Tiivi — 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 with a soft cloth and mild cleaning agents.
• ✕Do not use abrasive cleaners on glass surfaces.
• ✓Avoid excessive water directed at frame joints, seals, or drainage channels.

Wood Interior Frames

• ✓The wood interior requires regular maintenance - it is not maintenance-free.
• ✕Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap only - do not saturate the wood.
• ✓Inspect the surface coating annually. Re-coat with appropriate wood paint or stain where the finish shows signs of wear, cracking, or discolouration.
• ✕Do not use solvents, strong detergents, or abrasive products on wood surfaces.
• ✓Do not allow water to pool on or against wood frame surfaces.

Aluminium Exterior Frames

• ✓The aluminium cladding is described by Tiivi as low-maintenance - but not zero-maintenance.
• ✓Clean with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✕Do not use abrasive tools, steel wool, or abrasive cleaning pastes on the powder-coated aluminium surface - the damage is permanent.
• ✓Do not use solvents or aggressive chemical cleaners on aluminium surfaces.

Hardware

• ✓Oil all moving parts (hinges, locking points, handles) at least once per year.
• ✓Use lock oil or sewing machine oil for lubrication.
• ✕Do not use WD-40 or silicone spray as a substitute for proper hinge oil - these attract dust and gum up mechanisms over time.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Inspect seals and gaskets annually, particularly after winter.
• ✕A seal that has hardened and lost its elasticity needs replacing.
• ✓If a seal has come loose from its groove, press it back into position. Do not use adhesive as a substitute for proper reinstallation.

Drainage Channels

• ✓Keep drainage channels and slots clear of leaves, dirt, and debris.
• ✕Blocked drainage channels trap water against the frame and seals, leading to moisture damage over time.
• ✓Clear channels with a soft brush or low-pressure water - never with a pressure washer.

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 Tiivi 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 Tiivi 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 Tiivi 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 Tiivi 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

• ★ Use separate cloths for wood interior and aluminium exterior - never cross-contaminate care products between the two surfaces.
• ★ Clear drainage channels before every clean, especially after autumn leaf fall and spring thaw in the Finnish climate.
• ★ Damp cloth on wood, not wet - excessive moisture on timber interiors causes slow damage that only shows up months later.
• ★ Never clean in direct sunlight - the soapy water dries before you can squeegee it off, baking residue onto the glass.
• ★ Annual seal inspection after winter is not optional in a freeze-thaw climate. A hardened seal that has lost elasticity is no longer sealing.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: Minimum 2x per year (Once in spring after the Finnish winter and once in autumn before it.). Urban or roadside environments: Quarterly (Traffic pollution and particulate buildup on both glass and aluminium surfaces.). Wood interior surface coating: Inspect annually (Re-coat where wear or cracking is visible - consult installer for the right product.). Hardware (hinges, locks, handles): Once per year (Lock oil or sewing machine oil only - not WD-40 or silicone spray.). Gaskets and seals: Inspect annually (Particularly after winter freeze-thaw cycles. Hardened seals need replacing.). Drainage channels: Before each clean (And after heavy leaf fall in autumn.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: twice per year minimum - spring after Finnish winter, autumn before it. Quarterly in urban environments. Wood interior coating: inspect annually, re-coat where wear or cracking is visible. Hardware: oil once per year with lock oil or sewing machine oil - not WD-40. Gaskets and seals: inspect annually after winter freeze-thaw cycles. A hardened seal needs replacing. Drainage channels: clear before every cleaning session and after autumn leaf fall.”

Justin Orloff