Ekstrands — 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 mild liquid detergent (mild soapy water).
• ✕No abrasive cleaning agents of any kind.
• ✕No scouring pads, steel brushes, or scrapers on the glass surface.
• ✕No mechanical tools on glass surfaces.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✓Dry with a lint-free cloth or squeegee.

Timber Frames (Pine, Oak, Douglas Fir)

• ✓Clean painted timber surfaces with lukewarm water and mild detergent - Ekstrands recommends at least once per year.
• ✓Avoid cleaning agents with high pH value.
• ✓Avoid abrasive products that can damage the surface finish.
• ✕Do not saturate the timber - use a damp cloth, not a wet one.
• ✕Do not use solvents, ammonia, or bleach on timber surfaces.
• ✓Where the painted surface shows greying or cracks, repair with matching exterior paint in the original shade.

Timber/Aluminium Frames (EC/90 Plus+, Trä/Alu Modern)

• ✓Aluminium exterior: clean with water and a mild cleaning agent. For extra protection, the aluminium surface can be waxed.
• ✕Timber interior: mild soapy water and a damp cloth only. Do not soak the timber.
• ✕Do not use solvents on either the aluminium or timber surface.
• ✕Do not use ammonia-based products on either surface.
• ✕The aluminium-to-glass bonded joint must not be subjected to high-pressure water.

Hardware and Fittings

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts 1-2 times per year.
• ✓Apply lubricant to all pivot points, locking mechanisms, and hinge points.
• ✓Check hinges and hardware annually.
• ✓If stiffness develops on tilt-turn hardware, contact a qualified installer for adjustment.

Gaskets, Seals, and Drainage

• ✓Keep weatherstripping clean and inspect it annually.
• ✓Clean seals with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Check seal condition after heavy storms.
• ✓Drainage holes in the frame's lower section must be kept clear at all times.
• ✓Check and clear drainage holes as part of annual maintenance.

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 Ekstrands 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 timber 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 Ekstrands timber 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 Ekstrands 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 Ekstrands timber frames: use a barely damp cloth and dry immediately. Never allow water to sit on timber joints or frame corners -- moisture causes swelling and paint failure.

   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

• ★ Never cross-contaminate cloths between timber and aluminium surfaces on timber/aluminium models - what is safe on the aluminium exterior may not be safe on the timber interior.
• ★ Keep the timber cloth damp, not wet - saturating the wood risks the painted finish and the warranty, especially on the interior timber faces.
• ★ The bonded aluminium-to-glass joint on the EC/90 Plus+ must never be subjected to high-pressure water - this is a structural bond, not just a cosmetic edge.
• ★ Rubbing timber frames dry in a way that creates static electricity attracts dust back to the surface almost immediately - wipe in one direction and do not buff aggressively.
• ★ If you are in a coastal area, confirm your painting warranty period with Ekstrands directly - the standard painting warranty does not apply in salt-air environments.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: Twice per year minimum (Inside and out. Southern Sweden: spring clean essential before pollen season (April to June).). Urban and coastal environments: Quarterly (Salt air and pollution accelerate surface contamination.). Timber frame inspection: Annually (Look for greying or cracking in the glaze layer and repair promptly.). Hardware lubrication: 1-2 times per year (All moving parts - pivot points, locking mechanisms, hinges.). Drainage channel check: At least once per year, or after heavy rainfall. Gasket and seal inspection: Annually, with extra check after heavy storms

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year - quarterly in coastal or urban environments. Timber frame inspection: annually, look for greying or cracking in the glaze layer. Hardware lubrication: 1-2 times per year on all moving parts. Drainage channel check: at least once per year or after heavy rainfall. Gasket inspection: annually with extra check after heavy storms.”

Justin Orloff