Ekstrands

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean with mild liquid detergent (mild soapy water).
• ✕No abrasive cleaning agents of any kind.
• ✕No scouring pads, steel brushes, or scrapers on the glass surface.
• ✕No mechanical tools on glass surfaces.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• ✓Dry with a lint-free cloth or squeegee.

Timber Frames (Pine, Oak, Douglas Fir)

• ✓Clean painted timber surfaces with lukewarm water and mild detergent - Ekstrands recommends at least once per year.
• ✓Avoid cleaning agents with high pH value.
• ✓Avoid abrasive products that can damage the surface finish.
• ✕Do not saturate the timber - use a damp cloth, not a wet one.
• ✕Do not use solvents, ammonia, or bleach on timber surfaces.
• ✓Where the painted surface shows greying or cracks, repair with matching exterior paint in the original shade.

Timber/Aluminium Frames (EC/90 Plus+, Trä/Alu Modern)

• ✓Aluminium exterior: clean with water and a mild cleaning agent. For extra protection, the aluminium surface can be waxed.
• ✕Timber interior: mild soapy water and a damp cloth only. Do not soak the timber.
• ✕Do not use solvents on either the aluminium or timber surface.
• ✕Do not use ammonia-based products on either surface.
• ✕The aluminium-to-glass bonded joint must not be subjected to high-pressure water.

Hardware and Fittings

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts 1-2 times per year.
• ✓Apply lubricant to all pivot points, locking mechanisms, and hinge points.
• ✓Check hinges and hardware annually.
• ✓If stiffness develops on tilt-turn hardware, contact a qualified installer for adjustment.

Gaskets, Seals, and Drainage

• ✓Keep weatherstripping clean and inspect it annually.
• ✓Clean seals with mild soapy water and a soft cloth.
• ✓Check seal condition after heavy storms.
• ✓Drainage holes in the frame's lower section must be kept clear at all times.
• ✓Check and clear drainage holes as part of annual maintenance.

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 Ekstrands installation.

1. 1

   Detail the Frame Before Touching the Glass

   Before the T-bar goes near the glass, wipe down the window frame edges with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soapy water. Timber sills accumulate dust, pollen, and fine grit that is invisible until it ends up on the squeegee blade and gets dragged across the glass.

   On timber/aluminium models, wipe the aluminium exterior profile and then the timber interior sill separately. Use different cloths. If you have used any cleaning product on the aluminium, rinse the cloth thoroughly before it touches the timber interior.

2. 2

   Agitate the Glass

   Dip the T-bar fully into your soapy water solution on both sides. Apply it across the whole glass surface using overlapping strokes, starting at the top and working down. The goal is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can shave it away cleanly, without grinding grit into the surface.

   Never clean Ekstrands windows in direct sunlight or when the glass is warm to the touch. The soap solution dries on the surface before you can squeegee it off, baking a residue film.

3. 3

   Detail the Frame Edge Before Squeegeeing

   Once the glass is agitated, run a dry corner of a cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the frame. This removes the pooled soapy water sitting on the frame surface.

   When the squeegee reaches those edges, it picks up the pooled water rather than dirt from the timber or aluminium, and the result is a clean finish to the edge. This step takes ten seconds. Do not skip it.

4. 4

   The Three Squeegee Turns

   Side to side: start at the top edge with a dry rubber. Work across in a straight horizontal line. Tilt the squeegee so the soapy water spills from only one side of the channel. Wipe the rubber dry after each pass. Overlap slightly into the next line down. Repeat to the bottom.

   Top to bottom: the same motion but in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water to the lower side. Wipe the rubber dry after each pass. Repeat to the far edge.

   The J tune: the professional continuous motion. From the top of the window to the bottom in one smooth, uninterrupted movement. When this motion is in your muscle memory, it is the fastest and most consistent turn for any window size, including the large-format Ekstrands Patio and panorama systems.

5. 5

   Edge Detailing

   After squeegeeing, there is always a thin film of water along the bottom edge and at both sides where the rubber cannot reach into the frame joint. Take a dry cotton rag, fold to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.

   Push your finger gently into the joint between the glass and the frame seal. Lift out the pooled water sitting there. If left to dry, it leaves a white residue mark. Rotate to a clean section of rag as you work.

6. 6

   Timber and Hardware

   For the timber frames, dry off any water that has run down onto the sill or frame edge during cleaning. Do not leave soapy water sitting on the timber surface. A dry cotton cloth wiped across the timber edge immediately after edge-detailing is enough.

   Oil all hinges, locking points, and moving parts 1-2 times per year with a light machine oil or the lubricant recommended by your installer. If the window becomes stiff or the handle feels heavy, call the installer rather than forcing the mechanism.

Pro Tips

• ★ Never cross-contaminate cloths between timber and aluminium surfaces on timber/aluminium models - what is safe on the aluminium exterior may not be safe on the timber interior.
• ★ Keep the timber cloth damp, not wet - saturating the wood risks the painted finish and the warranty, especially on the interior timber faces.
• ★ The bonded aluminium-to-glass joint on the EC/90 Plus+ must never be subjected to high-pressure water - this is a structural bond, not just a cosmetic edge.
• ★ Rubbing timber frames dry in a way that creates static electricity attracts dust back to the surface almost immediately - wipe in one direction and do not buff aggressively.
• ★ If you are in a coastal area, confirm your painting warranty period with Ekstrands directly - the standard painting warranty does not apply in salt-air environments.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: Twice per year minimum (Inside and out. Southern Sweden: spring clean essential before pollen season (April to June).). Urban and coastal environments: Quarterly (Salt air and pollution accelerate surface contamination.). Timber frame inspection: Annually (Look for greying or cracking in the glaze layer and repair promptly.). Hardware lubrication: 1-2 times per year (All moving parts - pivot points, locking mechanisms, hinges.). Drainage channel check: At least once per year, or after heavy rainfall. Gasket and seal inspection: Annually, with extra check after heavy storms

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year - quarterly in coastal or urban environments. Timber frame inspection: annually, look for greying or cracking in the glaze layer. Hardware lubrication: 1-2 times per year on all moving parts. Drainage channel check: at least once per year or after heavy rainfall. Gasket inspection: annually with extra check after heavy storms.”

Justin Orloff