NorDan — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Inspect sealed units annually for water vapour between the panes or damage.
• ✓Clean with mild products and soft cloths.
• ✓Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or tools on glass.
• ✕Check for internal condensation - this indicates sealed unit failure, not a cleaning issue.

Timber Frames - Exterior (Painted)

• ✓Inspect painted surfaces at least once a year.
• ✓Look for blisters, cracks, flaking, or a matte surface finish.
• ✓Clean with water and a mild cleaning agent.
• ✓Brush away loose dirt and dust before wet cleaning.
• ✓Use only microporous paints for touch-ups or repainting (Sikkens or Dulux Weathershield).
• ✕Repainting schedule: opaque bright colours every 7-10 years, opaque dark and transparent colours every 3-5 years.
• ✓Do not use acrylic paint on exterior touching surfaces - it causes adhesion and sticking.

Aluminium Cladding

• ✓Normal environment: clean at least every 12 months.
• ✕Coastal or industrial areas: clean every 3 months.
• ✓Wipe with a soft brush to remove loose dust first.
• ✓Wash with warm water and a small amount of neutral detergent.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after washing.
• ✓Dry with chamois leather to prevent smears.
• ✓Do not use hard water - mineral content can cause discolouration and permanent coating damage.

Hardware

• ✓NorDan recommends silicone spray or similar for lubrication of ironmongery.
• ✓Apply lubricant with the window in the open position.
• ✓Avoid timber contact when applying lubricant to prevent staining.
• ✓Check handles move freely and smoothly at least annually.
• ✓Tighten loose components: T15 torx for ventilators, T20 torx for handles.

Seals and Drainage

• ✓Inspect seals annually for cleanliness, dryness, continuity, and damage.
• ✓Never get any paint on the weather seal or gasket.
• ✓Keep thresholds clear of debris build-up.
• ✓Ensure weep holes remain unobstructed.

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 NorDan 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 composite 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 Nordan composite 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 Nordan 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 Nordan frames, apply the appropriate product for each surface: pH-neutral for aluminium and glass, solvent-free for uPVC, barely damp cloth for timber. Never cross-contaminate products between surfaces.

   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

• ★ Brush down timber and aluminium surfaces before wet cleaning - grit plus water becomes an abrasive paste.
• ★ Dry aluminium cladding with chamois leather after rinsing - do not let it air-dry in hard water areas.
• ★ NorDan recommends silicone spray for hardware - adjust your approach if you are used to brands that ban it.
• ★ If paint looks matte or chalky, flag repainting - do not scrub harder. Dark colours need repainting every 3-5 years.
• ★ The 30-year warranty requires demonstrable maintenance records - keep a log of every cleaning and maintenance visit.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 1x per year minimum (NorDan baseline) (Twice yearly recommended for optimal appearance.). Aluminium cladding - normal environments: At least every 12 months (Wipe with soft brush, wash with neutral detergent, rinse, dry with chamois.). Aluminium cladding - coastal or industrial: Every 3 months (Salt, sea air, and industrial deposits accelerate corrosion if left.). Hardware: 1x per year (Silicone spray or similar for ironmongery. Avoid timber contact.). Painted timber inspection: 1x per year minimum (Look for blisters, cracks, flaking, or matte finish.). Seals and drainage: Every cleaning session (Keep weep holes clear. Inspect seals for cleanliness, dryness, and damage.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum once per year, twice recommended. Quarterly for aluminium cladding in coastal or industrial areas. Aluminium cladding: rinse thoroughly and dry with chamois - do not air-dry in hard water areas. Painted timber: annual inspection for blisters, cracks, flaking. Repaint bright colours every 7-10 years, dark colours every 3-5 years. Hardware: annual silicone spray lubrication with the window open. Avoid timber contact. Seals and drainage: inspect every cleaning session. Keep weep holes unobstructed.”

Justin Orloff