Jankó (Janko Windows) — 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 with mild soapy water (pH-neutral, one drop per litre of lukewarm water) and a soft cloth or professional T-bar applicator.
• ✕No solvents of any kind near the glass edges or seal line.
• ✕No ammonia - rules out most commercial glass sprays.
• ✓No abrasives, steel wool, or scouring pads on the glass surface.
• ✓No sharp tools or razor blades.
• ✕No high-pressure water directed at glazing edges, frame joints, or drainage channels.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly if any soap residue remains at the glass edge.

Wood-Aluminium Frames (CROSS, CROSS FLAT, CROSS DUO FLAT)

• ✓Aluminium exterior: wipe with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Rinse and dry to prevent water spots.
• ✓Janko describes the aluminium cladding as providing maintenance-free protection for the wood core - the cladding itself requires only basic cleaning.
• ✕Wood interior: wipe with a lightly damp cloth and mild soapy water. Do not saturate - use a damp cloth, not a wet one.
• ✓Do not use solvents, ammonia, or bleach on either the aluminium exterior or the wood interior.
• ✓Inspect the EPDM seals at each cleaning session - if seals are cracked, compressed flat, or pulling away from the frame, contact your installer.

Pure Wood Frames (BIG 92, BIG 80, BIG 68, RUSTIC)

• ✓Clean the wood frame with a soft damp cloth and mild soapy water only.
• ✕Do not saturate the timber - minimal moisture, quick dry.
• ✓The exterior wood surface on BIG and RUSTIC systems requires periodic protective treatment to maintain the timber finish. Consult your installer for the schedule.
• ✕Inspect the exterior surface regularly for cracking, peeling, or discolouration of the finish. Address deterioration through your installer promptly.
• ✓Do not use solvents, bleach, or acidic products on any wood surface.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts (hinges, locking points, tilt-and-turn mechanisms) with a light machine oil once per year.
• ✓Janko uses 30mm locking plates and security hardware across the range - keep these clean and free of debris.
• ✓If hardware feels stiff or catches on operation, lubricate first. If it remains stiff after lubrication, contact your installer.
• ✓Clean hardware with a dry cloth - avoid getting water inside locking mechanisms.

EPDM Seals and Gaskets

• ✓Wipe seals with a damp cloth during frame cleaning.
• ✕Do not use solvents, bleach, or silicone spray on EPDM seals. Silicone degrades EPDM over time.
• ✓Inspect seals annually. Cracked or compressed seals allow water and air infiltration - a sign of needed replacement, not a cleaning issue.

Drainage Channels

• ✓Janko's unique internal drainage system requires clear channels to function.
• ✓After cleaning, check drainage holes at the bottom of the frame for blockages from debris, pollen, or dirt.
• ✓Clear blocked channels with a soft brush or dry cloth - never poke with metal tools.

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 Jankó (Janko Windows) 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 Janko 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 Janko 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 Janko 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

• ★ Identify the range first - CROSS (wood-alu) or BIG/RUSTIC (pure wood). Frame care is fundamentally different between them.
• ★ Use separate cloths for aluminium exterior and wood interior on CROSS systems - never cross-contaminate care products.
• ★ Damp cloth on timber, not wet - on BIG and RUSTIC ranges especially, excessive moisture on exposed timber exteriors causes slow damage.
• ★ Check drainage channels after every cleaning session - Janko's internal drainage system needs clear channels to function.
• ★ Inspect EPDM seals at each clean - cracked or compressed seals on a premium triple-glazed system mean air and water infiltration, not a cosmetic issue.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: Minimum 2x per year (Inside and out. Urban environments, high-pollen areas, or industrial locations: quarterly.). Pure wood exteriors (BIG and RUSTIC): Inspect at every clean (Look for cracking, peeling, or discolouration and address through your installer promptly.). Aluminium exteriors (CROSS ranges): 2x per year (Sufficient in most environments with mild soapy water and soft cloth.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Light machine oil on hinges, locking points, and tilt-and-turn mechanisms.). EPDM seal inspection: Once per year (Or after heavy storms or extreme temperature swings.). Drainage channel checks: At every cleaning session (Janko's internal drainage system requires clear channels to function.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: twice per year minimum - quarterly in urban environments, high-pollen areas, or industrial locations. Pure wood exteriors (BIG and RUSTIC): inspect the timber finish at every clean. Address cracking, peeling, or discolouration through your installer promptly. Aluminium exteriors (CROSS): twice per year with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Hardware: oil once per year with a light machine oil. EPDM seals: inspect annually. Cracked or compressed seals need replacing - contact your installer. Drainage channels: check and clear at every cleaning session.”

Justin Orloff