Anglian Home Improvements

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass 2–4 times per year using a professional squeegee and washer sleeve with warm water and a small amount of mild detergent.
• ✓Work top to bottom in overlapping passes. Wipe the squeegee blade after every stroke - a dirty blade leaves a dirty line.
• ✓On tilt-and-turn windows, tilt the sash inward to clean the outer face from inside. Do not lean out.
• ✓Avoid abrasive cloths, scourers, or window-cleaning sprays containing acetone or alcohol - these attack the glass coating and the frame finish.

uPVC Frames

• ✓Wipe frames with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. A small amount of washing-up liquid is sufficient.
• ✓For staining or ingrained grime, use a uPVC cleaner such as One Cream or Doff uPVC Cleaner. Apply with a soft cloth and rinse thoroughly.
• ✓Never use white spirit, WD-40, bleach, or cream abrasive cleaners on uPVC frames - these strip the surface finish and cause irreversible yellowing.
• ✓Rinse the frame base and drainage slots at the end of every clean to prevent detergent buildup blocking the weep holes.

Hardware and Seals

• ✓Lubricate hinges, locking cams, and handles once a year with light machine oil or a silicone-based lubricant. Wipe off excess.
• ✓Inspect rubber gaskets and weatherseals annually. Cracked or compressed seals reduce thermal performance and should be replaced.
• ✓Check that all locking points engage fully. Stiff hardware is a sign of misalignment - address it early to avoid frame damage.
• ✓Anglian's 10-year guarantee requires evidence of maintenance - keep a simple log of clean dates and any repairs for warranty claims.

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 Anglian Home Improvements installation.

1. 1

   Clear the drainage slots first

   Before wetting anything, run a soft brush through the drainage slots at the base of the outer frame on every pane.

   These slots are typically 5–10mm wide and sit at the bottom of the frame channel. On Anglian windows they are often on the underside of the frame face.

   Blocked drainage is the single most common cause of seal failure on UK uPVC windows. Clearing it takes 30 seconds per window.

2. 2

   Wet the glass thoroughly

   Load your washer sleeve with warm water and a small amount of detergent. Work across the entire pane in overlapping strokes.

   Scrub the frame rebate edges - this is where dried paint splatter, spider webs, and oxidised deposits collect on Anglian windows.

   On casement windows, open the sash fully and clean the rebate between the sash and the outer frame before closing again.

3. 3

   Squeegee top to bottom

   Start at the top corner and pull across in a straight horizontal stroke. Overlap each pass by 2–3cm as you work down.

   Wipe the rubber blade with your scrim cloth after every single stroke.

   Finish with a vertical pull down the far edge to clear any water left from the last horizontal stroke.

4. 4

   Detail the frame edges and sill

   Wrap a dry scrim cloth around your fingertip and run it around the entire glass perimeter to pick up water sitting at the bead.

   On white uPVC, water left in the frame channel dries chalky and is harder to remove than if it is wiped straight away.

   Wipe the sill completely dry. Water pooling on the inner sill of uPVC windows is the most common cause of mould growth on the interior seal.

5. 5

   Clean frames last

   Wipe frame faces top to bottom with a damp cloth wrung out well. For staining, apply uPVC cleaner and rinse thoroughly.

   Pay attention to the junction between the frame and the brickwork - this mastic seal collects grime and, if cracked, allows water ingress.

   Dry all frame surfaces. Anglian's white uPVC will streak if left wet in sunlight.

6. 6

   Annual hardware check

   Once a year, apply a few drops of light machine oil to hinges, friction stays, and locking cams. Open and close the window several times to work it in. Wipe off any excess.

   Check that trickle vents open and close freely and are not blocked by paint or grime.

   Note any cracked mastic, compressed weatherseals, or stiff locking points for follow-up. These are maintenance items that protect the 10-year guarantee.

Pro Tips

• ★ Anglian casement windows have a bottom rail that sits against a rubber compression seal when closed. If you force water behind this seal during cleaning, you push moisture into the cavity. Keep your squeegee pressure light at the bottom edge.
• ★ White uPVC shows everything. Clean in the morning or in shade - direct sunlight dries your cleaning solution before you can squeegee it off, leaving smears.
• ★ The tilt-and-turn function is your friend for outer glass access. Use it - do not lean out or use ladders for low-level windows.
• ★ Anglian's warranty requires maintenance. A simple log with clean dates costs nothing and protects a significant financial investment.
• ★ If your Anglian frames have yellowed, they can be restored with a purpose-made uPVC restorer. Do not try this with cream cleaners - they contain micro-abrasives that will make the surface microscopically rougher, attracting more dirt.
• ★ Check the mastic seal around the outer frame against the brickwork every couple of years. A cracked seal allows water to enter the wall cavity, not just the window - it is a structural issue, not just an aesthetic one.
• ★ On Anglian conservatories, the glazing bar junctions where roof panels meet vertical frames are the highest-risk areas for water ingress. Clear these with a brush before every clean.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 3–4× per year (Spring, summer, autumn, winter on exposed UK homes. At minimum spring and autumn.). uPVC frames: 2× per year (Mild soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly.). Drainage slots: Every clean (30 seconds per window - the most important maintenance step.). Hardware: 1× per year (Light oil on all moving parts. Check locking points and weatherseals.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Anglian windows fitted before 2010 may have double-glazed units rather than triple. These are more susceptible to condensation between panes - this is a failed sealed unit, not a cleaning issue. Some Anglian installations in coastal areas have shown earlier weatherseal degradation due to salt air. Annual checks are especially important within 2 miles of the coast. Anglian's sash windows (vertical sliders) have different drainage requirements from casement windows - the drainage is typically at the side of the track, not the bottom of the outer frame.”

Justin Orloff