Jonas Vinduer — 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 soapy water and a soft cloth or professional window cleaning applicator.
• ✕Do not use chemicals that could affect the glass package seals or window profiles.
• ✕Do not use high-pressure water directed at the glass edges or frame joints.
• ✓Do not use abrasive pads, steel wool, or sharp tools on the glass surface.
• ✕Thermal shock to glass (cold water on hot glass in direct sun) is excluded from warranty - avoid this.

Wood Frames - Scandinavian Standard and Euro-type

• ✓Clean with a soft damp cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✕Do not saturate pine frames with water - use a damp cloth, not a wet one.
• ✓Inspect the TEKNOS paint or varnish finish regularly. Cracking or peeling finish should be addressed before moisture penetration occurs.
• ✓On south or west-facing walls, dark-coloured pine frames may release resin under strong sun. This is a natural characteristic of the material, not a manufacturing defect.
• ✕Do not use solvents, ammonia-based products, or bleach on wood frame surfaces.

Aluminium-Clad Wood Frames - CORA / GUTMANN

• ✓The aluminium exterior requires no repainting or re-varnishing.
• ✓Clean with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Rinse with clean water.
• ✓Do not use abrasive cloths, steel wool, or scouring pads on the aluminium surface.
• ✕Do not use solvents, ammonia, or aggressive cleaning agents on aluminium profiles.
• ✓Keep the profile clean to maintain its protective function over the timber core.

Hardware

• ✓Oil hinges, locking points, and moving parts regularly with a light machine oil.
• ✓Check hardware for correct alignment and function at least once per year.
• ✓Do not spray water directly at lock mechanisms or hinge joints.
• ✓Contact your installer or Jonas Vinduer for hardware adjustment if the window becomes stiff to open or close.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Wipe seals with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.
• ✕Do not use solvents or bleach on rubber gaskets - these degrade the rubber and shorten seal life.
• ✓Inspect seals annually for cracking, compression loss, or mould growth.
• ✓Replace damaged seals promptly to maintain weather and thermal performance.

Drainage Channels

• ✓Clear drainage slots and channels at the bottom of window frames at least twice per year.
• ✕Blocked drainage allows water to pool against seals and the timber core, leading to moisture damage.

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 Jonas Vinduer 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 Jonas Vinduer 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 Jonas Vinduer 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 Jonas Vinduer 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

• ★ Identify the frame material before you start - pure pine or CORA aluminium-clad. Frame care is different for each and chemical damage on either one can void the warranty.
• ★ Pine frames: use a damp cloth, not a wet one. Pine absorbs water and saturating the frame works against the TEKNOS paint finish.
• ★ Keep separate cloths for wood and aluminium surfaces - avoid transferring any residue from one material to the other.
• ★ Chemical cleaning products that damage the profile void the Jonas Vinduer warranty explicitly. Mild soapy water only on all frame surfaces.
• ★ Never apply cold water to glass that has been heated by strong direct sunlight - thermal shock is excluded from the five-year glass package warranty.
• ★ Dark-coloured pine frames on sun-exposed walls may release resin in hot weather. Remove fresh resin with white spirit on a cloth, keeping the solvent away from glass seals.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Inside and out. Norwegian coastal and urban environments: quarterly, as salt air and urban pollution accelerate dirt and contaminant build-up.). Pine wood frame inspection: At least twice per year (Check TEKNOS paint or varnish condition, cracking, or resin release on sun-exposed elevations.). Hardware oiling: Once per year. Gasket and seal inspection: Once per year, or after heavy storms. Drainage channel clearing: Twice per year minimum

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year; quarterly in Norwegian coastal and urban environments. Pine wood frame inspection: twice per year for TEKNOS paint condition and resin release on sun-exposed elevations. Hardware: annual oiling of all hinges, locking points, and turn mechanisms. Gaskets and seals: annual inspection; after heavy storms on coastal properties. Drainage channels: clear twice per year minimum. Fresh resin on pine frames: remove with white spirit on a cloth, keeping solvent away from glass seals.”

Justin Orloff