KAPO — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass (§ 5.4)

• ✓Use mild, pH-neutral cleaning products.
• ✓No abrasion of any kind on the glass surface.
• ✕KAPO explicitly names steel wool, scouring pads, and razor blades as prohibited.
• ✓No chemicals on the acidic side - they can burn or etch the glass permanently.
• ✓Applies to all KAPO glass - standard, coated, and speciality glazing.

Timber Interior (§ 5.2)

• ✓Mild cleaning products only - heavily diluted washing-up liquid or soapy water.
• ✓Soft cloths only - cotton recommended for wood.
• ✓Do not allow water to pool on timber - wipe dry promptly.
• ✓Apply KAPO Pflegeset twice per year - spring and autumn - to clean, refresh colour, and add a protective layer.
• ✕After construction work (plastering, screeding), windows must be cleaned and treated with the Pflegeset immediately.

Aluminium Exterior (§ 5.3)

• ✓Lukewarm water with a mild, pH-neutral cleaner.
• ✓Soft cloth only - no abrasive products.
• ✓Rinse with clean water after cleaning to prevent residue buildup.
• ✕Bird excrement is aggressive enough to attack powder coatings if left - remove promptly.

Hardware (§ 5.5)

• ✓Use only acid-free, resin-free oil or technical vaseline. KAPO Pflegeset Mechanik (€14.90) contains the appropriate lubricant.
• ✓Check all hardware regularly for tightness and wear.
• ✓Hardware adjustments - especially corner bearings and scissors - should only be performed by a specialist.
• ✕Never silicone spray, rust removers, or general-purpose lubricants - they impair corrosion protection on the fittings.

Seals and Drainage (§ 5.8)

• ✓Keep seals clean and inspect annually - functional seals are essential for thermal and acoustic performance.
• ✓Look for cracking, hardening, or gaps.
• ✓Vacuum debris from frame drainage channels regularly - blocked drainage leads to water accumulation that damages timber components.
• ✓Clear drainage at every glass cleaning - it takes seconds and prevents long-term damage.

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 KAPO 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 Kapo 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 Kapo 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 Kapo 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

• ★ Stop the squeegee before the wood. Repeated rubber contact wears the lacquer at the contact point. Cotton rag closes the edge.
• ★ Cotton on timber, microfibre on glass. Microfibre marks lacquered wood finishes - never substitute.
• ★ Soak bird excrement before wiping. Dry-scraping it on powder-coated aluminium can take the coating with it.
• ★ Pflegen statt Streichen. Twice-yearly Pflegeset application replaces repainting - skip it and the finish will eventually need redoing.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2× per year minimum (4× per year in urban environments, near busy roads, or high-pollution areas.). Timber Pflegeset: 2× per year (Spring and autumn. After any nearby construction work: immediately.). Aluminium exterior: 2× per year (More frequently in exposed locations or where bird activity is high.). Hardware: 1× per year (Acid-free, resin-free oil. Check screws for tightness at the same time.). Drainage channels: Every clean (Clear at every glass cleaning - takes seconds, prevents long-term damage.). Seal inspection: 1× per year (Look for cracking, hardening, or gaps.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass: minimum twice per year - four times in urban environments, near busy roads, or high-pollution areas. Timber Pflegeset: twice per year, spring and autumn. Immediately after any nearby construction work. Aluminium exterior: twice per year - more frequently in exposed locations or where bird activity is high. Hardware: at least once per year with acid-free, resin-free oil. Check screws for tightness at the same time. Drainage channels: clear at every glass cleaning. Seal inspection: annually - look for cracking, hardening, or gaps.”

Justin Orloff