Jansen — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Lukewarm water with mild dish soap or a purpose-made glass cleaner verified for use on premium installations.
• ✓Microfibre T-bar applicator on wash, professional squeegee on pull. Fresh rubber on every job.
• ✓On VISS structural glazing, keep all cleaning products away from structural silicone bonds between glass and steel frame.
• ✓No razor blades on any Jansen glazing without confirming glass specification and coating type with the client or the original fabricator.

Frames

• ✓Identify the steel finish before selecting any product: powder coat or stainless steel.
• ✓Powder-coated steel: pH-neutral cleaner on a soft cotton cloth only. No abrasive. Dry immediately.
• ✓Stainless steel: verified stainless-safe cleaner, no chlorine-containing products. Dry immediately and completely.
• ✓Never leave any moisture on any Jansen steel profile surface.

Hardware

• ✓Wipe all hardware with a soft damp cloth and dry completely. Steel pivot hardware in Jansen systems is high-precision and moisture-sensitive.
• ✓Lubricate pivot hinges and locking points annually with a light machine oil or a lubricant specified for precision steel hardware.
• ✓Do not apply lubricant near VISS structural silicone bonds.

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 Jansen 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 Jansen 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 Jansen 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 Jansen 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 Jansen JANISOL Arte heritage installations, take 2 minutes at the start of every visit to confirm which profiles are new Jansen and which are original. Apply the conservation or cleaning protocol appropriate to each.
• ★ Stainless steel Jansen profiles must be dried completely and buffed dry after cleaning. Any water left on stainless steel leaves a mineral deposit that is visible on the bright surface and requires re-cleaning.
• ★ On VISS structural glazing, the structural silicone bonds are the most critical element in the installation. Never use any solvent-based product near them. Even standard cleaning products can affect structural silicone if they enter the bond interface.
• ★ Pre-clean and post-clean photography on luxury Jansen installations is professional practice, not over-caution. It protects you if a pre-existing condition is noticed after your visit and provides the client with a condition record.
• ★ The squeegee channel should not contact Jansen profile faces during the clean. If your technique routinely allows the channel to hit the frame, adjust your cut-in angle or use a smaller channel on the initial pass near the frame.
• ★ Lint-free cloths are essential on Jansen stainless and dark powder-coat profiles. Standard cotton cloths can leave fibres on a stainless surface that are visible under certain lighting conditions.
• ★ Clients who have specified Jansen profiles have high aesthetic expectations. End every clean with a final walk-around inspection in the same light conditions as the client will view the windows from inside the building.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 4x to 12x per year (Luxury and commercial installations typically specify monthly or quarterly cleans. Heritage projects: discuss with the conservation team.). Profiles: Same schedule as glass (Steel profiles on Jansen installations are inspected at every clean.). Corrosion inspection: Every clean (A 5-minute torch inspection at every visit is the most important maintenance act on any steel window system.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year minimum (More frequently on high-use door hardware. Precision steel pivot hardware needs regular attention.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Jansen is the most demanding manufacturer brand to work on in the European window market. The combination of precision profiles, luxury context, heritage sensitivity, and stainless steel options means that every decision on a Jansen installation requires more thought than on any other product. JANISOL Arte profiles in heritage renovation projects are a specialist category within a specialist category. Before accepting this work, be honest about whether your training, tools, and experience level are appropriate. The pre-clean and post-clean documentation habit is more important on Jansen installations than anywhere else. Pre-existing scratches or corrosion spots that are noticed after your visit will be associated with your work unless you have photographic evidence of their pre-existence.”

Justin Orloff