WAKU Fenster und Türen — 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 in warm water. Microfibre T-bar and professional squeegee.
• ✓In tilt position for inner face. In turn position for outer face. Check hinge scissors support the sash weight smoothly before tilting triple-glazed windows.
• ✓Pay attention to the outer frame faces within the masonry reveal - these are partially sheltered from rain and accumulate specific deposits.
• ✓Edge wipe in rebate before final pull.

Frames

• ✓pH-neutral solvent-free PVC cleaner. No solvents, no bleach on PVC frames.
• ✓Anti-algae pre-treatment on north and east-facing frames with biological growth in alpine locations.
• ✓Clear the frame-to-sill junction thoroughly. Stone sill junctions collect debris and organic matter.
• ✓Clear all sash drainage slots at every clean.

Hardware

• ✓Annual lubrication: all hinge scissors (with extra attention on heavy triple-glazed sashes), corner transfer pieces, espagnolette rods.
• ✓Entrance door multi-point lock: lubricate all hook and bolt points.
• ✓Check terrace door lift-and-slide running gear twice yearly in alpine locations.

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 WAKU Fenster und Türen 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 Waku 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 Waku 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 Waku 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

• ★ Austrian masonry reveals require attention to the reveal wall condition as well as the window itself. A damp reveal wall with algae growth will re-contaminate a clean window frame within weeks.
• ★ Triple-glazed tilt-and-turn windows are noticeably heavier in tilt position than double-glazed equivalents. If the sash droops slightly in tilt position, lubricate the hinge scissors before concluding they are worn - a dry scissor on a heavy sash droops earlier than a lubricated one.
• ★ Stone sill junctions on Austrian masonry buildings are the most consistently missed cleaning point on Austrian residential window maintenance visits. Set up the stone sill clearing as the first step before wetting anything.
• ★ Anti-algae treatment on north-facing Austrian windows works best applied on a dry day and allowed to dwell without rain. Plan the biological treatment visit for dry weather if possible.
• ★ Austrian entrance doors with five-point locking have five separate lubrication points on the locking system. Work through each point systematically - operating the handle to each engaged position to access the bolt or hook before lubricating.
• ★ Colour foil PVC windows in Austria follow the same solvent-free cleaning protocol as in any other central European market. The alpine location does not change the foil sensitivity to solvents.
• ★ Pre-alpine Austrian locations near spruce forest see resin deposits on glass in summer, particularly on windows under or near tree canopy. Identify resin deposits before cleaning - they need a resin-specific treatment, not standard glass cleaner.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2 to 3x per year (Alpine locations with pollen and forest deposits: three times yearly. Urban Austria: twice yearly standard.). Frames: Same visit as glass (Anti-algae check on north-facing frames at every visit in forest-adjacent locations.). Drainage slots: Every clean (Standard tilt-and-turn maintenance.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Twice yearly on terrace door lift-and-slide systems in alpine use.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“WAKU represents the Austrian regional window manufacturer category - smaller than the big European profile brands but producing competent mid-range products for the Austrian market. Alpine biological growth is the most consistently underaddressed maintenance issue on Austrian residential windows. It is climate-normal and needs a standard protocol, not an exceptional one. Triple-glazed Austrian residential windows are common enough in the alpine market to require double-glazed hinge lubrication awareness at every service visit.”

Justin Orloff