Africa · Window Manufacturer
Fenster Aluminium SA — Window Cleaning Guide
🇿🇦 South Africa · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
HQ
Cape Town, South Africa
Materials
Aluminium windows and doors
Specialty
European-influenced design, locally manufactured
Market
South Africa premium residential - primarily Western Cape
Brand at a Glance
- Cape Town-based aluminium window manufacturer with European design influence
- All systems locally manufactured in South Africa
- Premium residential positioning with European aesthetic and performance targets
Product Range
- Aluminium casement windows (European-influenced design)
- Aluminium sliding windows
- Aluminium bi-fold and sliding door systems
- Aluminium entrance doors
Why This System
Fenster's European design influence means tighter tolerances and more sophisticated hardware than standard South African fabrication. Their local manufacturing provides service and parts accessibility. For cleaners, Fenster systems are in premium Cape Town residential properties where clients have invested in quality.
Cape Town is simultaneously one of the most beautiful and most demanding environments for aluminium windows: the southeaster brings sand and debris in summer, the northwest brings rain and salt in winter, coastal installations face constant salt air, and UV is intense year-round. Fenster's premium powder coat finish is better than market standard, but it still needs regular protection through cleaning.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
Since 1999 I've cleaned hundreds, if not thousands, of different window brands and systems. The physics of clean glass don't change from one brand to the next. Follow the steps below and you'll clean your Fenster Aluminium SA windows to a professional standard — guaranteed.
Pro Tools
My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.
Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every Fenster Aluminium SA installation.
- 1
Preparation -- before any water touches the glass
Fill the bucket with at least 10 litres of water. Add soap for cleaning power -- enough to cut through environmental deposits, not so much you are fighting foam.
Before touching the glass, brush down the surface to remove loose dust, spiderwebs, and debris. Any grit left on the glass during the wash phase risks scratching during agitation.
Check the aluminium frame condition before you start. Confirm which cleaning product is safe for that surface before opening any bottle.
Cover anything below the windows that cannot be moved.
- 2
Agitation -- apply and work the solution
Dip the microfiber T-bar completely into the soap water, both sides. Remove excess water with your hand so it does not drip. Apply the solution across the entire glass surface with overlapping passes.
The goal is to fully dissolve and release every deposit from the glass surface. Anything not released during agitation gets transported across the glass by the squeegee as a smear.
For stubborn spots -- insect marks, salt residue, environmental deposits -- re-apply soap water and allow it to soak for a full minute before agitating again. Use more soap water, not more pressure.
For panels above arm reach: attach the T-bar to an extension pole. Work in sections -- top first, then middle, then bottom -- keeping each section wet until you squeegee it.
Rinse the T-bar cover regularly during the job. A dirty applicator causes microscopic scratches that accumulate over time.
- 3
Detail the frame edge before squeegeeing
Use your 100% cotton towelling rag, finger pressed into the fabric, to work into every junction and remove pooled soap water before the squeegee pass.
This prevents drips running down onto already-cleaned areas during squeegeeing and keeps soap water out of drainage channels.
On Fenster Aluminium SA aluminium frames, pay particular attention to the bottom edge where glass meets the frame sill -- water pooled here runs into drainage openings and leaves residue over time.
- 4
The squeegee
Tilt the squeegee at a slight angle so soap water spills from one side of the channel only -- not both. If the rubber is jumping or squeaking, either the rubber is not lubricated enough or the glass surface has warmed.
Cutting in: start with the rubber blade making first contact on a dry edge of the glass.
Side to side: horizontal passes across the panel. Works well on wide sections. Top to bottom: vertical passes down the panel. Works well on tall narrow sections.
The J tune: one smooth unbroken motion top to bottom, wrist rotating at each end to reverse without lifting the rubber. The most efficient method on larger panels -- but it requires training before applying it to premium glass.
Wipe the rubber dry after every pass. Overlap each stroke by 2-3 cm.
- 5
Final edge detailing
After squeegeeing, there is always a residual line of water along the bottom edge and at the panel sides. Take a dry cotton rag, fold to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.
On Fenster Aluminium SA frames, the bottom edge where glass meets the sill requires the most careful attention. Water left here runs into drainage and leaves residue that affects the next clean.
Rotate the rag to a clean section after every pass. If the rag picks up grit at any point, replace it immediately.
- 6
Frame wipe and hardware check
On Fenster Aluminium SA powder-coated aluminium frames: use pH-neutral cleaner only, never abrasive pads or steel wool. Dry immediately after wiping.
Check that all drainage openings are clear and unobstructed. Water must be able to flow freely -- a blocked channel leads to accumulation that affects seal performance over time.
Operate every opening window through its full range. Stiff handles or resistance at locking points indicate hardware that needs lubrication. Flag it to the owner rather than forcing it.
Pro Tips
- Fenster European-style hardware has tighter tolerances - it is more sensitive to sand ingress in tracks. Clear tracks thoroughly on each visit.
- Cape Town coastal: frame weep holes should be cleared on every visit. Salt deposition blocks drainage rapidly.
- Premium clients expect detail - take extra time on frame corners and glass edges. Fenster clients notice quality.
What NOT To Do
- Do not use abrasive products on Fenster powder-coated frames.
- Do not force European-style hardware if stiff - sand ingress in mechanism requires clearing, not forcing.
- Do not ignore weep hole condition - Cape Town winter rain tests drainage thoroughly.
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Cleaning Frequency
Every 6-8 weeks. Monthly on Atlantic seaboard and False Bay coastal installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“Fenster Aluminium systems are in premium Cape Town residential properties - Atlantic seaboard, Constantia, Franschhoek, and similar locations. These clients are invested in their home and expect a professional service that matches the product quality. Always include frame detail work and weep hole clearing as standard on every Fenster visit.”
Justin Orloff
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