Aug. Winkhaus — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Standard glass cleaning technique. Microfibre T-bar and professional squeegee.
• ✓On motorised activPilot windows: do not spray cleaning solution directly at the mechanism area. Apply with a cloth near the hardware zone.
• ✓Keep solution away from any electronic control panels near activPilot windows.
• ✓Edge wipe in rebate before final pull.

Frames

• ✓Clean frames according to the frame material - PVC or aluminium depending on the window manufacturer.
• ✓Wipe down visible hardware with a damp cloth and dry immediately at every clean.
• ✓On activPilot windows, do not wet the motor housing area during frame cleaning.
• ✓Clear drainage slots as standard on all tilt-and-turn windows.

Hardware

• ✓Standard manual Winkhaus hardware: annual lubrication with light oil or PTFE spray at all mechanism points.
• ✓activPilot motorised hardware: lubrication access points are specific to the system - check Winkhaus technical documentation for lubrication points. Do not lubricate the motor unit itself.
• ✓Multi-point door locks: annual lubrication of all bolt and hook points. Full handle cycle after lubrication.

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 Aug. Winkhaus 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 Winkhaus 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 Winkhaus 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 Winkhaus 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

• ★ Identifying activPilot motorised windows before starting is not optional. Spraying window cleaner into a motorised Winkhaus mechanism causes water ingress to the motor unit. The repair cost is significant. The identification step takes seconds.
• ★ Standard Winkhaus tilt-and-turn hardware has the same lubrication requirements as MACO or ROTO hardware of equivalent specification. If you know how to service one central European hardware brand, the same protocol applies to Winkhaus with minor adjustments.
• ★ Corner transfer pieces on Winkhaus tilt-and-turn fittings are the first mechanism point to show wear. A clicking sound when the handle passes 45 degrees is the corner piece signalling it needs lubrication.
• ★ Winkhaus security hardware in RC2 or RC3 applications uses specific anti-lift and anti-drilling components that are not visible from outside. Do not attempt to adjust or replace any component on security-rated hardware without written instruction from the building manager or installer.
• ★ activPilot windows in smart home systems may be set to operate automatically based on temperature or CO2 sensors. Warn the occupant before working on or near activPilot windows - an automatically operating window during cleaning is a safety hazard.
• ★ Winkhaus blueMatic commercial access control doors are building security infrastructure. Never disable, disconnect, or service any electronic component without coordinating with the building's IT and security management team.
• ★ On standard Winkhaus manual hardware, PTFE spray is preferred over oil in office building windows where the mechanism is adjacent to interior spaces. Oil attracts dust from the interior environment and gums up in guide channels over time. PTFE leaves no residue.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: As required by window type (Determined by the window manufacturer specification, not by Winkhaus.). Standard manual hardware: Once per year (Annual lubrication standard. More frequent on high-use commercial windows.). activPilot motorised hardware: Annual check by qualified installer (Electronic component checks and motor function testing requires Winkhaus-qualified service.). Multi-point door locks: Twice per year on entrance doors (High daily-cycle hardware needs bi-annual lubrication service.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Winkhaus is one of the most widely distributed central European window hardware brands. Standard Winkhaus tilt-and-turn fittings are serviced with the same protocol as any equivalent hardware - the brand distinction matters less than the mechanism type. The activPilot motorised system is the most technically distinctive Winkhaus product from a cleaning and maintenance perspective. It changes the glass and hardware cleaning protocol in a way that no other standard residential hardware does. Security hardware certification on Winkhaus RC2 and RC3 products is a building envelope security issue as well as a maintenance consideration. Property owners and building managers value a maintenance contractor who understands and respects these certifications.”

Justin Orloff