North America · Window Manufacturer
Lux Windows and Glass — Window Cleaning Guide
🇨🇦 Canada · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
founded
1978
hq
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
primaryMaterials
uPVC and aluminium frames, double and triple glazing
glazingPartner
In-house glazing specification
marketTier
Mid-Range
Brand at a Glance
- Founded: 1978
- HQ: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Market position: Mid-range residential and commercial uPVC and aluminium windows
- Climate context: Alberta - extreme cold (-30C), hot dry summers (+35C), high annual sunshine hours
- Distribution: Alberta and Western Canada residential and commercial market
- Certifications: ENERGY STAR, CSA A440
- Website: luxwindows.com
Product Range
- uPVC Casement and Awning Windows
- uPVC Sliding Windows and Doors
- Aluminium Commercial Windows
- Triple-Glazed Systems
Why This System
Alberta's climate is continental extreme - very cold winters and dry, often hot summers. uPVC in this environment cycles through a wider thermal range than in coastal or Eastern Canadian climates. Frame corner welds and co-extruded gaskets experience more cumulative stress here. Edmonton's high sunshine hours combine UV exposure with freeze-thaw cycling - a combination that accelerates UV stabiliser consumption in uPVC faster than either condition alone. Aluminium window systems in Edmonton require thermal break construction - standard aluminium without a thermal break creates a condensation highway between the cold exterior and the warm interior. On cleaning visits, the thermal break zone at the frame mid-section should not receive water.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
Since 1999 I've cleaned hundreds, if not thousands, of different window brands and systems. The physics of clean glass don't change from one brand to the next. Follow the steps below and you'll clean your Lux Windows and Glass windows to a professional standard — guaranteed.
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 Lux Windows and Glass installation.
- 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 composite 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
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
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 Lux Windows composite 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
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
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 Lux Windows 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
Frame wipe and hardware check
On Lux Windows frames, apply the appropriate product for each surface: pH-neutral for aluminium and glass, solvent-free for uPVC, barely damp cloth for timber. Never cross-contaminate products between surfaces.
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
- Schedule Edmonton window cleaning for May through September - this is the professional season. Clients who ask for winter cleaning should be advised that the results will be substandard and the service risk is higher
- After an Alberta chinook wind event in winter or early spring, check the perimeter sealant on Lux windows - chinooks drive rapid temperature changes of 15-20 degrees in hours, which stresses perimeter seals more than slow seasonal cycling
- On Edmonton commercial Lux aluminium systems, wipe down all aluminium surfaces with a pH-neutral cloth before applying cleaner - road dust in Alberta is highly abrasive silica-based grit that scratches powder-coat if dragged across the surface during cleaning
What NOT To Do
- Do not clean windows at below +5C - cleaning solutions freeze on frame and glass surfaces
- Do not use abrasive pads or solvents on uPVC frames
- Do not introduce water into the thermal break zone on aluminium commercial window profiles
- Do not use acidic cleaners on powder-coated aluminium
- Do not skip spring perimeter sealant inspection - Alberta freeze-thaw stresses sealant harder than most Canadian markets
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Cleaning Frequency
Clean every 4–8 weeks depending on environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“Edmonton clients are accustomed to a short outdoor service window - from May through September is the practical cleaning season. Spring visits immediately after snowmelt are heavy work - budget extra time for debris clearing, sealant inspection, and hardware checks. Alberta UV is underestimated. Edmonton gets more annual sunshine hours than Toronto. uPVC on south-facing elevations in Edmonton discolours faster than in Eastern Canada despite the cold winters. Document colour condition annually. Commercial Lux aluminium systems in Edmonton often have weep holes that are partially blocked by construction debris in newer buildings. The first post-occupancy cleaning visit should include a systematic weep hole check and clearing on all commercial frames.”
Justin Orloff
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