Elitfönster

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Rinse the glass surface first, before any cleaning, to remove loose grit and debris.
• ✓For standard glass: mild dish soap and water with a squeegee is acceptable.
• ✕For coated or energy glass (energiglas): use 3 parts water to 1 part T-röd solution. Rinse thoroughly. Dry with a lint-free cloth.
• ✓Apply with a lint-free cloth or a rubber squeegee.
• ✕Do not use strong or abrasive cleaning products.
• ✕Do not use metal scrapers or razor blades on glass.
• ✓Do not clean in direct sunlight or at high temperatures.

Painted Timber Frames (Original Trä Objekt 100)

• ✓Wash with lukewarm water and a mild detergent approximately once per year.
• ✓Avoid aggressive cleaning products with a high pH value.
• ✕Avoid solvents.
• ✕Avoid ammonia-based cleaners.
• ✕Inspect annually for blisters, cracks, or flaking in the surface treatment. Address damage promptly to prevent moisture penetration.
• ✓If repainting is required, ensure timber moisture content is below 16% before applying primer and finish coats.

Aluminium-Clad Frames (Original Alu, Harmoni)

• ✓Clean with water and a mild detergent.
• ✓The aluminium exterior can be waxed for additional protection against lacquer degradation.
• ✓Touch up any scratches with matching paint available from hardware retailers.
• ✓Inspect at least once yearly.

Hardware

• ✓Oil all hinges, handles, and locking mechanisms 1 to 2 times per year.
• ✓Use lock oil or sewing machine oil without silicone.
• ✓Clean debris from fittings and lock points before applying oil.
• ✓Rotate the handle several times after lubrication to distribute the oil evenly.
• ✕Window brakes (friction stays) must remain dry. Do not lubricate them. If a window brake becomes sluggish, clean it rather than oil it.

Gaskets, Ventilation Filters, and Drainage

• ✓Wipe seals with a slightly damp cloth. Replace seals if damaged.
• ✓Clean ventilation filters at least twice per year using a vacuum cleaner, soft brush, or mild soap solution.
• ✓Keep drainage holes clear and unobstructed.
• ✓Check drainage channels before autumn and winter when leaves and debris accumulate.

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 Elitfönster installation.

1. 1

   Identify Your Glass First

   Before touching anything, confirm whether the windows have standard glass or coated/energy glass. Ask the building owner, check the original documentation, or look at the glass spacer bar between the panes - it often shows coating codes or product names.

   Elitfönster specifies different cleaning methods for coated glass, and mixing them up causes permanent damage. Have your T-röd solution ready in a separate container if coated or energy glass is present.

2. 2

   Detail the Frame First

   Before touching the glass, wipe down the window frame edges with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soapy water. This removes the dust, pollen, and debris sitting on the frame surface.

   When the squeegee runs across the glass, the rubber edge contacts the frame. Dirt on that frame gets picked up and dragged across the clean glass as a streak. Clean the frame first. Every time. For timber frames, use a damp cloth rather than a wet one - do not saturate the wood.

3. 3

   Rinse First

   Elitfönster's care documentation specifically calls this out: rinse the glass surface before you start cleaning, to flush away loose grit and debris. Dry grit dragged across glass by an applicator cover causes micro-scratches that dull the surface over time.

   Take ten seconds and rinse the glass down first.

4. 4

   Agitate the Glass

   Apply your cleaning solution across the whole glass area using the T-bar applicator in overlapping strokes. For standard glass, mild soapy water is correct. For coated or energy glass, use the T-röd solution at 3 parts water to 1 part T-röd.

   The goal is to dissolve and release the dirt so the squeegee can shave it off cleanly. Never clean in direct sunlight.

5. 5

   Detail the Frame Edges Before Squeegeeing

   Once the glass is wet, run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the frame. This removes pooled cleaning solution sitting on the frame.

   If that pooled water is still there when the squeegee reaches the edge, it gets picked up and dragged back across the clean glass.

6. 6

   The Three Squeegee Turns

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

   Top to bottom: the same principle, working down the glass in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water to the lower side. Wipe the rubber 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, unbroken movement. Your thumb guides the rotation at the end of each horizontal pass. When this is in your muscle memory, it is the fastest and most consistent turn for any window format, including the large-format Harmoni units.

7. 7

   Edge Detailing

   After squeegeeing, there is always a thin line of water along the bottom edge and at the sides. Take a dry cotton rag, fold it to a clean corner, and detail these edges in one smooth pass.

   Get into the edge where the glass meets the frame seal. Remove any pooled cleaning solution sitting there. Rotate the rag to a clean section regularly.

8. 8

   For Coated Glass: Rinse Again

   Elitfönster's care documentation for energy glass specifies rinsing thoroughly after cleaning. After squeegeeing a coated glass surface, rinse the glass with clean water and then dry it with a lint-free cloth. This removes any T-röd residue.

9. 9

   Hardware Lubrication and Maintenance

   Oil all hinges, handles, and locking mechanisms 1 to 2 times per year using lock oil or sewing machine oil without silicone. Clean any debris from the hardware first, apply the oil, then operate the handle several times to distribute it.

   Do not lubricate window brakes (friction stays). They must remain dry. If a window brake becomes sluggish, clean it rather than oil it.

   Clean ventilation filters at least twice per year with a vacuum, soft brush, or mild soap solution.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identifying coated versus standard glass is the single most important step before cleaning an Elitfönster window - mixing up the cleaning solution causes permanent coating damage.
• ★ Rinse before you clean - Elitfönster explicitly specifies this to flush away loose grit that would otherwise be dragged across the glass by the applicator.
• ★ Window brakes are the most commonly mishandled fitting - never oil them. Friction is their function. If sluggish, clean them.
• ★ Timber frame inspection is not optional if you want the rot warranty to hold - Elitfönster explicitly states that inadequate or neglected maintenance voids the guarantee.
• ★ Ventilation filter cleaning twice a year is a small task that most cleaning routines skip - and Elitfönster considers it part of standard maintenance.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: Twice per year minimum (Inside and out.). Urban, high-pollution, or exposed coastal locations: Quarterly. Original Trä timber frames: Inspect annually (Repaint or treat surface as required based on exposure and condition.). Aluminium-clad frames: Wash and wipe as needed, inspect annually. Hardware lubrication: 1 to 2 times per year (Silicone-free oil. Window brakes: do not lubricate - clean only.). Ventilation filters: At least twice per year. Drainage channels: Clear before autumn and winter; check after heavy storms. Gaskets and seals: Inspect once per year; replace if damaged

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year - quarterly in urban, coastal, or high-pollution locations. Timber frame inspection: annually - skipping this voids the rot warranty. Hardware: silicone-free oil 1-2 times per year. Window brakes: clean only, never oil. Ventilation filters: clean at least twice per year. Drainage channels: clear before autumn and winter; check after heavy storms. Gaskets and seals: inspect annually; replace if damaged.”

Justin Orloff