Stegbar — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Pre-rinse glass with clean water before cleaning - removes coastal salt and silica dust that would otherwise be scrubbed into the surface.
• ✓Apply pH-neutral cleaning solution. Squeegee from top to bottom, overlapping strokes, wipe rubber after each pull.
• ✓Check glazing seals and glazing bead condition at every service - Australian UV causes faster seal degradation than temperate climates.

Aluminium Frames

• ✓Wipe with pH-neutral dampened soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✓Do not use abrasive pads, steel wool, or scouring compounds on powder-coated aluminium.
• ✓Document chalking on north and west-facing frames - it indicates UV degradation of the powder coat.

uPVC Frames

• ✓Use only pH-neutral, solvent-free cleaners on uPVC. Solvents and citrus oils degrade UV stabilisers in the profile.
• ✓Wipe with a soft cloth. Do not use abrasive pads.
• ✓Yellow uPVC framing indicates UV degradation - cleaning cannot reverse this. Flag to property manager.

Timber Frames

• ✓Use a barely damp cloth on painted or stained timber frames. Excess water at frame joints causes swelling and paint failure.
• ✓Do not spray water directly at painted timber joints or frame corners.
• ✓Dry timber frames immediately after wiping. Do not leave moisture on the surface.

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 Stegbar 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 Stegbar 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 Stegbar 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 Stegbar 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

• ★ When servicing a property with a mix of Stegbar aluminium and uPVC windows, keep separate cloths for each material - cross-contamination of cleaning product from one frame type to another is a common error
• ★ Stegbar sliding doors have heavier rollers than windows - the track channel accumulates more debris per metre. Budget extra time on track cleaning for sliding doors

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Coastal residential: Every 4 to 6 weeks (Salt air and UV). Inland and urban residential: Every 8 to 12 weeks (Standard Australian residential interval). Tropical north QLD and NT: Every 4 to 6 weeks (Year-round UV and wet season organic debris)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Stegbar aluminium windows from the 1980s and 1990s are common in Australian residential stock. Older powder coat on these frames is often chalked and fragile - treat them with extra care and document condition on arrival. Stegbar uPVC is more common in Victoria and Tasmania than in Queensland - the cooler climates extend uPVC life. In Queensland, check for yellowing on older uPVC Stegbar windows. First cleans on neglected Stegbar timber windows often reveal paint failures and frame joint gaps. Photograph these before cleaning and include in your report to the property manager.”

Justin Orloff