Routine window cleaning
Windows, glazed bays, glass partitions and shop windows, inside and out, including frames and sills. At regular intervals, it is often built into a maintenance contract.
Cleaning & maintenance
Window, shop front and facade cleaning: find your supplier
From a shop window to an office block facade: describe the height, areas and access, then compare quotes from companies equipped for work at height.
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Clean windows and facades maintain a site’s image, but also its comfort: natural light, shop window visibility, the lifespan of materials. Window and facade cleaning is a trade in its own right: it combines washing techniques, knowledge of surfaces (glass, aluminium, stone, render, cladding) and, above all, mastery of work at height.
The first question is always access. A ground-floor shop window is washed from the ground, but a glazed roof or a multi-storey facade calls for a water-fed pole, a cherry picker, scaffolding, a suspended cradle or a team of rope-access technicians. The choice depends on height, surface, environment (pavement, public road, roof) and the level of risk, which the company must assess before starting work.
This page helps you describe your site, compare equivalent offers and ask the right questions about safety and permits. For restoring a facade (render, paint, cracks), see renovation and fit-out of premises; to structure your needs, use the specification generator. The other maintenance trades are gathered on the page on cleaning and maintenance of business premises.
Common services
Water-fed pole
A telescopic pole fed with purified water cleans windows from the ground, without a ladder, the water drying without leaving marks. It suits several storeys, depending on equipment and access.
Cherry picker or aerial work platform
A platform makes it possible to clean glazing, cladding and signs at height, with a trained and authorised operator, on a zone accessible to machinery.
Rope access
When no machine can reach, rope-access technicians work suspended on two independent ropes, with checked anchor points, after a risk assessment.
Facade cleaning
Low- or high-pressure washing, steam, moss removal and algae treatment, depending on the render, stone or cladding. The method is chosen after a test.
Graffiti removal
Removal of graffiti and tags using methods suited to the surface, sometimes followed by an anti-graffiti coating.
Post-construction window cleaning
Cleaning glazing after building work: traces of cement, paint, silicone, protective films, with tools that will not scratch the glass.
Solar panels and glazed roofs
Cleaning of photovoltaic panels, glazed roofs and roof lights, following the manufacturer’s recommendations and without walking on fragile surfaces.
Equipment and products
Telescopic poles and water purification systemsSqueegees, washers, microfibre cloths and suitable brushesCherry pickers and mobile platformsMobile or fixed scaffolding, depending on heightSuspended cradles and rope-access equipmentHigh- and low-pressure washers, steam cleanersMoss-removal and degreasing products and graffiti removersFall-protection equipment and barriers for the work zone
Clients and types of site
- Shops, shop windows and shopping centres
- Office buildings and company head offices
- Residential blocks managed by a managing agent
- Hotels, residences and accommodation businesses
- Educational and healthcare establishments
- Industrial sites, warehouses and glazed cladding
- Car dealerships, showrooms and glazed roofs
- Buildings after building work or facade renovation
What affects the price
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1
Glazed area and number of panes
Time spent depends on the number of windows, their size, the number of sides and the extras: frames, sills, blinds, shutters. An accurate survey avoids estimated quotes.
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2
Height and means of access
From the ground, by pole, by cherry picker, on scaffolding or on ropes: the heavier the method, the more set-up, equipment and teams weigh on the price.
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3
Soiling and type of surface
A first clean after several years, construction marks, algae or tags take more time and sometimes specific products. Fragile surfaces call for tests.
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4
Frequency of visits
Regular visits make planning easier and limit build-up of dirt, and so the time spent on each visit.
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5
Permits and site conditions
Use of the pavement or road, barriers, roof access or anchor points, wind and weather: these constraints add time and sometimes cost.
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6
Safety and insurance
Protection, training, equipment checks and insurance suited to work at height are part of the price and should not be sacrificed to the rate.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- State the number of panes (or the area), the floors concerned and whether cleaning is inside, outside or both.
- Describe access: ground floor, terrace, roof, inner courtyard, pavement or public road, presence of a lift.
- Attach photos of the facade and glazing, flagging fragile elements (laminated glass, coated glazing, cladding, signs).
- Specify the frequency you want and the periods to avoid (sales, events, facade works in progress).
- Ask for the proposed method (pole, cherry picker, ropes) and proof of training and insurance.
- Agree who applies for permits to use public land and who provides the barriers.
Water-fed pole, cherry picker or rope access: which access for which facade?
The means of access determines safety, lead time and price. A single building often combines several methods: pole for floors reachable from the ground, cherry picker for higher glazed sections, ropes as a last resort. Here are the main reference points:
| Means of access | Suited to | To check |
|---|---|---|
| Water-fed pole | Glazing reachable from the ground, over several storeys | Reach of the equipment, ground access |
| Cherry picker | Clear facades, high shop windows, cladding | Ground stability, footprint on the road, operator training |
| Scaffolding | Long or large-scale jobs | Erection time and cost, compliance of the erection |
| Suspended cradle | Tall buildings fitted with a facade access system | Installation in place, site rules |
| Rope access | Areas machines cannot reach | Risk assessment, training, anchor points |
When several methods are possible, ask the company to justify its choice. The method that avoids working suspended is often the safest, and regulations in fact favour collective protection.
Work at height: safety, training and permits
Work at height is one of the trade’s major risks. The French labour code (Code du travail) gives priority to collective protection (scaffolding, platforms with guard rails) and allows rope access only where the risk assessment justifies it. Before starting, the company must have assessed the risks, trained its staff and checked its equipment.
- Cherry pickers and platforms: the operator must be trained and authorised to operate by their employer, often on the basis of a CACES certificate (French equipment operator licence; category R486 for mobile elevating work platforms).
- Rope access: specific training, two independent ropes (working and safety), checked anchor points and a planned rescue arrangement.
- Use of public land: setting up a platform, scaffolding or barriers on the pavement or carriageway requires authorisation from the local authority or road manager. Agree who applies.
- Prevention plan: when the company works on a business site, a joint inspection of the premises and a joint risk analysis come before the job.
- Weather: strong wind, rain or frost may force a postponement; provide for it in the contract.
Matching the method to the surface: glazing, facades and frequency
Not all glazing is treated in the same way. Coated glazing (solar control, self-cleaning) and treated glass must avoid abrasive products and aggressive blades: ask for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Photovoltaic panels and glazed roofs require specific precautions, because you do not walk on a glazed roof without suitable protection.
For facades, the method depends on the surface: stone, brick, render, concrete, metal or timber cladding. Badly set high pressure damages render or blows out joints; hydro-gommage and aero-gommage (abrasive blasting) remove material along with the dirt; steam and moss treatment are less aggressive. Insist on a test on a small area before the job. If the facade needs restoring, that is building work: see renovation and fit-out.
As for frequency, a shop window is often washed weekly or fortnightly, office windows a few times a year, a facade depending on pollution and environment. These are reference points to adjust on site. For regular interior cleaning, see office cleaning. To get quotes, post your request or browse the window and facade cleaning suppliers.
Open requests: window & façade cleaning
Suppliers: window & façade cleaning
Verified business
tap to clean pro
Située à Saint-Féliu-d’Avall, dans les Pyrénées-Orientales, Tap to Clean accompagne les professionnels dans l'entretien et la propreté de l…
Office cleaningWindow & façade cleaning
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MFN NETTOYAGE
MFN NETTOYAGE est une société spécialisée dans le nettoyage professionnel, proposant des prestations pour les bureaux, les logements, les p…
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Bv nettoyage
Je vous propose mes services de menage pour particuliers et professionnels. J'utilise seulement des produits respectueux de l'environnement.
Office cleaningHousekeepingWindow & façade cleaning
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ÉclatNet Services
ÉclatNet Services, entreprise de nettoyage basée à Villemomble (93). Entretien régulier de bureaux, locaux professionnels et parties commun…
Office cleaningWindow & façade cleaning
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YCA PROPRETE ET SERVICES
Professional supplier registered on Meaflow.
Office cleaningIndustrial cleaningWindow & façade cleaning
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MAHAMADOU TRAORE (LUXE PROPRETE)
Présentation de Luxe Propreté Luxe Propreté est une entreprise spécialisée dans le nettoyage haut de gamme, dédiée à offrir des prestation…
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Related expertise
Office cleaning
Regular cleaning of offices, shops and business premises
Industrial cleaning
Workshops, machines, warehouses, high-pressure cleaning
Grounds maintenance
Mowing, pruning, upkeep and landscaping of green spaces
Premises refurbishment
Refurbishment and fit-out of offices, shops and workshops
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
How is the price of window cleaning calculated?
It depends on the number and size of the panes, the number of sides, the height and means of access, the level of soiling and the frequency. Work at height with a cherry picker or ropes costs more than cleaning from the ground. To compare, request quotes based on the same brief, ideally after a site visit.
What is a water-fed pole?
It is a telescopic pole fed with purified water and fitted with a brush. The water, stripped of minerals, dries without leaving marks, which avoids the need for a squeegee. It lets you clean high windows from the ground, within the reach of the equipment and the accessibility of the facade.
Is a permit needed to set up a cherry picker on the pavement?
Yes, use of the pavement or carriageway is subject to authorisation from the local authority or road manager, with suitable barriers. Agree with the supplier who submits the application and within what timescale, as processing can take time. The company must also secure the area for pedestrians and vehicles.
Can rope-access technicians clean facades?
Yes, but it is a regulated means of access: the French labour code gives priority to collective protection and allows ropes only where the risk assessment justifies it. Staff must be specifically trained, use two independent ropes and checked anchor points, with a rescue arrangement. Ask for proof of training and insurance.
How often should shop windows and facades be cleaned?
It depends on exposure. A shop window is often washed weekly or fortnightly, office windows several times a year, and a facade when soiling (pollution, algae, moss) becomes visible. These are reference points to adapt to your site: a supplier can propose an annual schedule after a visit.
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