VEKRA (Window Holding)

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Wash glass with lukewarm water and mild soap - dish soap is suitable.
• ✓Apply cleaning solution in circular movements across the glass surface.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
• ✓Remove water from the glass using a window squeegee, working top to bottom.
• ✕Never clean dry - dust on a dry surface scratches the glass when rubbed.
• ✓Never wash in freezing temperatures with hot water - the temperature difference can crack the glazing.
• ✓No abrasive cleaners, rough sponges, solvents, gasoline, or aggressive chemicals on glass.

Plastic (uPVC) Frames

• ✓Clean with a damp cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✓In summer, wipe plastic frames exposed to direct sun more frequently to prevent black spots and yellow staining.
• ✓Clear the drainage holes in the lower frame section regularly.
• ✕No solvents of any kind.
• ✓No petrol or gasoline.
• ✓No abrasive cleaners or rough sponges.
• ✓No aggressive chemicals.

Wood Frames

• ✓Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✕After each wash, treat wooden frames and sashes with wood balm - this is not optional.
• ✓Apply balm at temperatures between 5-25°C, not in direct sunlight.
• ✓Do not clean wooden frames with solvents, abrasives, or aggressive chemicals.
• ✓Professional repainting is required approximately every 10-15 years depending on sun exposure.
• ✕Do not attempt DIY painting of wooden VEKRA frames - VEKRA's documentation explicitly states that untrained individuals must not attempt any painting on wooden windows.

Aluminium Frames

• ✓Clean with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✓No abrasive tools or pads on aluminium surfaces.
• ✓Contact VEKRA directly for specific cleaning product recommendations for your aluminium finish.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all moving hardware parts with silicone oil.
• ✓Apply a few drops of silicone oil into the designated openings on the hardware.
• ✓Hardware lubrication should be done at least once per year.
• ✓Contact VEKRA's service line (800 777 666) or email info@vekra.cz for hardware adjustment or repair.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Clean seals once a year with a soft cloth.
• ✓After cleaning, treat seals with silicone oil or glycerin to keep them flexible and extend their lifespan.
• ✓Inspect seals during each cleaning for cracks, hardening, or gaps. Replace worn seals promptly.

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 VEKRA (Window Holding) installation.

1. 1

   Detail the frame first

   Before touching the glass, wipe down the window frame edges with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soapy water. Remove the dust, pollen, and grime sitting on the frame surface.

   When the squeegee runs across the glass, the rubber edge makes contact with the frame. Any dirt on that frame gets picked up and dragged across the clean glass as a streak. Clean the frame first, every time.

   For plastic VEKRA frames, use a cloth with no solvent residue. For timber frames, use a damp cloth - not a saturated one. Wood absorbs water quickly, and excess moisture sitting on the frame surface works against you.

2. 2

   Agitate the glass

   Dip your T-bar applicator completely into the soapy water. Apply the solution across the entire glass surface in overlapping strokes. The goal is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can shave it away cleanly.

   VEKRA's own documentation makes this point directly: never clean dry glass. Dust on a dry surface acts like sandpaper when rubbed. Always wet the glass fully and let the solution work on the dirt before the squeegee touches the surface.

   Never clean in direct sunlight. The soap water dries before you can squeegee it off, baking residue onto the glass that is harder to remove than the original dirt.

3. 3

   Detail the frame edge again before squeegeeing

   Once the glass is agitated, run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the window frame. This removes the pooled soap water sitting on the frame.

   When the squeegee reaches those edges, it will not pick up dirty water and drag it back across the glass. This step takes ten seconds and prevents the majority of streaks.

4. 4

   The three squeegee turns

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

   Top to bottom: the same principle, working in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward. Wipe the rubber dry after each line. Overlap into the next column across.

   The J turn: the professional continuous motion - from the top of the window to the bottom in one smooth, uninterrupted movement. Your thumb guides the rotation as you reach the end of each horizontal pass: rotate your wrist so the squeegee turns and continues. The fastest and most consistent turn for any VEKRA window size.

5. 5

   Edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, there is always a thin line of water along the bottom edge and both sides. Take a dry cotton rag, fold it to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.

   Get your finger into the junction where the glass meets the frame seal. Remove any pooled soap water sitting there. Left to dry, it leaves a residue mark visible as soon as light hits the glass.

   Rotate the rag to a clean section after every window. Replace it with a fresh rag every few windows.

6. 6

   Timber frame balm (timber VEKRA windows only)

   After cleaning, apply wood balm to timber frames and sashes using a sponge applicator. Only apply at temperatures between 5-25°C when direct sunlight is not hitting the frame. VEKRA's documentation specifies balm treatment twice yearly to maintain the timber surface protection.

7. 7

   Hardware and seals

   Apply a few drops of silicone oil to all moving hardware points. Treat seals with silicone oil or glycerin after cleaning. Both steps should be done at least once per year.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify the frame material before starting - plastic, timber, wood/alu, or aluminium. The frame rules differ. The glass technique does not.
• ★ Never clean dry VEKRA glass - VEKRA's own documentation warns that dust on a dry surface acts like sandpaper. Always wet the glass fully first.
• ★ Timber frames need balm after every wash - this is not optional. Missing this step leaves the wood surface unprotected.
• ★ Do not attempt to repaint VEKRA timber frames yourself - VEKRA explicitly states DIY painting causes irreversible damage.
• ★ In summer, wipe plastic frames in direct sun more frequently - heat combined with UV accelerates yellowing and black spot formation.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (VEKRA recommends spring and autumn. Quarterly in urban and high-traffic environments.). Timber frames - balm treatment: 2x per year (After each cleaning. Apply at 5-25°C, not in direct sunlight.). Hardware lubrication (silicone oil): 1x per year minimum (Into designated hardware openings. Contact VEKRA for adjustment or repair.). Seal treatment (silicone oil or glycerin): 1x per year (After cleaning. Inspect seals at every clean for cracks or gaps.). Drain hole inspection and clearing: At every cleaning (Blocked drainage causes water pooling that damages seals and hardware.). Timber professional repaint: Every 10-15 years (Depends on sun exposure. South-facing windows degrade faster. Professional only - no DIY.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (spring and autumn). Quarterly in urban and high-traffic environments. Timber frames: balm treatment twice yearly after each clean. Apply at 5-25°C, not in direct sun. Hardware: silicone oil annually. Seals: silicone oil or glycerin annually. Drain holes: clear at every cleaning. Timber repainting: every 10-15 years by a professional only. Never attempt DIY painting on VEKRA timber windows.”

Justin Orloff