Anglian Home Improvements — 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 glass 2–4 times per year using a professional squeegee and washer sleeve with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent.
• ✓Work top to bottom in overlapping passes. Wipe the squeegee blade after every stroke - a dirty blade leaves a dirty line.
• ✓On tilt-and-turn windows, tilt the sash inward to clean the outer face from inside. Do not lean out.
• ✓Avoid abrasive cloths, scourers, or window-cleaning sprays containing acetone or alcohol - these attack the glass coating and the frame finish.

uPVC Frames

• ✓Wipe frames with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. A small amount of washing-up liquid is sufficient.
• ✓For staining or ingrained grime, use a uPVC cleaner such as One Cream or Doff uPVC Cleaner. Apply with a soft cloth and rinse thoroughly.
• ✓Never use white spirit, WD-40, bleach, or cream abrasive cleaners on uPVC frames - these strip the surface finish and cause irreversible yellowing.
• ✓Rinse the frame base and drainage slots at the end of every clean to prevent detergent buildup blocking the weep holes.

Hardware and Seals

• ✓Lubricate hinges, locking cams, and handles once a year with light machine oil or a silicone-based lubricant. Wipe off excess.
• ✓Inspect rubber gaskets and weatherseals annually. Cracked or compressed seals reduce thermal performance and should be replaced.
• ✓Check that all locking points engage fully. Stiff hardware is a sign of misalignment - address it early to avoid frame damage.
• ✓Anglian's 10-year guarantee requires evidence of maintenance - keep a simple log of clean dates and any repairs for warranty claims.

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 Anglian Home Improvements 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 Anglian 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 Anglian 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 Anglian 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

• ★ Anglian casement windows have a bottom rail that sits against a rubber compression seal when closed. If you force water behind this seal during cleaning, you push moisture into the cavity. Keep your squeegee pressure light at the bottom edge.
• ★ White uPVC shows everything. Clean in the morning or in shade - direct sunlight dries your cleaning solution before you can squeegee it off, leaving smears.
• ★ The tilt-and-turn function is your friend for outer glass access. Use it - do not lean out or use ladders for low-level windows.
• ★ Anglian's warranty requires maintenance. A simple log with clean dates costs nothing and protects a significant financial investment.
• ★ If your Anglian frames have yellowed, they can be restored with a purpose-made uPVC restorer. Do not try this with cream cleaners - they contain micro-abrasives that will make the surface microscopically rougher, attracting more dirt.
• ★ Check the mastic seal around the outer frame against the brickwork every couple of years. A cracked seal allows water to enter the wall cavity, not just the window - it is a structural issue, not just an aesthetic one.
• ★ On Anglian conservatories, the glazing bar junctions where roof panels meet vertical frames are the highest-risk areas for water ingress. Clear these with a brush before every clean.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 3–4× per year (Spring, summer, autumn, winter on exposed UK homes. At minimum spring and autumn.). uPVC frames: 2× per year (Mild soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.). Drainage slots: Every clean (30 seconds per window - the most important maintenance step.). Hardware: 1× per year (Light oil on all moving parts. Check locking points and weatherseals.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Anglian windows fitted before 2010 may have double-glazed units rather than triple. These are more susceptible to condensation between panes - this is a failed sealed unit, not a cleaning issue. Some Anglian installations in coastal areas have shown earlier weatherseal degradation due to salt air. Annual checks are especially important within 2 miles of the coast. Anglian's sash windows (vertical sliders) have different drainage requirements from casement windows - the drainage is typically at the side of the track, not the bottom of the outer frame.”

Justin Orloff