Rationel — 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 a minimum of 4 times per year.
• ✓Use a soft brush and a squeegee with mild soapy water.
• ✓Add rinse aid to the water to prevent limescale formation.
• ✓For sticker removal, soften the sticker with water first, then use a ceramic hob cleaner very gently.
• ✕No harsh chemicals on the glass surface.
• ✕No abrasives or scouring tools.

FORMA and AURA Timber Frames (Exterior)

• ✓Carry out a visual inspection of the exterior painted surface every year.
• ✓Pay particular attention to south-facing and west-facing surfaces.
• ✕If cracks or splits appear in the paintwork, repaint immediately - do not wait.
• ✓Painting conditions: wood humidity approximately 12% (plus or minus 2%), air temperature between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.
• ✕Do not paint in the evening (risk of dew) or in the morning before the dew has dried.

FORMAPLUS and AURAPLUS Aluminium Cladding (Exterior)

• ✓Clean the external aluminium cladding a few times per year, ideally at the same time as the glass.
• ✓Use water with a mild pH-neutral soap.
• ✕No solvents on aluminium surfaces.
• ✕No abrasive cloths or pads.

Interior Frames (All Ranges)

• ✓Clean interior frame surfaces at least every 6 months.
• ✓In kitchens, clean more frequently due to grease and smoke buildup.
• ✓Use a cloth with mild pH-neutral soapy water.

Hardware and Moving Parts

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts once per year using acid-free oil. Sewing machine oil is suitable.
• ✓For side swing and side-guided windows, use Interflon Finelube (Teflon spray) specifically.
• ✕For windows within 5 miles of the coast, lubricate more frequently.
• ✓Keep glide rails free from dirt to maintain smooth operation.

Rubber Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Clean gaskets with a cloth and soapy water.
• ✓Apply a small amount of silicone care product to keep the rubber strips soft and flexible.
• ✕Never apply paint or wood preservative to the rubber strips - this causes loss of flexibility and premature seal failure.

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 Rationel 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 Rationel 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 Rationel 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 Rationel 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

• ★ Identify the range before starting - AURA/FORMA (timber exterior, needs annual inspection) or AURAPLUS/FORMAPLUS (aluminium exterior, low-maintenance).
• ★ Rationel recommends cleaning glass 4 times per year minimum - more than most manufacturers specify.
• ★ Add rinse aid to your cleaning water - Rationel lists this in their official care guide to prevent limescale formation.
• ★ Condition rubber gaskets with silicone care product, not just clean them. A dry gasket fails to seal.
• ★ Coastal locations: increase all maintenance intervals. Salt air accelerates hardware wear significantly.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 4x per year minimum (Rationel's official recommendation. More frequently in coastal or high-pollution environments.). Frame exteriors (timber - AURA, FORMA): Visual inspection every year (Repaint immediately when cracks appear - do not wait.). Frame exteriors (aluminium - AURAPLUS, FORMAPLUS): A few times per year (At the same time as glass cleaning. Mild pH-neutral soap only.). Interior frame surfaces: Every 6 months minimum (More frequently in kitchens due to grease and smoke.). Hardware lubrication: 1x per year (More frequently within 5 miles of the coast. Interflon Finelube for side-swing and side-guided windows.). Rubber gaskets: Clean and condition 1x per year minimum (Silicone care product to keep strips flexible. Never paint over gaskets.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass: minimum 4 times per year - Rationel's own specification. Add rinse aid to the cleaning water to prevent limescale formation. Timber exteriors (AURA, FORMA): annual inspection - repaint the moment cracks appear. Aluminium exteriors (AURAPLUS, FORMAPLUS): mild pH-neutral soap, no solvents, no abrasives. Rubber gaskets: condition with silicone care product annually - never paint over them. Coastal locations: increase all maintenance intervals - hardware in particular needs more attention.”

Justin Orloff