Frequently Asked Questions
Get to know your window cleaners better!
Your friendly Gwyndow’s window cleaners have compiled this
list of the most frequently asked questions and their respective answers.
Please feel free to browse through this list. We also encourage you to
submit a question through our contact page or ask us in person when
we come by your home!
- Do I have to be home when you come give me an estimate?
- Can your window cleaners reach the upstairs windows?
- How will the window cleaners protect my carpets and my belongings?
- Do I have to move my furniture before you arrive?
- How long would I have to wait for your window cleaners to arrive at my home? Should to take a day off on the day my appointment is scheduled?
- I love my pet(s), do I have to crate or put my pet away while I have my windows cleaned?
- What all is included in the estimate/bid price?
- How does Gwyndow’s take payments?
- Does someone have to be home when you come to clean my windows?
- What is the difference between a divided light window (french) and a regular window?
- What is a breached window? What can I do about my breached window?
- What would happen to my appointment if it rains, or if it looks like it might rain?
- “Gwyndow’s… So is there a Gwyn on your crew? Which one of you is Gwyn?”
Do I have to be home when you come give me an estimate?
No, you do not have to be home when we come by your home to give you an estimate.
When we place an initial bid on your home, we take a walk around the outside of your home, and base our bid on the number of windows on the outside of your home. We only ask that you please make sure your backyard is accessible and that you let us know if you have any pets.
Can your window cleaners reach the upstairs windows?
If your house is no more than 2.5 stories high, Yes we can reach your upstairs windows.
The window cleaners that arrive at your home will have the necessary tools and ladders to access windows up to 25 feet high. There are few exceptions as to windows we cannot reach, however we will always let you know beforehand and we will do everything we can to access all windows.
How will the window cleaners protect my carpets and my belongings?
Our window cleaners have several ways of protecting their surroundings in your home.
To protect your flooring:
- We either wear protective disposable “booties” that cover our shoes or we take our shoes off when entering your home.
- We make sure our ladders and equipment are clean prior to entering your home.
- We will also spot check the areas we have been to make sure we have not left anything behind.
To protect your belongings:
- Our window cleaners use a minimal amount of water while inside your home; this helps us prevent splashing water inside your home.
- All our window cleaners carry a large beach towel that is set out on the floor, over desks, or other furniture in order to prevent any stray drops of water from getting onto your belongings.
- Our section ladders have bonnets which keep the walls surrounding high interior windows from being scratched or dented.
- We take care when moving furniture, or belongings from in front of windows. See the question about moving furniture.
Along with having all the right equipment, Gwyndow’s Window Cleaners go through a thurough training period that lasts anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. During this time we focus and emphesize the importance of safety, worksite care, and customer service.
Do I have to move my furniture before you arrive?
No, you do not have to move all furniture surrounding your windows prior to our arrival.
While moving the furniture away from the area surrounding the windows would allow for our window cleaners to move faster with in your home, it is not a necessary precaution. We only ask that you move any knit knacks or valuables fron in front of the windows. If there is a special piece or if you would be more comfortable moving your furniture, you are more than welcome to do so. We are usually able to maneuver around most pieces of furniture. In the case that there is something in the way, we carefully move the piece always making sure to place it back once we are done. We take great pride in being able to leave your environment the way it was before we arrived, with the exception of clean windows!
Should to take a day off on the day my appointment is scheduled?
When you schedule your appointment with us, we are able to give a small arrival window. The small window of arrival (between 1-2 hrs) allows you make additional plans for the day of your appointment.
Part of why Gwyndows offers some of the best customer service in the industry includes our timeliness! If we are running more than 5 minutes late, we make sure to call well ahead of time.
We will also call if we are running ahead of schedule to see if you would like an earlier arrival time.
I love my pet(s), do I have to crate or put my pet away while I have my windows cleaned?
No! Not at all!
Because we all have pets of our own, we understand if you would feel more comfortable crating or placing your pet in a secluded area during our visit.
However, we love all pets and often tend to pet and play around with them. Each of the crew members owns at least one dog and/or cat, and we all want to add on ferrets, lizards, birds, pigglets, and countless other critters to our collections. We have absolutely no problem with curious cats, excited dogs, and all those pets that do a great job of helping us clean the windows!
What all is included in the estimate/bid price?
Our initial written estimate given include:
- A detailed window count
- A detailed screen count (if any)
- Wiping the window tracks (the area usually covered by a closed window which becomes exposed at the opening of a window
- Scrubbing the screens
- A price for cleaning the inside and outside of the windows, and also outside only
We’re also happy to do an estimate for a partial window cleaning, such as, inside and outside of the upstairs and only outside of the downstairs.
Keep in mind taxes will be applied to the final estimate amount.
How can I pay my Gwyndows bill?
There are several ways to pay your bill:
- You can pay our window cleaners while they are at your residence in either cash, or check.
- You can also mail in a check made payable to: Gwyndows Window Cleaning to the following mailing address:2900 W ANDERSON LN
SUITE C-200-350
AUSTIN, TX 78757 - You can also pay by Credit Card or direct debit through our website via PayPal. Simply click on “Pay My Bill” fill out the form and click the Pay Now button.
Does someone have to be home when you come to clean my windows?
Not necessarily
If you would like an inside and outside service or have screens that can only be removed from the inside of your home we do have to have access to the inside of your residence. If you’re comfortable with us being there without you, you are welcome to leave a key, garage code, or a door unlocked with instructions to lock up.
If you would like an outside service, you do not have to be home. We simply ask that you make sure we have access to the entire perimeter of your home.
Because we offer various forms of payment, if you are not home while we are cleaning your windows you can always mail in a check, or pay your bill online through the “Pay My Bill” page on our website.
What is a divided light (french) window?
A divided light window typically has solid metal or plastic dividers that physically divide a window into more than 2 panes.
There are also “faux french” or internal dividers on windows, which give windows the same appearance as a typical divided light window, however the pane is not physically divided into various panes by the dividers. These dividers are placed on the very inside of a double paned window.
If you are not sure which kind of window you have, go to one of the windows in question and place a finger on your window, then run your finger over one of the visible frames on the window. If you can feel the divider, then you have french windows. If you do not feel the divider and you are able to run your finger smoothly throughout the entire window, then your windows are faux french.
Why is this important? Due to the physical dividers present in french windows, these take more time for us to clean and detail, and consequently, they are priced at a higher rate for window cleaning than regular or faux french windows.
These are different types of french and faux french windows.
What is a breached window? What can I do about my breached window?
A breached window typically looks like it is constantly foggy, or has some splatter-like pattern, however the splatter or marks on the window are in between two panes within a double paned window.
Windows can become breached if there was a problem during manufacturing in which some moisture was trapped between the panes, or if the seal placed during manufacturing was faulty and allowed moisture to build up after installation.
Windows can also become breached with changing foundation and temperatures, as well as general weathering of the protective seal around your window. These changes can often allow mold, bacteria and/or moisture in therefore creating the patterns, and at times foggy appearance of the window.
In order to fix a breached window, you could have the window panes replaced, or removed then cleaned. Some of our customers prefer to simply replace the entire window, and others rather simply place a decorative pattern over the window. The effect of a breached window is purely in its appearance, it doesn’t detract from the efficiency of the window.
Ask us for recommendations on replacing windows when you are ready to get them fixed.
What would happen to my appointment if it rains, or if it looks like it might rain?
Although we strive to make every appointment for window cleaning, sometimes the weather does not cooperate. In the event of inclement weather, Gwyndows prides itself on rescheduling your window cleaning to meet your needs. If you’re scheduled for a window cleaning, and it is unsafe for us to work due to weather, we will call you to reschedule your appointment. If you don’t hear from us, then it is safe to assume we will be able to complete your window cleaning. However, if at any time you’d like to reschedule because of inclement weather, just give us a call, and we’re happy to oblige.
Luckily, thanks to beautiful Austin, the inclement weather days are few and far between.
“Gwyndows… So is there a Gwyn on your crew? Which one of you is Gwyn?”
Yes! There is a Gwyn!
Gwyn was the original founder and owner of Gwyndows Window Cleaning. In 2009 Gwyn sold Gwyndows to Robin, her long time crew member, which then allowed her to pursue a life as a Buddhist Nun.
You can click here read an article about Gwyn.
