WAKU Fenster und Türen

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 in warm water. Microfibre T-bar and professional squeegee.
• ✓In tilt position for inner face. In turn position for outer face. Check hinge scissors support the sash weight smoothly before tilting triple-glazed windows.
• ✓Pay attention to the outer frame faces within the masonry reveal - these are partially sheltered from rain and accumulate specific deposits.
• ✓Edge wipe in rebate before final pull.

Frames

• ✓pH-neutral solvent-free PVC cleaner. No solvents, no bleach on PVC frames.
• ✓Anti-algae pre-treatment on north and east-facing frames with biological growth in alpine locations.
• ✓Clear the frame-to-sill junction thoroughly. Stone sill junctions collect debris and organic matter.
• ✓Clear all sash drainage slots at every clean.

Hardware

• ✓Annual lubrication: all hinge scissors (with extra attention on heavy triple-glazed sashes), corner transfer pieces, espagnolette rods.
• ✓Entrance door multi-point lock: lubricate all hook and bolt points.
• ✓Check terrace door lift-and-slide running gear twice yearly in alpine locations.

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 WAKU Fenster und Türen installation.

1. 1

   Reveal and sill assessment

   Check the masonry reveal condition - moisture staining or organic growth in the reveal indicates the reveal needs clearing before the window can be cleaned effectively.

   Check the stone or concrete sill junction for accumulated debris and organic matter.

   Identify north and east-facing windows for anti-algae pre-treatment.

2. 2

   Pre-treatment

   Apply anti-algae treatment to affected frame sections on alpine location windows. Allow dwell time. Rinse.

   Clear the sill junction with a soft brush before wetting.

3. 3

   Glass cleaning

   Inner face in tilt, outer face in turn. On heavy triple-glazed sashes, confirm hinge support is smooth.

   Squeegee top to bottom. Edge wipe before final pull.

   Check the reveal faces of the outer frame.

4. 4

   Frame cleaning

   pH-neutral solvent-free cleaner on cloth. Straight strokes.

   Clear drainage slots. Clear sill junction.

   Rinse and dry.

5. 5

   Hardware lubrication

   Lubricate all mechanism points. Extra attention to hinge scissors on triple-glazed sashes.

   Entrance door: lubricate all multi-point lock points.

   Operate full cycle on all windows and doors.

6. 6

   Final check

   Confirm all windows close and lock smoothly.

   Check all sill junctions are clear.

   Note any reveal moisture issues, sealant gaps, or biological growth that has not fully responded to treatment.

Pro Tips

• ★ Austrian masonry reveals require attention to the reveal wall condition as well as the window itself. A damp reveal wall with algae growth will re-contaminate a clean window frame within weeks.
• ★ Triple-glazed tilt-and-turn windows are noticeably heavier in tilt position than double-glazed equivalents. If the sash droops slightly in tilt position, lubricate the hinge scissors before concluding they are worn - a dry scissor on a heavy sash droops earlier than a lubricated one.
• ★ Stone sill junctions on Austrian masonry buildings are the most consistently missed cleaning point on Austrian residential window maintenance visits. Set up the stone sill clearing as the first step before wetting anything.
• ★ Anti-algae treatment on north-facing Austrian windows works best applied on a dry day and allowed to dwell without rain. Plan the biological treatment visit for dry weather if possible.
• ★ Austrian entrance doors with five-point locking have five separate lubrication points on the locking system. Work through each point systematically - operating the handle to each engaged position to access the bolt or hook before lubricating.
• ★ Colour foil PVC windows in Austria follow the same solvent-free cleaning protocol as in any other central European market. The alpine location does not change the foil sensitivity to solvents.
• ★ Pre-alpine Austrian locations near spruce forest see resin deposits on glass in summer, particularly on windows under or near tree canopy. Identify resin deposits before cleaning - they need a resin-specific treatment, not standard glass cleaner.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 2 to 3x per year (Alpine locations with pollen and forest deposits: three times yearly. Urban Austria: twice yearly standard.). Frames: Same visit as glass (Anti-algae check on north-facing frames at every visit in forest-adjacent locations.). Drainage slots: Every clean (Standard tilt-and-turn maintenance.). Hardware lubrication: Once per year (Twice yearly on terrace door lift-and-slide systems in alpine use.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“WAKU represents the Austrian regional window manufacturer category - smaller than the big European profile brands but producing competent mid-range products for the Austrian market. Alpine biological growth is the most consistently underaddressed maintenance issue on Austrian residential windows. It is climate-normal and needs a standard protocol, not an exceptional one. Triple-glazed Austrian residential windows are common enough in the alpine market to require double-glazed hinge lubrication awareness at every service visit.”

Justin Orloff