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The Difference Between Domestic and Commercial Window Cleaning

On paper, window cleaning is window cleaning. A cloth, a pole, a bucket of water.

But in reality, the difference between domestic and commercial work is vast—especially when it comes to older, characterful homes in Oxfordshire villages.

And if you’ve ever been left disappointed by a rushed job or careless hands, you’ve likely experienced what happens when commercial habits are brought into domestic spaces.

Commercial Work Is Built for Speed

Commercial window cleaners operate for volume. Schools, office blocks, shopfronts—get in, get round, get done.

They tend to rely on:

• High-reach poles with no frame contact
• Pure water systems applied quickly, often from the ground
• Fixed-price rounds with strict timing
• Uniform methods for every building, regardless of age or material

That works in cities. In purpose-built developments. On buildings with flat glass and plastic frames.

But it’s not what’s needed in Leafield, South Hinksey, or Begbroke, where every pane is different, and every frame has a story.

Domestic Work Is Personal, Especially in Villages

True domestic window cleaning is slower and more specific. It’s shaped around the home, the client, and the materials.

At Garden & Glass, that means:

• Ladder work where needed—not avoided
• Leaded glass cleaned by hand
• Timber frames wiped and dried
• Sills inspected, not ignored

We use pure water where appropriate, but never as a default. And we adjust our method for each home—not each postcode.

More on our heritage-safe method: Cleaning Leaded Windows Without Damaging the Frames

One Is Roster-Based, the Other Relationship-Based

Commercial cleaners work on strict slots. There’s no time for conversation, no notes on specific needs, and no adaptation over time.

In contrast, domestic window care in Oxfordshire villages is about rhythm. Familiar faces. Quiet trust.

We remember which gate sticks. We avoid the flowerbed near the boot room. We dry the glass above the Aga-facing window because you always notice that one.

In Chipping Norton or Watlington, this is what clients expect—and value.

Commercial Glass Is Built to Be Cleaned Roughly

One key difference: commercial glass is usually thick, flat, and sealed. It’s designed to withstand weather and traffic, not to carry charm.

Village homes, by contrast, often feature:

• Original leaded panes
• Distorted or hand-blown glass
• Softwood or painted sashes
• Lime mortar frames

These can’t be rushed. They shouldn’t be saturated. And they must be cleaned in ways that preserve—not degrade—the materials.

For homes like these, commercial technique simply doesn’t fit.

More detail in Why Regular Window Cleaning Protects Your Frames and Fixtures

Domestic Isn’t Less Professional—It’s More

It’s easy to think of domestic services as informal. But the best domestic window cleaners are more rigorous, not less.

We:

• Work seasonally, not just by rota
• Keep tools for specific materials
• Adjust visits around weather and light
• Prioritise consistency and trust, not turnover

We’re not here for a one-time result. We’re here to protect and maintain your home’s appearance over time—quietly, carefully, and always in tune with its character.

The difference between domestic and commercial window cleaning isn’t technical. It’s philosophical.

In Oxfordshire’s villages, the homes speak more softly—and demand to be heard. We clean them that way. Not because it’s easier. But because it’s right.

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