Keylite Roof 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 the window pane using a soft, clean cloth, chamois, or non-metal squeegee.
• ✓Clean water is sufficient for cleaning the pane.
• ✓In hard water areas, add a small amount of detergent to soften the water or wipe off all excess water after cleaning.
• ✕Avoid using silicone on glass surfaces.
• ✕Avoid using cleaning products containing abrasive particles.
• ✕Do not use chemical products on the glass.
• ✓Avoid wearing jewellery or sharp objects while cleaning.
• ✕If the pane is damaged, protect it with clean plastic until cleaning is finished to prevent further damage.

Timber (Pine) Frames

• ✓Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Rinse with clean water after washing.
• ✓Dry with a lint-free cloth.
• ✕Ensure cleaning product deposits are not allowed to remain on wood surfaces - they cause discolouration and damage.
• ✓Keylite provides finish-specific Window Maintenance Kits with paints or finishes for touch-ups.

White Painted Frames

• ✓Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Touch up any chips or damage to the paint finish promptly to protect the timber underneath.
• ✓Use the Keylite Window Maintenance Kit for white painted windows for correct colour-matched paint.

White PVC Frames

• ✓Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓PVC frames are moisture-proof and suitable for wet rooms.
• ✕Do not use abrasive tools or scourers on PVC surfaces - they scratch and damage the surface permanently.

Hardware

• ✓Keylite Maintenance Kits include grease for lubricating hinges and pivot mechanisms.
• ✓Check the centre-pivot mechanism for smooth operation.
• ✓If windows are not cleaned for prolonged periods, dust and dirt settles creating friction that makes windows difficult to open or close.
• ✓Lubricate pivot points and locking mechanisms regularly.

Aluminium Cladding

• ✓Clean external aluminium cladding with warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Rinse with clean water after washing.
• ✕Do not allow cleaning product deposits to remain on aluminium surfaces - they cause discolouration and 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 Keylite Roof 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 Keylite 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 Keylite 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 Keylite 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

• ★ Always engage the locking barrel when the window is rotated for cleaning - an unsecured sash swings back under its own weight.
• ★ Roof windows collect harder grime than vertical windows - take extra time on agitation to dissolve baked-on pollen, sap, and droppings.
• ★ No chemical products, no abrasive particles, no silicone on any Keylite surface. Clean water and mild soap only.
• ★ Do not disturb the expanding thermal collar around the frame perimeter - damage compromises the thermal seal.
• ★ Touch up chips or lacquer wear on timber frames promptly using the finish-specific Keylite Maintenance Kit.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Spring after pollen season, autumn after leaf fall. Quarterly in urban or high-pollution environments.). Under tree cover: Increase frequency (Prevent sap and organic matter bonding to the glass.). Hardware and pivot mechanisms: 1x per year (Lubricate with grease from the Keylite Maintenance Kit.). Timber frame finishes: Inspect at each cleaning (Touch up chips or lacquer wear promptly.). Aluminium cladding: 1x per year minimum (Wash to prevent deposit buildup and discolouration.). Ventilation flaps: Check at each cleaning (Replace handle foams when worn.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: twice per year minimum - spring after pollen, autumn after leaf fall. Quarterly in urban environments. Roof windows collect harder grime than vertical windows - allow extra agitation time. No chemical products, no abrasive particles, no silicone. Clean water and mild soap only. Hardware: annual lubrication with grease. Inspect timber finishes at every cleaning. Always engage the locking barrel before cleaning a rotated centre-pivot window.”

Justin Orloff