Sciuker Frames — 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 glass with water and neutral soap (such as Marseille liquid soap) or a commercial non-abrasive glass cleaner.
• ✕Do not use lye or caustic soda on glass surfaces.
• ✕Do not use acid-based products on glass.
• ✓Do not use detergents containing fluorides.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning to remove all soap residue.

Wood-Aluminium Frames - Exterior Aluminium

• ✓Clean aluminium surfaces at least twice yearly.
• ✓Use pH-neutral detergents only - diluted dish soap is appropriate.
• ✓For heavily soiled anodised aluminium, a specialist cleaning paste may be used.
• ✓Apply cleaning products only when the surface temperature is below 25 degrees C.
• ✕Never use abrasive substances, scouring pads, or steel wool on aluminium.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly with clean water after cleaning.

Wood-Aluminium Frames - Interior Timber

• ✓Clean timber interior surfaces with mild detergent - soap solutions or diluted dish soap.
• ✕Use only soft cloths. Abrasive, corrosive, or solvent-based cleaners will damage the timber finish.
• ✕Dry the timber surface thoroughly after cleaning. Do not allow water to stand on the wood.
• ✓No refinishing of interior timber surfaces is required under normal conditions.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving and closing parts at least once per year.
• ✓Use grease or technical vaseline on hinges, locking points, and handle mechanisms.
• ✓Regular lubrication prevents wear and keeps the window operating correctly.
• ✓If hardware feels stiff or does not lock correctly after lubrication, contact your Sciuker installer.

Gaskets and Weatherstripping

• ✓Apply a silicone-based product to weatherstripping annually to maintain elasticity and prevent cracking.
• ✓Avoid applying silicone products directly to adjacent wood surfaces.
• ✓Inspect gaskets and seals after heavy storms. Replace any that show cracking or lifting.

Drainage Channels

• ✓Regularly inspect and clear drainage holes and channels to prevent water accumulation.
• ✕Blocked drainage causes water to back up against the frame rebate and can lead to seal failure.

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 Sciuker Frames 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 Sciuker 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 Sciuker 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 Sciuker 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 - Isik, Skill, Stratek, or pure timber. The frame care is completely different for each.
• ★ On Isik structural-glass models, the silicone joints at the glass perimeter are structural, not cosmetic. Never scrub or use tools on them.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ Timber interiors must be dried immediately after cleaning. Water standing on wood is permanent damage.
• ★ Never clean in direct sunlight - Sciuker's large glass panels heat quickly and bake solution onto the surface in seconds.
• ★ pH-neutral products only on aluminium - acid or alkaline cleaners degrade the anodised or powder-coated finish permanently.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Inside and out. Urban environments, high-traffic areas, or locations near construction: quarterly.). Coastal or high-pollution locations: Every 3 months minimum (Sciuker's own guidance specifies this frequency for adverse environments.). Aluminium exterior surfaces: At least twice yearly. Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Grease or technical vaseline on hinges, locking points, and handle mechanisms.). Weatherstripping silicone treatment: Once per year. Drainage channel inspection: Twice per year, or after heavy storms

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year; quarterly in urban, coastal, or high-pollution environments. Hardware: annual lubrication with grease or technical vaseline on all moving and closing parts. Weatherstripping: annual silicone treatment to maintain elasticity. Drainage channels: twice per year or after heavy storms. Isik structural-glass models: treat every cleaning visit as an inspection of the structural silicone joints. Any sign of cracking or separation requires installer contact.”

Justin Orloff