Window Cleaning at Vanderbilt Towers. Your view, restored.

Vanderbilt Towers is a condominium complex of three buildings close to Vanderbilt Beach, toward the southern end of Gulf Shore Drive; current listings carry addresses at 1, 3 and 5 Bluebill Avenue, Naples 34108. A realtor directory says the buildings went up between 1971 and 1973 and hold 264 residences, from 433 to 1,895 square feet under air. It describes enclosed lanais with views of the Gulf and the Vanderbilt lagoon, and lists a community pool, beach access, a marina and common boat dock, tennis courts, a library and a bike and jogging path. Pets are prohibited, and the directory notes that rentals follow strict rules that differ from one building to the next.

Quick facts for owners

• Three buildings; listings at 1, 3 and 5 Bluebill Avenue, Naples FL 34108
• Built between 1971 and 1973, per a realtor directory
• 264 residences in total, 433 to 1,895 sq ft under air
• Enclosed lanais looking toward the Gulf and the Vanderbilt lagoon
• Pool, beach access, marina and boat dock, tennis, library
• No pets; rental rules vary by building

Which building is yours

With three buildings on Bluebill Avenue, the street number matters as much as the unit number. Listings show homes at 1, 3 and 5 Bluebill. Give us both when you book, along with any notes on parking and check-in, and the crew will head to the right entrance instead of searching the property for your door.

Enclosed lanais

The directory says units here have enclosed lanais. An enclosed lanai often adds a second layer of glass between the living room and the view: the sliders into the home and the windows or panels that close in the lanai itself. We clean the glass we can reach from inside the home and from the lanai floor, so ask us to include the enclosure when you request a quote.

Lagoon air and beach salt together

With the lagoon close by and the beach a short way off, the glass here can see both kinds of grime. Damp air off the water leaves a soft film that dries cloudy, and on breezy days a little salt rides in from the Gulf as well. We rinse first to lift both, then squeegee and dry the edges so no faint ring is left around the frame.

From 433 to 1,895 square feet

Homes in this complex vary widely in size, from compact units of a few hundred square feet to larger plans close to 1,900. Current listings even include combined units, such as 305 + 405 and 702 + 802. Because the range is so wide, we quote each home on its own. Send the unit number and a count of windows, or a few photos.

Rentals that follow building rules

The directory says owners may rent within strict rules that differ by building. Whatever your building allows, the gap between one renter and the next is a good moment for a cleaning. We can book a visit right after move-out so the glass, tracks and sills are ready before the next guest or before you return yourself.

No pets, but plenty of hands

Pets are prohibited, so the low nose prints common in many towers are not an issue here. Lower panes still pick up handprints, sunscreen and splashes, especially near the slider handle and around the lanai door. We give the lower part of each slider extra attention and wipe the handles and frames along with the glass.

Glass in buildings from the early 1970s

The three buildings date from 1971 to 1973. In a complex this age, one home may still have older sliders while the next has had its windows replaced, so frames and seals can differ from unit to unit. We clean each unit as we find it, use gentle tools on older hardware, and mention anything that may need a closer look by a glazing company.

Before the listing photos

Listings shown in the directory right now run from a 433-square-foot unit to a combined home of 1,133 square feet. A water view through the lanai is often the photo buyers notice first, and haze or streaks show up clearly in pictures. A cleaning a day or two before the photographer, and a quick touch-up before showings, helps the view come through.

Our Vanderbilt Towers checklist

All interior windows and sliders; the outside of the lanai sliders and enclosure glass we can reach from the lanai; railing glass within safe reach; tracks vacuumed and wiped; sills and frames dried; screens if you ask. Glass on the outside of the buildings that needs rope access or a swing stage is left to the association’s contractor.