ton of dust and fingerprints. And let’s be real: most of us aren’t climbing a ladder every weekend to clean them. Whether it’s a living room with 10-foot windows in West Seattle or a condo in South Lake Union with floor-to-ceiling glass, those hard-to-reach spots don’t stand a chance against everyday cleaning tools. That’s where having the right equipment (and a team who knows how to use it) comes in handy.
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Final Thought

Living in Seattle means adapting to the quirks of the Pacific Northwest — and cleaning your home is no exception. Whether it’s the constant dampness, all that pet hair, or just the realities of daily life in the city, Seattle homes require a little more TLC. That’s where we come in.

At Seattle Cleaning, we specialize in cleaning homes just like yours — city apartments, townhomes, and family houses with character. We know what to look for and how to get it done right, the first time.
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📍 Serving Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, and surrounding areas
📞 Text or call: 206-888-6959
🌐 Book online at: www.seattlecleaning.co

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