With grazing-emission X-ray fluorescence, the opposite principle of total reflection X-ray fluorescence is utilized. Instead of a ≈0°/90° (incident beam/take-off angle) geometry, a ≈90°/≈0° geometry should be applied. This renders it possible to increase the determined range of elements to elements with the characteristic radiation of longer wavelength, as a conventional wavelength-dispersive spectrometer can be used. In this study, a critical review of the instrumental set-up is presented and special emphasis is paid to essential parts of the device, like the sample chamber with the tilting sample table and the Rh end window tube. Especially for the application of this device to the analysis of environmental samples, a critical statement was necessary. It was found that the instrument in its present status is not in an optimal condition for such a type of analysis and some selected variations in the actual set-up might bring significant improvements. Furthermore, detailed proposals of a possible reconstruction for a more optimized device are presented and new aspects for a wider field of applications for this instrument, for instance as a microprobe, are investigated.