Window cleaning including frames and rebates 2026: what is included

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Two quotes for the same terraced house, twenty windows, and yet widely differing totals: this is almost never about the hourly rate, but about the scope of work. One quote covers the glass inside and out, the other additionally includes frames, rebates and window sills. Two services that in everyday language are both called „window cleaning” but differ significantly in the time required.

We are Kleibrink Glas- und Gebäudereinigung GmbH from Gladbeck, a family-run business since 1983. Glass is the part of the business with which everything began, and frames and rebates have always been the point at which quotes diverge. Most often this is a misunderstanding about the scope of work, not a pricing issue.

This guide shows what is actually done during a window cleaning: why the rebate is the real work, which five items need to be distinguished, which of these are typically included in the standard price and which are not, how domestic and commercial clients differ, and where DIY sensibly stops.

Why the rebate is the real work

The rebate is the continuous recess between the sash and the outer frame – the area you only see when the window is open. With the window closed it is invisible, and that is precisely why it is overlooked when cleaning. Everything the wind blows in collects there: sand, flower dust, pollen, flies, lint, and in winter condensation. After two or three years without cleaning, a dark, damp mass sits in the corners that can no longer be wiped away, only picked out.

This is not just a matter of appearance. The drainage holes are located in the lower outer frame, through which rainwater and condensation drain outwards. If they are blocked with sand and leaf debris, water pools in the rebate. With uPVC windows it can in the worst case seep past the inner sealing plane into the room; with timber windows it is drawn into the frame. A blocked drainage hole is the cheapest building damage you can prevent – and the reason why we briefly check with a brush or wire during every rebate cleaning.

Then there are the seals. The sand in the rebate acts like fine sandpaper on the rubber when the window is being closed; hardened or cracked seals cause draughts and fogged glass. Anyone who cleans the rebate once a year and then wipes the seal with a care product will noticeably extend its lifespan.

From a workmanship standpoint, the rebate is labour-intensive for one reason: it must be cleaned dry first. Starting with a damp cloth spreads the sand into a slurry and doubles the work. So we vacuum or brush it out first, then follow with a damp cloth and finish the corners with a narrow brush. A pane on both sides takes two to four minutes as a rule; the frame and rebate on a long-neglected window take just as long or longer. That is why the rebate appears as a separate line item in most quotes – not as a trick, but simply because it cannot be done with a squeegee.

Pane, frame, rebate, roller shutter housing, grille: the five line items

The table below is the core of this guide. For each line item it shows what is done, why it is often not included in the standard price, and how to spot it in a quote. Quotes rarely differ in the hourly rate; they differ in these five lines.

The following figures are market-standard reference points for the Ruhr area and do not constitute a quotation. Every property has its own particularities — access, height, condition and level of soiling can shift the price in either direction. The price becomes binding after the on-site visit. All amounts include VAT.

Give all providers the same list. Once three quotes address the same five line items, you are actually comparing prices – not interpretations of the same word.

Two line items warrant a note. We only open the roller shutter box if the client explicitly requests it and the box is visibly in good condition; an old belt tends to snap during handling precisely when someone is standing nearby. And insect screens that have not been removed for years are often stuck with hardened clips. We will let you know on site if we consider a component too brittle, rather than moving it on a hunch.

Residential and commercial clients are quoted differently

For residential clients, our window and glass cleaning starts at €85. This is not a per-square-metre rate; it reflects the fact that the call-out, set-up and pack-down costs are incurred regardless of the number of windows. A house with twenty standard windows will be considerably above that for glass cleaning alone, inside and out; add frames and window sills and you can expect 25 to 35 per cent more at market rates, while divided-light windows come in 40 to 60 per cent above plain glass. These are indicative figures for 2026, not fixed prices – we will quote a specific price once we have seen the windows.

For commercial clients, the calculation works differently. Here, the frequency matters: a practice, an office or a shop books glass cleaning several times a year, while frames and rebates are typically included once a year as an additional line item. Because the same call-out covers more work, the price per visit is lower than for a one-off clean. In premises with public footfall – for example in practice cleaning – door glass and windbreaks also need cleaning at shorter intervals, because hand contact rather than weather is the driver of soiling.

There is also a legal framework for businesses. Annex 1.6 of the Workplace Regulations requires that windows, skylights and translucent walls can be cleaned safely; this is why access equipment is a separate line item in commercial quotes. Landlords will find building cleaning – and with it the window cleaning of common areas – listed under recoverable service charges in § 2 No. 9 of the Operating Costs Ordinance, provided the tenancy agreement contains a valid apportionment clause. We are a cleaning company, not a law firm: these are practical pointers, not legal advice on individual cases.

How often glass, frames and rebates should be cleaned

For the glass, twice a year has proven to work well in a private household, usually in spring after the pollen season and in autumn. The frames should be cleaned at the same time, because freshly cleaned glass in dirty frames will show streaks again after the next rain: the dirt is simply washed from top to bottom over the pane.

The rebate does not need this frequency. Once a year is sufficient in a normal residential location – ideally in spring, when fallen leaves and winter debris are still in place. More frequent cleaning is worthwhile on busy roads, near construction sites or railway lines, and on properties with a lot of greenery right next to the building. Our service area extends from Gladbeck through Bottrop and Essen to Gelsenkirchen, and the difference between a quiet side street and a main traffic artery is clearly visible in the rebate after a year.

Insect screens are best done in autumn, once the season is over. Roller shutter boxes come up every few years, not annually. Those with ongoing property maintenance will sensibly include these items in the annual plan for regular cleaning anyway, rather than commissioning them individually.

Height: Osmosis water cleaning covers glass and frames, but not the rebate

From the first floor upwards, we predominantly use osmosis purified water technology: the mains water is demineralised and applied via a brush on a telescopic pole. Because no salts remain dissolved in the water, it dries without residue – no squeegeeing, no chemicals. From ground level, we can reach up to 18 metres this way. The brush also cleans the frame from the outside at the same time.

What osmosis technology cannot do is the rebate. For that, the window must be opened, and that is only possible from inside or from a safe external standing position. In practice, this means: in the upper floors, the rebate is cleaned from the inside, provided the sashes open inwards. With fixed glazing, outward-opening elements or glass roofs, it is either omitted or requires access equipment that must be included in the quotation. The same logic applies to conservatories: the roof is pure window cleaning, while the sliding elements have rebates that need to be considered separately.

DIY: what works well and where to draw the line

Ground-floor windows can be cleaned by yourself, including the rebate. The order is crucial: dry first, then wet. A vacuum cleaner with a crevice nozzle or a soft brush, followed by a microfibre cloth with clean water and at most a drop of washing-up liquid. Abrasive cream, blade scrapers on plastic and steel wool have no place on windows; they leave scratches that are permanent. We keep acidic cleaners away from the rubber seals; at the end, we check with a toothpick whether the drainage holes at the bottom are clear.

The limit is the ladder. A fall from a ladder quickly ends in a serious injury, and a clean window is not worth that risk. For businesses, this point is even regulated: the Technical Rule for Operational Safety TRBS 2121 Part 2 clearly limits the use of ladders as an elevated workplace, which is why professional window cleaning at height uses telescopic systems, boom lifts or facade access systems rather than a leaning ladder. Those looking for price ranges in detail will find them in the guide Window Cleaning Costs 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are frames and rebates automatically included in window cleaning?

No. The standard price for window cleaning almost always refers only to the glass surface, inside and out. Frames and window sills are typically calculated with a 25 to 35 per cent surcharge, and rebate cleaning is usually a separate line item with its own frequency. Make sure the words „frames” and „rebates” are explicitly mentioned in the quotation – otherwise they are not part of the order.

What exactly is the window rebate and why does it cost extra?

The rebate is the continuous recess between the sash and the frame, visible only when the window is open. That is where sand, pollen and insects accumulate, and where the drainage openings are located. It must first be vacuumed or brushed out dry and then wiped down with a damp cloth, corner by corner. On windows that have been neglected for a long time, this takes longer per element than the glass itself.

How much does window cleaning with frames and rebates cost in a private household?

Our window and glass cleaning in private households starts from 85 euros. A 25 to 35 per cent surcharge is typical for frames and window sills; windows with glazing bars are 40 to 60 per cent more than flat panes; rebate cleaning is calculated based on effort and condition. These are indicative values for 2026 – we will provide a firm price after inspecting the windows.

How often should the rebate be cleaned?

In a normal residential location, once a year is sufficient, preferably in spring. On heavily trafficked roads, near construction sites or railway lines, and where there is dense vegetation right next to the house, a six-monthly schedule is advisable. The panes themselves are typically cleaned twice a year in private households, with the frames included.

Do you also clean roller shutter boxes and insect screens?

On explicit request and as a named line item in the quotation, yes. For the roller shutter box, we clean the cover, guide rails and slats; we open the interior only by arrangement, as that is where the belt, winding shaft and sometimes electrical components are located. We remove insect screens, clean the mesh and reinsert them – if the frames are very old or brittle, we will let you know in advance.

Questions or a quote?

Tell us what you’d like included: glass, frame, rebate, roller shutter box, screens. We’ll inspect the windows and send you a written quotation with each item listed separately. Enquiries by phone or via the contact form on our homepage.

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