Hrachowina Fenster & Türen

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean with warm water and a soft, clean cloth or professional squeegee with fresh rubber.
• ✓Use mild pH-neutral cleaning products only.
• ✓Remove construction dust and debris from glass immediately after building work.
• ✕Do not use abrasive or solvent-containing cleaning agents.
• ✓Do not use steel wool, scouring pads, or razor blades.

Lacquered Timber Frames (Holz Standard, H-SMAL, HA ranges - interior)

• ✓Clean with warm water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Use ADLER Pflegeset-Plus once per year for lacquered surfaces.
• ✓First clean with warm water and sponge cloths, then allow to dry completely before applying care product.
• ✓Apply the ADLER care product with a cotton cloth or sponge.
• ✕Do not use abrasive or solvent-containing cleaning agents.
• ✓Do not allow water to pool on timber surfaces.

Larch Timber Frames (oiled finish)

• ✕Use ADLER Pullex Holzol 50520 only - no substitutes.
• ✓Clean the surface first with warm water and sponge cloths.
• ✓Apply the oil thinly to the dry surface with a sponge or cotton cloth.
• ✓If the wood shows strong absorption, repeat after overnight drying.
• ✓Frequency: 1-2 times per year depending on exposure.

Aluminium Cladding (HA and Kunststoff-Alu ranges - exterior)

• ✓Clean with Powder Polish twice per year.
• ✓Use lukewarm water and a soft cloth for general cleaning.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✕Remove bird excrement promptly - it attacks the powder-coated surface.
• ✓Do not use abrasive products on the powder coating.

PVC/Kunststoff Frames

• ✓Clean with warm water and a mild pH-neutral detergent.
• ✓Use a soft cloth - no abrasive cloths or pads.
• ✕PVC profiles contain lead-free greenline stabilisers - they are sensitive to aggressive chemicals.
• ✓Do not use solvent-containing cleaning agents on PVC.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts with acid-free, resin-free oil at least once per year.
• ✓Safety mushroom bolts (Kunststoff range) need regular lubrication.
• ✕Do not use silicone spray.
• ✓Do not use general-purpose lubricants.

Seals and Drainage

• ✓Inspect seals annually for cracks, hardening, or displacement.
• ✓Clear all drain channels at every cleaning session.
• ✕The optimised trough sealing system on Holz-Alu windows directs water outward - blocked channels defeat this design.

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 Hrachowina Fenster & Türen installation.

1. 1

   Clear drainage and brush down

   Before touching glass or cloth to frame, brush down the entire window. Clear all drain channels of leaves, insects, and debris. Hrachowina's optimised trough sealing system on the Holz-Alu range is designed to direct water outward - blocked channels pool water against timber or into the frame cavity.

   Use a dry soft brush along the frame edges, sill, and drainage slots. This takes thirty seconds per window and prevents every problem that comes from trapped water.

2. 2

   Identify your frame material

   This step is Hrachowina-specific because of the range breadth. Before you start cleaning the frames, confirm what you are working with. Timber interior with aluminium exterior means two different cloths and two different products. PVC with aluminium shell means a different pair again. Oiled larch is a different protocol entirely from lacquered timber. Get this wrong and you damage the surface on the first wipe.

3. 3

   Agitate the glass

   Dip your T-bar applicator fully into the soapy water on both sides. Apply the solution across the whole glass surface using overlapping strokes. The soap water dissolves the dirt so the squeegee can shave it away cleanly.

   If the dirt is not fully dissolved, the remaining particles get dragged under the squeegee and leave smears. Never clean in direct sunlight - the soap dries before you can squeegee it off.

4. 4

   Frame-edge detailing before squeegeeing

   On Hrachowina timber windows (Holz Standard, H-SMAL, and the interior of all HA ranges), detail the edges where glass meets timber frame before squeegeeing. Run a dry cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges.

   On PVC and Kunststoff-Alu windows, use a microfibre cloth for edge detailing.

5. 5

   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 so water spills from one side only. Wipe dry after each pass.

   Top to bottom: same principle, vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward.

   The J tune (continuous motion): one smooth movement from top to bottom. On the HA-SMAL with its narrow 5 cm sash, the J tune requires tighter wrist control at each turn because the frame margin is smaller.

   On Hrachowina timber windows, every turn stops before the timber frame. On PVC and aluminium, the squeegee can run to the frame edge.

6. 6

   Final edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, detail the edges where the rubber could not close out. Take a dry cotton rag (timber) or microfibre cloth (PVC/aluminium), fold to a clean corner, and run along the bottom edge and sides.

   On Hrachowina timber windows, this step is critical. The gap you left between squeegee and timber frame needs to be dried completely. Any soap water left on lacquered timber will leave marks.

7. 7

   Aluminium cladding care

   On HA and Kunststoff-Alu windows, wipe down the exterior aluminium with a soft microfibre cloth in lukewarm soapy water. Rinse with clean water and dry.

   Apply Powder Polish twice per year. Remove bird excrement immediately - it attacks the coating.

8. 8

   Timber treatment

   After the window is clean and dry, apply ADLER Pflegeset-Plus to all lacquered timber surfaces once per year. For larch windows, apply ADLER Pullex Holzol 50520 only - thinly, with a cotton cloth, to the dry surface. If the wood absorbs heavily, repeat after overnight drying.

9. 9

   Hardware lubrication

   Apply acid-free, resin-free oil to all hinges, locking points, and moving hardware at least once per year. On the Kunststoff range, pay attention to the safety mushroom bolts - they need lubrication to maintain their security function.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify your Hrachowina system before picking up a cloth - four material categories, nine product ranges, two different timber care products.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. On the HA-SMAL with its narrow sash, the squeegee margin is tight - clear the frame edge meticulously.
• ★ Use cotton cloths on all timber surfaces - microfibre marks lacquered timber.
• ★ ADLER Pullex Holzol 50520 is for larch only. ADLER Pflegeset-Plus is for lacquered timber. Do not interchange them.
• ★ Clear all drainage channels at every cleaning session - Hrachowina's trough sealing system depends on free-flowing drainage.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2x per year minimum (Four times per year in urban Vienna with traffic pollution and pollen.). Lacquered timber frames: ADLER Pflegeset-Plus 1x per year (Clean with warm water first, allow to dry, then apply.). Oiled larch frames: ADLER Pullex Holzol 50520 1-2x per year (Depending on exposure. Repeat if wood absorbs heavily.). Aluminium cladding: Powder Polish 2x per year (Plus immediate removal of bird excrement.). PVC frames: Every cleaning session (Warm water and mild detergent.). Hardware lubrication: 1x per year minimum (Acid-free, resin-free oil. No silicone spray.). Drainage channel clearing: Every cleaning session (Critical for Holz-Alu trough sealing system.). Seal inspection: 1x per year (Check for cracks, hardening, or displacement.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass: minimum twice per year, four times in urban Vienna with pollution and pollen. Lacquered timber: ADLER Pflegeset-Plus once per year after cleaning and drying. Oiled larch: ADLER Pullex Holzol 50520 one to two times per year - no substitutes. Aluminium cladding: Powder Polish twice per year, plus immediate bird excrement removal. PVC frames: clean each session with warm water and mild detergent. Hardware: annual oiling with acid-free, resin-free oil. No silicone spray. Drainage: clear at every session - Hrachowina's trough sealing depends on it.”

Justin Orloff