All Windows Group — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean with pH-neutral glass cleaner on a microfibre cloth. Rubber squeegee for streak-free finish.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on glass - IGU coatings on mid-range units may be on the outer pane face in some solar control configurations.
• ✓Inspect glazing bead integrity annually - on uPVC units, beads can become brittle with age and UV exposure.
• ✓If condensation appears between panes, the IGU seal has failed. No cleaning technique addresses this - the unit needs replacement.
• ✓Clean glass seals with a damp cloth only to avoid drying out the rubber compound.

Frames

• ✓For uPVC frames: warm water and pH-neutral detergent on a soft cloth. No abrasives, no solvents.
• ✓For aluminium frames: pH-neutral detergent solution, rinse thoroughly, dry immediately.
• ✓On foil-laminated uPVC, avoid pooling water at foil edges and corners where adhesion is under most stress.
• ✓Clear drainage holes at the base of the outer frame with a soft brush every 6 months.
• ✓Check perimeter sealant between frame and masonry every spring for cracking.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all locking points, hinges, and pivot pins with light machine oil or PTFE spray twice yearly.
• ✓On tilt-and-turn windows, test both tilt and turn functions after lubrication.
• ✓Check handle fixing screws annually - these work loose from regular use.
• ✓If a sash drags on the sill or the handle requires excessive force to close, call a technician before the fault damages hardware or frame.
• ✓Hardware brands (Roto, Maco, Winkhaus) are visible on keeps and hinge bodies - use brand name to source replacements if needed.

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 All Windows Group installation.

1. 1

   Preparation -- before any water touches the glass

   Fill the bucket with at least 10 litres of water. Add soap for cleaning power -- enough to cut through environmental deposits, not so much you are fighting foam.

   Before touching the glass, brush down the surface to remove loose dust, spiderwebs, and debris. Any grit left on the glass during the wash phase risks scratching during agitation.

   Check the aluminium frame condition before you start. Confirm which cleaning product is safe for that surface before opening any bottle.

   Cover anything below the windows that cannot be moved.

2. 2

   Agitation -- apply and work the solution

   Dip the microfiber T-bar completely into the soap water, both sides. Remove excess water with your hand so it does not drip. Apply the solution across the entire glass surface with overlapping passes.

   The goal is to fully dissolve and release every deposit from the glass surface. Anything not released during agitation gets transported across the glass by the squeegee as a smear.

   For stubborn spots -- insect marks, salt residue, environmental deposits -- re-apply soap water and allow it to soak for a full minute before agitating again. Use more soap water, not more pressure.

   For panels above arm reach: attach the T-bar to an extension pole. Work in sections -- top first, then middle, then bottom -- keeping each section wet until you squeegee it.

   Rinse the T-bar cover regularly during the job. A dirty applicator causes microscopic scratches that accumulate over time.

3. 3

   Detail the frame edge before squeegeeing

   Use your 100% cotton towelling rag, finger pressed into the fabric, to work into every junction and remove pooled soap water before the squeegee pass.

   This prevents drips running down onto already-cleaned areas during squeegeeing and keeps soap water out of drainage channels.

   On All Windows aluminium frames, pay particular attention to the bottom edge where glass meets the frame sill -- water pooled here runs into drainage openings and leaves residue over time.

4. 4

   The squeegee

   Tilt the squeegee at a slight angle so soap water spills from one side of the channel only -- not both. If the rubber is jumping or squeaking, either the rubber is not lubricated enough or the glass surface has warmed.

   Cutting in: start with the rubber blade making first contact on a dry edge of the glass.

   Side to side: horizontal passes across the panel. Works well on wide sections. Top to bottom: vertical passes down the panel. Works well on tall narrow sections.

   The J tune: one smooth unbroken motion top to bottom, wrist rotating at each end to reverse without lifting the rubber. The most efficient method on larger panels -- but it requires training before applying it to premium glass.

   Wipe the rubber dry after every pass. Overlap each stroke by 2-3 cm.

5. 5

   Final edge detailing

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

   On All Windows frames, the bottom edge where glass meets the sill requires the most careful attention. Water left here runs into drainage and leaves residue that affects the next clean.

   Rotate the rag to a clean section after every pass. If the rag picks up grit at any point, replace it immediately.

6. 6

   Frame wipe and hardware check

   On All Windows powder-coated aluminium frames: use pH-neutral cleaner only, never abrasive pads or steel wool. Dry immediately after wiping.

   Check that all drainage openings are clear and unobstructed. Water must be able to flow freely -- a blocked channel leads to accumulation that affects seal performance over time.

   Operate every opening window through its full range. Stiff handles or resistance at locking points indicate hardware that needs lubrication. Flag it to the owner rather than forcing it.

Pro Tips

• ★ Polish-manufactured uPVC windows often use VEKA or Rehau profiles - check the internal chamber markings if you need to identify the profile system for spares or technical data.
• ★ On export units, hardware brand markings on the keeps and hinge bodies are the most reliable way to source replacement parts without going back to the original manufacturer.
• ★ Both uPVC and aluminium windows from Polish manufacturers are built to the same EN standards as west European windows. Do not assume lower quality because of country of origin.
• ★ Tilt-and-turn mechanism faults on Roto or Maco hardware are best diagnosed by a technician familiar with the specific hardware system, not by trial adjustment.
• ★ Mid-range IGU units at Polish price points may use aluminium spacer bars rather than warm-edge. Aluminium spacer bars conduct cold to the inner pane edge more than warm-edge systems and can show condensation at the edge earlier in cold weather.
• ★ Clear drainage slots in autumn before leaf fall season blocks them and during spring after winter debris accumulation.
• ★ If you have a mix of uPVC and aluminium windows in the same building from All-Windows, keep separate cloths for each material to avoid cross-contamination of cleaning residues.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Every 6-8 weeks (More frequently on ground floor or road-facing elevations.). Frame cleaning: Every 3-4 months (Drain slots checked every 6 months.). Hardware lubrication: Twice yearly (Spring and autumn.). Full service check: Annually (Seals, drainage, hardware adjustment, frame condition.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Polish-manufactured windows at mid-range price points are consistently well-built in our experience. The main variable is hardware adjustment quality at installation - many issues we see are installation faults, not manufacturing defects. The export market focus means All-Windows units are often shipped to countries where local service agents are not available. Hardware brand knowledge is essential for anyone maintaining these windows remotely. uPVC units from Polish manufacturers often age well in temperate climates. Surface yellowing on south-facing units is the most common aesthetic issue and is addressable with PVC restorer cream.”

Justin Orloff