Typical Window Cleaning Job, What Is Your Standard? What Do Your Customers Expect?

Expectations vary from customer to customer. What is included in your standard service and what is extra can often be misconstrued. Do you wash the screens, or just brush them? Are the tracks part of the process? If so, how detailed do you get? What about the frames? Dewebbing? Hard water stain removal? These are just a few of the questions I am asked. 

Let me run through these right off the bat for any potential customers whom just want a quick answer. My standard residential cleaning includes brushing the screens, I brush, vacuum, and wipe the tracks, de-web and wipe the frames. Removal of non-organic materials such as paint, silicone, drywall plaster, stucco or hard water stains are an extra charge. 

I like to set up a screen cleaning station near the street to minimize standing water on a customer’s property.

I’ve found brushing the screens is sufficient most of the time. My service area ranges from Redlands, California to Palm Desert, California. This region is known for bright sunny weather, not so much for inclement conditions. I always include my terms in my quotes to avoid any misunderstandings. When a customer requests a full screen washing and sealing service, let them know it will be an additional $2.00 per screen. What is your policy?

These window tracks accumulated sand over many years .

When it comes to the window tracks, I always brush and vacuum all tracks. A good percentage of homeowners are actually more concerned with the tracks. That’s where most of the dirt collects. I include a basic wipe after vacuuming. If the customer wants me to get detailed on the tracks, I charge $3.00 per track. 

This window frame has stains from the stucco leaching lye and calcium.

I personally don’t charge extra for wiping the window frames. I feel that the window pane and window frame should be treated as one unit. They are the presentation pieces of a window. If the frames are covered with paint and tape residue, that would warrant a fee synonymous with the effort required. 

This is a prime example of stage 2 corrosion due to hard water stains and soap scum

Many times I get calls to remove hard water stains that a customer has failed to clean off. When I first started out, I would clean the windows and hand over the invoice, to which there would be an awkward misunderstanding. I would have to explain the hard water stain removal process. On a few occasions I would explain my dry cleaner’s analogy “If you bring a suit to the dry cleaner with mustard stains and chocolate, would you not expect to be charged extra to remove them?” Now I make sure to identify hard water stains and offer this add on service to avoid any confusion. 

I would love to hear from my fellow Window Cleaners, especially any that might be in the southwest region or even the Yucaipa or Indian Wells area. What are your thoughts? Your fees for any of these services?

Brandon Scott, Owner of ShinePro Window Cleaning