SULKO — 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 insulating glass with standard mild cleaning products and warm water.
• ✓Fingerprints and grease stains can be removed with mild soap solutions.
• ✕No abrasive cleaners, abrasive pads, or rough cleaning agents - these roughen the glass surface.
• ✓No products containing sand or abrasive particles.
• ✓No solvents, petrol, or paint thinner on glass surfaces.

PVC Frames (Synego range)

• ✓Clean with standard cleaning products and warm water applied with a soft cloth.
• ✓No products containing sand or abrasive particles.
• ✕No abrasive cleaners or scouring pads - these permanently roughen the PVC surface.
• ✓No petrol, paint thinner, acetic acid, nitro solvents, or any solvent-based products - these dissolve and permanently damage PVC.
• ✓Do not use cleaning agents with a pH other than neutral - acidic or alkaline cleaners damage the PVC surface texture.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

Composite Frames (ARTEVO range)

• ✓Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✕The same prohibitions as PVC apply - no solvents, no abrasives, no acidic or alkaline cleaners.
• ✓Do not use products intended for actual aluminium on the ARTEVO composite surface - follow PVC care rules for this material.
• ✓Contact SULKO directly for cleaning products approved for the ARTEVO composite surface.

Aluminium Frames (ProfiAl range)

• ✓Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓No abrasive cleaners or abrasive pads - these scratch the powder-coated finish.
• ✓No strong alkalis or acids on the aluminium surface.
• ✓Rinse with clean water after cleaning to remove soap residue.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts with a drop of Teflon oil once to twice per year.
• ✓Wipe excess oil immediately with a clean absorbent cloth - excess oil attracts dust.
• ✓Check all hinges, locks, and handles annually for proper operation.
• ✓SULKO offers a free adjustment service within 6 months of installation - use it to set hardware correctly from the start.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Inspect seals and gaskets once per year for cracks, hardening, or gaps.
• ✓Inspect after heavy storms.
• ✓Clean seals with mild soapy water only - no solvents.
• ✓If seals show significant deterioration, contact your SULKO installer for replacement.

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 SULKO 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 uPVC 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 Sulko uPVC 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 Sulko 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 Sulko uPVC frames: solvent-free pH-neutral cleaner only -- solvents cause permanent surface damage. Avoid abrasive pads on the profile.

   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 frame material before you start - Synego PVC, ARTEVO composite, or ProfiAl aluminium. The cleaning rules for the frame differ by material.
• ★ ARTEVO looks like aluminium but must be cleaned using PVC rules. Do not use aluminium-specific products on it.
• ★ Never use solvent-contaminated cloths on PVC or composite frames - even trace amounts can mark the surface permanently.
• ★ Dwell time matters on heavily soiled SULKO glass - let the soapy water sit for 20 to 30 seconds before the squeegee touches the surface.
• ★ SULKO offers a free hardware adjustment service within 6 months of installation. If hardware was stiff from day one, use that service.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn. Quarterly in urban or construction-adjacent locations.). Hardware lubrication (Teflon oil): 1-2x per year (Wipe excess immediately after application.). Seal and gasket inspection: 1x per year (And after any severe weather.). Hardware operation check: 1x per year (Use SULKO's free 6-month adjustment window from installation date.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum, quarterly in urban or construction-adjacent locations. ARTEVO composite: follows PVC care rules, not aluminium rules. Do not use aluminium products on it. Hardware: Teflon oil once or twice per year. Wipe excess immediately. SULKO offers free adjustment in the first 6 months post-installation. Seals: inspect annually and after storms. Mild soapy water only for cleaning.”

Justin Orloff