Manufaktur Matauschek — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Use mild soapy water and a soft cloth or professional applicator.
• ✓No solvents of any kind.
• ✕No ammonia - this rules out most commercial glass sprays.
• ✓No bleach.
• ✓No abrasive pads, steel wool, or scouring materials.
• ✓No sharp tools or razor blades on the glass surface.
• ✓No high-pressure water directed at frame joints, seals, or glass edges.
• ✓For large-format panels and Wing roof windows, use a professional T-bar applicator to ensure even agitation across the full glass area.

Aluminium Frames (Powder Coated)

• ✓Soft cloth and mild soapy water only.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue - dried soap film on powder coating leaves a visible mark.
• ✕No solvents on powder-coated surfaces.
• ✓No abrasives - powder coating scratches permanently.
• ✓No pressure washers directed at frame joints or seals.

Hardware

• ✓Oil all hinges, locking points, and moving hardware once per year with a light, acid-free machine oil.
• ✓Do not over-oil - excess oil attracts dirt and grit that accelerates wear.
• ✕For Wing series electric roof windows, hardware and drive mechanism maintenance must be handled by a Matauschek field service representative.
• ✓Contact Matauschek via the service request form at matauschek.com/serviceanfrage to arrange hardware servicing.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Inspect seals annually for compression, cracking, or shrinkage.
• ✓Clean seals with a damp cloth only - no solvents or bleach on rubber seals.
• ✓A silicone-based seal conditioner can be applied annually to maintain flexibility.
• ✓Damaged or compressed seals should be replaced by the Matauschek service team.

Drainage Channels

• ✓Inspect and clear drainage slots in the frame base twice per year.
• ✓Blocked drainage causes water to pool inside the frame, accelerating seal degradation and causing visible water marks on the glass interior.
• ✓Use a soft brush or compressed air to clear channels - no sharp tools.

Wing Roof Windows (Series-Specific)

• ✓Clean Wing roof window glass from the interior where safely accessible, or use a water-fed pole system from outside.
• ✕Do not press hard into the frameless glass-to-glass joins on Wing XL units.
• ✓Electric drive mechanisms and rain/wind sensors must not be cleaned with water directly - wipe sensor surfaces with a dry soft cloth only.
• ✓All Wing series electric hardware maintenance is handled by Matauschek service via matauschek.com/serviceanfrage.

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 Manufaktur Matauschek 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 Matauschek 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 Matauschek 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 Matauschek 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 system before you start - Loft, Bionium, Johann, or Wing. Large-format and roof windows need a different approach than a standard casement.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks on Matauschek aluminium systems come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ Never clean in direct sunlight - solution dries on large-format glass before squeegeeing is complete.
• ★ Powder coat scratches permanently - no abrasive cloths, scouring pads, or steel wool on any Matauschek frame surface.
• ★ Wing series electric hardware and drive mechanisms are a field service matter - do not attempt to clean or adjust them.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Spring after winter grime, autumn before cold. Quarterly in urban or high-pollution locations.). Wing roof window glass: 2x per year minimum (Electric sensors and drive housing checked annually by Matauschek field service.). Hardware: 1x per year (Light acid-free machine oil on hinges and locking points. Wing series hardware via Matauschek service only.). Seal inspection: 1x per year (Or after heavy storms. Silicone conditioner applied annually.). Drainage channels: 2x per year (Especially after autumn leaf fall. Blocked drainage accelerates seal degradation.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum, quarterly in Austrian cities with pollution, pollen, and construction dust. Wing roof window electric sensors and drive housing: annual check by Matauschek field service. Hardware: annual oiling with acid-free machine oil. Wing series via Matauschek service only. Drainage channels: twice yearly - blocked channels accelerate seal failure on precision aluminium systems.”

Justin Orloff