Finstral

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Use lukewarm water with mild washing-up liquid and a soft cloth.
• ✓Do not use aggressive or solvent-based cleaning agents.
• ✓Do not use ammonia-based products.
• ✓No sharp-edged objects or abrasive materials on the glass surface.
• ✕No razor blades - ever.

PVC and Aluminium-Clad Frames

• ✓Use mild soapy water and a soft cloth - across PVC, aluminium-clad and timber-aluminium exteriors.
• ✓No solvent-based products on any surface.
• ✓No ammonia-based products on aluminium-clad or PVC/aluminium windows.
• ✓No abrasive cloths, stiff brushes, or steel wool.
• ✕No high-pressure water directed at frame joints, drainage channels, or hardware.

Insect Screens and Nets

• ✓Vacuum dust from the net first.
• ✓Wipe with a cloth dampened in lukewarm water - no solvents, no ammonia, no hydrocarbons.
• ✕Allow the net to dry completely before rolling it back into the cassette. A damp net rolled into a sealed cassette causes mould buildup inside the housing.

Hardware and Fanlight Tilt Mechanism

• ✓Inspect and lubricate at least once per year.
• ✓Finstral recommends qualified personnel carry out this work.
• ✓Contact your installation company if you are unsure.

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 Finstral installation.

1. 1

   Agitation - the step that changes everything

   Dip the T-bar completely into the soapy water on both sides. Apply across the whole glass area with overlapping passes. The goal is to dissolve the dirt and release it from the surface so the squeegee can shave it away.

   If the dirt is not fully dissolved, the squeegee transports it across the glass and leaves smears. On large Finstral aluminium panels, cover the entire surface before moving to the squeegee. For stubborn spots like insect marks, re-apply and agitate again.

2. 2

   Detail the frame edge again before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top and both side edges. This removes pooled soap water sitting on the frame so the squeegee will not pick up dirty residue and drag it back across the glass.

3. 3

   The three squeegee turns

   Side to side: start at the top edge with a dry rubber. Work across in a straight horizontal line. Tilt the squeegee slightly so soap water spills from one side only. Wipe the rubber dry after each line. Overlap into the next line down.

   Top to bottom: same principles, vertical. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt so water spills downward from one side. Wipe dry after each line. Overlap into the next line across.

   The J tune (continuous motion): one smooth, unbroken movement from top to bottom. No stops. Your thumb is the guide - rotate your wrist at each end so the squeegee turns and continues without lifting. The fastest, most consistent method for any window size.

   On large Finstral panels where you cannot reach the top, use top-to-bottom with a pole until you reach arm height, then finish the lower section with side-to-side.

4. 4

   Final edge detailing

   After squeegeeing there is always a thin line of water along the bottom edge and at the sides where the squeegee cannot fully close out. Take a dry cotton rag, fold to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.

   Get your finger into the edge where glass meets the frame seal and remove any pooled soap water. Left to dry, this leaves a residue mark that shows up as soon as the sun hits the glass. Rotate the rag for each window. Replace every few windows.

5. 5

   The insect screen

   Clean the net separately. Vacuum the dust off first. Wipe with a cloth dampened in lukewarm water. Allow to dry completely before rolling back into the cassette.

Pro Tips

• ★ Detail the frame before touching the glass. Dust on the frame edge gets dragged across the glass by the squeegee rubber as a streak. Clean the frame first, every time.
• ★ No paper towels on the glass. They leave fibres and have no place in professional glass work.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass + frames: 2× per year (Spring and autumn. Quarterly in urban Vienna conditions.). Aluminium-clad frames: 2× per year (Mild soapy water removes acid rain deposits and pollution grime.). Hardware: 1× per year (Inspection and lubrication via Finstral installer or dealer.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year - once in spring, once in autumn. In Vienna's urban environment, with traffic pollution, pollen and construction dust, quarterly cleaning keeps the glass performing at its best. Aluminium-clad frames: a twice-yearly wipe-down with mild soapy water removes the acid rain deposits and pollution grime that accumulate on exterior surfaces. Hardware inspection and lubrication: at least once per year, through a Finstral installer or dealer. No paper towels on the glass. They leave fibres and have no place in professional glass work.”

Justin Orloff