KATZBECK — 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 at least twice per year.
• ✓Use mild pH-neutral or alkaline cleaners only.
• ✓Use a microfibre cloth or soft sponge.
• ✓Rinse the surface with cold clean water first to remove loose dirt and particles before wiping.
• ✕No abrasive products.
• ✓No solvent-containing products.
• ✓No sharp tools or razor blades.
• ✓Contact time for cleaning solution should not exceed one hour.

Powder-Coated and Anodised Aluminium Frames

• ✓Rinse with cold pure water first to remove loose particles.
• ✓Clean with a neutral soap solution (pH 7) using a sponge, microfibre cloth, or soft brush.
• ✓Work in circular motions from top to bottom.
• ✕Do not use abrasive cleaning products - they damage the surface permanently.
• ✓Do not use solvent-containing products.
• ✓Contact time for cleaning solution must not exceed one hour.
• ✓Clean at least twice per year.

Kunststoff (uPVC) Frames

• ✓Clean with mild pH-neutral cleaners and a soft cloth.
• ✕No solvents of any kind - solvents degrade Kunststoff and the damage is permanent.
• ✓No abrasive products or scouring pads.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

Wood Surfaces (Interior)

• ✓Clean occasionally with warm water and a sponge cloth.
• ✓For oiled wood surfaces, maintain 1-2 times per year depending on weathering intensity using Pullex wood oil, applied thinly with a cotton cloth.
• ✕Do not saturate wood with water.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts twice per year with acid-free grease or oil.
• ✓Use resin-free (harzfrei) oil on hinges specifically.
• ✕Do not use silicone spray on hardware.
• ✓Only neutral cleaning and care products that do not impair corrosion protection.
• ✓Hardware must never be painted over.
• ✓Adjustment work must only be done by authorised KATZBECK specialists.

Seals and Gaskets

• ✓Clean yearly using conventional household cleaners.
• ✓Apply silicone spray or glycerin to maintain elasticity and sealing function.
• ✓Check seals at least once per year to ensure restoring function.

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 KATZBECK 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 Katzbeck 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 Katzbeck 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 Katzbeck 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 before you start - CLASSIC K, DESIGN, LINEA or Panorama. Frame care differs across each.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ On LINEA flush-glazed systems, clear the narrow glass-to-frame joint before squeegeeing - grit trapped there gets dragged across the glass.
• ★ Do not use silicone spray on KATZBECK hardware - acid-free grease or oil only, resin-free oil on hinges.
• ★ Operate every KATZBECK window at least once per month to prevent resting wear on hardware and seals.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Quarterly in urban Vienna environments with traffic pollution and pollen.). Hardware lubrication: 2x per year (Acid-free, resin-free oil. No silicone spray.). Seal maintenance: 1x per year (Clean with household cleaner and apply silicone spray or glycerin.). Oiled wood interior surfaces: 1-2x per year (Pullex wood oil depending on exposure.). Window operation: Monthly minimum (Prevent resting wear on hardware and seals.). Drainage channels: 2x per year minimum (Check and clear to ensure water drains freely.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year, quarterly in Vienna with pollution and pollen. Hardware: twice-yearly lubrication with acid-free, resin-free oil - no silicone spray. Seals: annual clean with household cleaner, apply silicone spray or glycerin for elasticity. Operate every window monthly to prevent KATZBECK's documented resting wear problem. Drainage channels: check and clear at least twice per year.”

Justin Orloff