Drutex — 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 lukewarm water and a mild washing substance.
• ✓Use a soft cloth only.
• ✓No abrasive substances on the glass surface.
• ✕No solvents or acid-based products.

uPVC Frames (IGLO series)

• ✓Clean with mild washing substances that have degreasing properties.
• ✓Cleaning materials must not contain abrasive substances or chemicals that dissolve or infiltrate into PVC.
• ✓No washing powders.
• ✕No acids or acid-based substances.
• ✓No solvents.
• ✓No abrasive materials - they cause surface tarnish and micro holes in the PVC.

Aluminium Frames (MB series)

• ✓Remove all dirt and dust regularly - aluminium is vulnerable to atmospheric deposits and fumes.
• ✓Lightly soiled surfaces: soft cloth with mild washing substances.
• ✓Heavily soiled surfaces: use special cleaning materials designed for aluminium.
• ✓Car body maintenance materials are acceptable for aluminium frames.
• ✕No washing powders, acids, solvents, or abrasive materials.

Wood Frames (SOFTLINE, DUOLINE)

• ✓Clean regularly with a dedicated cleaning kit.
• ✓The kit should infiltrate deep into the wood, dry quickly, and be dilutable with water.
• ✕Regular cleaning prolongs the life of the protective coating and delays renovation.
• ✓Dirt left on the surface damages protective coats over time.

Hardware and Seals

• ✓Clean and lubricate all moving parts at least once per year.
• ✓Use only dedicated products that do not affect the anti-corrosion coating.
• ✓Lubricate all moving parts of the lock with petroleum jellies at least once per year.
• ✓Apply silicon resin-based products to seal surfaces for atmospheric protection and freeze resistance.
• ✕Verify secure assembly of all safety-critical elements.

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 Drutex 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 uPVC 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 Drutex uPVC 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 Drutex 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 Drutex uPVC frames: solvent-free pH-neutral cleaner only -- solvents cause permanent surface damage. Avoid abrasive pads on the profile.

   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

• ★ Identify the material system before you start - IGLO (uPVC), MB (aluminium), SOFTLINE (wood), or DUOLINE (wood/aluminium). Each needs different frame care.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ On aluminium MB series frames, regular cleaning is corrosion prevention - do not skip it.
• ★ On wooden frames, use the dedicated cleaning kit Drutex recommends - it penetrates the wood without harming the protective coating.
• ★ On four-pane krypton-filled units, let the squeegee glide rather than pressing into the glass - these are the heaviest units in the range.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Quarterly in urban environments with pollution, pollen, and construction dust.). Aluminium frames (MB series): 2x per year minimum (More often in polluted locations where atmospheric deposits attack the surface.). Wooden frames (SOFTLINE, DUOLINE): 2x per year (Clean with dedicated kit. Inspect protective coating annually.). Hardware: 1x per year minimum (Use only dedicated products that do not affect the anti-corrosion coating.). Seal maintenance: 1x per year, ideally before winter (Silicon resin-based products for atmospheric protection and freeze resistance.). Drainage channels: 1x per year (Or after heavy storms.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum, quarterly in urban environments with pollution and construction dust. Aluminium MB series frames: twice-yearly minimum - regular cleaning is corrosion prevention. Wooden SOFTLINE and DUOLINE frames: clean with dedicated kit twice yearly, inspect protective coating annually. Hardware: annual lubrication with dedicated products that do not affect anti-corrosion coating. Seals: annual maintenance with silicon resin-based products, ideally before winter.”

Justin Orloff