What’s Included in a Standard Window Cleaning Visit?
A standard visit covers the glass, the frame, and a quick wipe of the sill on every window. This applies inside, outside, or both, depending on what you booked. Screens usually get a basic rinse too. Deeper work like scrubbing hardened tracks or removing heavy hard water spots is often a separate add on, not part of the base price.
Knowing this ahead of time makes it easier to compare quotes fairly. Two companies can list very different things under the same price.
What’s Typically Included
- Exterior glass cleaning, top to bottom
- Interior glass cleaning, if booked
- A wipe down of the frame and visible sill area
- A basic rinse of window screens
- A final walkthrough to check for missed spots
What’s Usually a Separate Add On
- Deep cleaning inside window tracks, where dirt and dead insects collect
- Hard water or salt stain removal on badly etched glass
- Interior blinds or shutter cleaning
- Skylight cleaning, especially on steep or hard to reach rooflines
- Specialty access for very high windows or hillside lots
Included Versus Add On at a Glance
| Task | Usually Included | Usually an Add On |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior glass | ✓ | |
| Interior glass | ✓ if booked | |
| Frame wipe down | ✓ | |
| Basic screen rinse | ✓ | |
| Deep track cleaning | ✓ | |
| Hard water removal | ✓ | |
| Blinds and shutters | ✓ | |
| Skylight access | ✓ |
How the Cleaning Itself Works
Most professional visits follow the same basic order. First comes a short inspection. The crew counts windows, checks height, and flags problem areas like heavy salt film. Next is the actual cleaning. Reachable windows are usually done with a squeegee and purified water. Anything above the first floor often calls for a water fed pole instead.
Purified water has none of the minerals found in regular tap water. It dries without leaving spots behind. That is a big part of why professional results tend to hold up better than a garden hose and a rag.
After the glass is done, a technician wipes down the frame and sill. Then comes a final walkthrough with you before the crew leaves. This last step matters more than it sounds. Catching a missed spot while the crew is still there beats trying to explain it over the phone later.
Why This Matters More Near the Coast
Homes close to the ocean often need a closer look during that final walkthrough. Salt film can look clean from a distance but still show faint haze up close. This is especially true on windows facing the water directly. A home near Pier Bowl or along the bluffs above North Beach may need extra attention on west facing glass. A home a few miles inland near Camino De Estrella usually will not.
This is also why asking what is included matters so much here. A quote that looks cheaper on paper may skip the track cleaning or hard water treatment a salt exposed home actually needs. That turns a good deal into a second phone call a few weeks later.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
- Does the price include both interior and exterior glass, or just one side
- Is a basic screen rinse part of the visit or a separate charge
- What is the process for hard water or salt film removal if needed
- Is there an extra charge for skylights or unusually high windows
- What happens if a spot is missed during the final walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
Are window screens always cleaned during a standard visit?
Most companies include a basic rinse as part of the visit. A deeper clean that removes and washes each screen separately is often a paid add on.
Why do some quotes seem much cheaper than others?
The price usually reflects what is included. A lower quote may cover only the glass. A higher one may include tracks, sills, and screens as part of the base service.
Do I need to be home during the cleaning?
Not usually for exterior only visits. Many homeowners still prefer to be present for the final walkthrough so they can point out specific concerns.
Want to Know Exactly What You’re Getting?
ClearCraft Window Cleaning gives you a clear breakdown of what’s included before we start, no surprises on the invoice.