Toelevering Online — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓pH-neutral glass cleaner. Pre-treat hard water mineral deposits with pH 4 to 5 mineral remover before the main clean in Dutch hard water areas.
• ✓Microfibre T-bar and professional squeegee. Inner face in tilt, outer face in turn position.
• ✓Squeegee top to bottom. Edge wipe in rebate before final pull.
• ✓Check for any flat-roof drainage streaks on the glass and treat as a deposit, not as a cleaning technique issue.

Frames

• ✓pH-neutral solvent-free PVC cleaner on soft cloth. No solvents, no bleach.
• ✓Anti-algae pre-treatment on north-facing frames with visible biological growth before standard cleaning.
• ✓Clear all sash drainage slots. Check installation-related issues: drainage slot inserts present and open, frame-to-wall sealant condition.
• ✓On flat-roof drainage windows, pay extra attention to the lower frame member where roof runoff deposits accumulate.

Hardware

• ✓Annual lubrication at all mechanism points with light machine oil or PTFE spray.
• ✓On online-supplied windows, check hardware installation quality at first maintenance visit: correct cam-to-keep alignment, hinge scissors seated correctly.
• ✓Wipe hardware dry at every clean. Check all locking points engage cleanly.

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 Toelevering Online 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 Toelevering Online 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 Toelevering Online 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 Toelevering Online 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

• ★ Dutch hard water is the invisible challenge on Dutch window cleaning contracts. A property owner who has never had their windows professionally cleaned may have years of calcium carbonate deposit on the glass that looks like dirty glass but requires mineral remover to address.
• ★ North-facing Dutch windows in any residential area will show algae on the outer frame face within 2 to 3 years. In the Dutch maritime climate, algae is not an indication of neglect - it is a climate response. Anti-algae protocol should be standard on north-facing Dutch windows, not reactive.
• ★ Flat-roof runoff staining on Dutch window lower frames often contains bitumen particles from roofing felt. These dark particles adhere to PVC and are harder to remove than standard atmospheric deposits. A slightly more concentrated pH-neutral cleaner and a soft brush on the lower frame face addresses this without damaging the PVC.
• ★ Online-supplied windows in the Dutch market are occasionally installed without the drainage slot plastic inserts that prevent wind noise. If a window makes noise in wind, check the drainage slot inserts first before assuming a hardware issue.
• ★ Dutch double-brick construction means the frame-to-masonry cavity is deeper than in single-brick or block construction. Deep cavity sealant failure may not be visible on the surface - check by probing with a thin tool along the sealant bead at corners.
• ★ Dutch triple-glazed windows are heavy. The tilt-and-turn mechanism on a triple-glazed Dutch window carries more sash weight than a double-glazed equivalent. Lubrication at the hinge scissors points is more important on triple-glazed windows - dry scissors on a heavy sash wear faster.
• ★ Western Netherlands hard water deposits on glass do not respond to elbow grease. Scrubbing a calcium carbonate deposit scratches the glass while leaving most of the deposit in place. The correct tool is chemical - a mild acid that dissolves the calcium. Then squeegee as normal.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2 to 3x per year (Dutch maritime climate: twice yearly minimum. Hard water areas: three times yearly to prevent mineral deposit buildup.). Frames: Same visit as glass (Anti-algae treatment on north-facing frames: check at every visit.). Drainage slots: Every clean (Standard PVC maintenance. Check insert presence at every visit.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Twice yearly on heavy triple-glazed windows.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“The Dutch online window supply market has grown significantly and represents a meaningful proportion of Dutch residential window replacement projects. Installation quality varies considerably from this channel. Dutch hard water and north-facing algae are the two standard challenges on Dutch residential window cleaning contracts. Addressing both requires pre-treatment products that most standard window cleaning operatives do not carry. Frame-to-wall sealant on Dutch brick construction is the most commonly missed maintenance point in Dutch residential window care. It is invisible from the inside until water has entered the cavity and caused damage. A quick perimeter check at every cleaning visit is the professional standard.”

Justin Orloff