Wicknorm Fenster — 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. Microfibre T-bar and squeegee. Inner in tilt, outer in turn.
• ✓On heavy triple-glazed sashes, confirm hinge scissors support the sash weight before tilting.
• ✓Edge wipe before final pull.
• ✓Check reveal glass faces - partially sheltered glass accumulates different deposits than fully exposed glass.

Frames

• ✓pH-neutral solvent-free PVC cleaner. Straight strokes, rinse, dry.
• ✓Anti-algae pre-treatment on north and east-facing alpine location frames.
• ✓Clear stone sill junctions and all drainage slots.

Hardware

• ✓Annual lubrication at all mechanism points. Heavy triple-glazed sash scissors: priority.
• ✓Entrance door: all locking points including deadbolt, hook bolts, and hinge points.
• ✓Terrace door: running gear lubrication twice yearly.

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 Wicknorm Fenster 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 Wicknorm 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 Wicknorm 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 Wicknorm 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

• ★ Austrian regional window clients expect a thorough service. The reveal condition check, sill junction clearance, and hardware lubrication are all expected as part of a professional Austrian window cleaning visit.
• ★ Triple-glazed Wicknorm windows represent a significant proportion of newer Austrian residential installations. Build the heavy-sash hinge lubrication check into every visit protocol automatically.
• ★ Biological growth on Wicknorm north-facing frames in alpine locations is a year-round presence. Anti-algae treatment at every bi-annual clean maintains a manageable level. Skipping it for two visits produces a growth level that needs more aggressive and more time-consuming treatment.
• ★ Austrian stone windowsills often have a slight inward pitch by design, channelling drainage toward the frame base. The drainage is intentional but the debris it carries accumulates at the frame-to-sill junction. Clear it at the start of every visit.
• ★ Colour foil windows on Austrian residential buildings are less common than white PVC but are present. The foil cleaning protocol is identical regardless of the Austrian brand - solvent-free without exception.
• ★ Wicknorm entrance door locking mechanisms on Austrian residential properties are typically operated multiple times daily. This cycle rate means lubrication of the locking points is more important on entrance doors than on any window in the same installation.
• ★ Pre-alpine Austrian windows under deciduous tree canopy accumulate leaf staining in autumn that is harder to remove than standard atmospheric deposits. A brief dwell of pH-neutral cleaner on the stained areas before wiping, rather than immediate wiping, improves removal.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2 to 3x per year (Forest-adjacent alpine locations: three times.). Frames: Same visit as glass (Anti-algae check on north-facing frames every visit in alpine locations.). Drainage slots: Every clean (Standard Austrian tilt-and-turn maintenance.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Entrance door twice yearly due to high-cycle use.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Wicknorm is one of several competent Austrian regional window manufacturers. The product quality and maintenance requirements are consistent with the Austrian market standard. The regional brand distinction matters less than the Austrian construction and climate context. Austrian regional window cleaning contracts benefit from a consistent annual protocol that includes all the alpine-specific elements: reveal check, sill clearance, biological growth treatment, and triple-glazed hinge attention. Entrance door service is frequently omitted from Austrian window cleaning contracts but is the highest-use hardware in any Austrian residential installation. Adding entrance door hardware service to the annual clean adds value and prevents service calls.”

Justin Orloff