Heroal — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass only after the shutter housing above has been cleaned. Otherwise debris from the housing falls onto the clean glass.
• ✓Lukewarm water with mild dish soap or glass cleaner. Microfibre T-bar, professional squeegee with fresh rubber.
• ✓Keep solution away from the roller shutter slot at the base of the housing directly above the window.
• ✓No razor blades unless coating type confirmed.

Frames

• ✓pH-neutral cleaner on a soft cloth. Safe on powder-coated aluminium.
• ✓No alkaline or acidic products - both attack powder coat over multiple applications.
• ✓No abrasive pads or cloths on powder-coated aluminium surfaces.
• ✓Dry all aluminium frame surfaces immediately after cleaning.

Hardware

• ✓Wipe exposed hardware with a damp cloth and dry immediately.
• ✓Do not allow lubricant or cleaning product to enter roller shutter housing via the blade slot.
• ✓Lubricate tilt-and-turn mechanisms and hinge points on window hardware annually.

Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol

The Orloffs Protocol

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 Heroal installation.

1. 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. 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. 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 Heroal 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. 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. 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 Heroal 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. 6

   Frame wipe and hardware check

   On Heroal 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

• ★ On heroal integrated installations, the sequence matters more than the product. Clean the housing, then the frame, then the glass. Reversing this sequence adds rework.
• ★ Motorised shutter housings should never be operated during cleaning. Ensure the shutter is in the fully raised position and remains there for the duration of the glass clean.
• ★ External venetian blind blades accumulate more soiling on the upper face than the lower face. If time is limited, prioritise the upper blade face.
• ★ Matched powder-coat finishes on heroal window frames and shutter housings mean that any product that discolours the window frame will be immediately visible against the unmarked housing. Test new products away from matched-finish installations.
• ★ The blade slot at the base of the housing is the most critical exclusion zone on a heroal installation. Tape over the slot with masking tape during high-pressure glass cleaning if there is any risk of solution entering.
• ★ Aluminium roller shutter blades on heroal R systems can also be wiped down with a damp cloth during a full-service clean. The blade surface is the same powder-coated aluminium as the window frame.
• ★ On heroal installations in areas with high pollen or organic debris, the shutter housing slot accumulates organic matter that can stain the top of the glass when the shutter is operated. Clearing the slot at every clean prevents this staining.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2x to 4x per year (Premium German residential specification typically includes quarterly cleaning contracts.). Shutter housing: Same schedule as glass (Clean the housing at every glass clean - the two are inseparable on heroal installations.). Venetian blades: 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn. More frequently in high-soiling environments.). Window hardware lubrication: Once per year (Annual service on tilt-and-turn mechanisms and hinge points.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“heroal integrated installations require more time per window than standard window-only cleans. The shutter housing clean and venetian blade clean add 3 to 5 minutes per window opening. Price accordingly. The shutter slot water exclusion rule is the single most important protocol on heroal motorised installations. A motor damaged by cleaning water is a several-hundred-euro repair that falls on the cleaning contractor. Matched-finish powder-coat surfaces on heroal products mean that a substandard frame clean is immediately visible when the client looks at the window against the housing. Standards need to be consistent across every surface on these installations.”

Justin Orloff