Window cleaning in Munich

What determines the effort

The most common misjudgement concerns the count. “Twenty windows” says little for planning, because what gets cleaned is sashes, not windows: a two-sash window with a transom is three working units. Add pane size, the type of glazing bars, the floor, the frame material and whether the outside can be reached at all. A floor-to-ceiling unit with one sash is done in minutes; an equally wide window with glazing bars takes several times as long.

Glazing bars are where the time required diverges most, and there are three types. Bars sealed inside the cavity between the panes create no extra work. Applied bars are glued onto the glass and add two extra edges per strip where the squeegee has to be set down. True divided bars mean many small individual panes, each with its own rebate all round. Tell us with your enquiry which type you have.

Rebate and frame

The rebate takes more time than most people expect. It collects sand, pollen and insect remains, and on windows facing a road a fine, greasy film from brake and tyre dust as well. Wipe over it with a wet cloth and it turns to sludge that settles precisely in the corners. So we vacuum the rebate dry first and wipe it out afterwards, including the drainage holes through which condensation and rainwater run off.

The frame material determines the product. White plastic frames tolerate neither cream cleansers nor abrasive pads: the micro-scratches are invisible at first, but they then hold every particle of dirt, so the frame looks grey again sooner. Powder-coated aluminium reacts badly to alkaline cleaners. Painted and oiled wood does not tolerate standing moisture in the lower corners. Rubber seals we clean with water only, because solvent-based products make them brittle over the years.

The outer face

What can be reached from outside is decided by the sash, not by the storey. A tilt-and-turn sash swings into the room, which makes the outer face accessible on any floor. A large fixed panel beside a balcony door does not swing – and there even the ground floor changes nothing about the fact that the outer face can only be reached from outside. We look at the construction before we quote a price.

The weather has a say in the result. On a pane warmed by the sun the water dries before the squeegee reaches the bottom, and the streaks can then only be fixed by re-wetting the whole surface. In frost, water freezes on the seal and in the drainage holes. Light rain, by contrast, barely matters. We therefore schedule outside work for overcast days or for the time of day when that elevation is in shade.

Applicator and squeegee

We work with an applicator and a squeegee rather than a spray bottle and paper towel. This is not a matter of style: the applicator loosens the film, the rubber blade lifts it off in one pass, and only the edges are finished with a cloth. Spray cleaner and paper spread the film instead of removing it and leave exactly the streaks in backlight that make many people hand the job over. For products we use professional ranges, for example from Dr. Schnell.

When the pane stays cloudy

A cloudy pane almost always has a history: cement-laden water that ran across the glass after building work, or an irrigation system hitting the same spot for years. Both attack the surface itself, and what has been attacked does not become smooth again through cleaning. That is why we look at panes like these before we schedule an appointment for them – an appointment that cannot remove the cloudiness is wasted time on both sides.

Preparation and interval

Anything cleared before the appointment saves working time directly. Sills full of plants and ornaments, furniture placed tight against the window wall and heavy curtains cost one to two minutes per window, which adds up considerably across a flat. In offices and shops we ask that blinds be raised and product displays moved out of the shop-window area beforehand.

How often cleaning makes sense depends on the location, not the calendar. Windows facing a main road or near a building site are visibly coated after eight weeks; a quiet courtyard on the third floor lasts half a year. West elevations catch more dust-laden rain, north elevations tend to develop green film. After the first visit we suggest an interval that matches your situation instead of agreeing a standard gap.