Idealcombi

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean with lukewarm water and a neutral cleaning fluid.
• ✓Clean at least twice per year.
• ✓Use a soft brush or cloth.
• ✕Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or tools on glass surfaces.

Aluminium Cladding (Exterior)

• ✓Clean with lukewarm water and a neutral cleaning fluid such as car shampoo.
• ✓Use a soft brush or cloth.
• ✓Clean a couple of times per year as a minimum.
• ✓Powder-coated aluminium surfaces do not require any maintenance beyond regular cleaning.
• ✕Do not use abrasive tools or strong solvents.

Timber Frames (Interior)

• ✓Clean with lukewarm water and a neutral cleaning fluid.
• ✓Check for any damage or wear to the surface treatment when cleaning.
• ✓The interior wood surface is delivered with a ready-painted finish which may be repainted when needed.
• ✕Do not use excess water on timber surfaces.

Idealcore Rebates

• ✓Clean with a damp cloth.
• ✓The smooth surface with no cavities makes cleaning straightforward.
• ✓No drain holes to maintain - the solid polyurethane does not require drainage.
• ✓Do not allow debris to accumulate in the rebate area.

Hardware and Ironmongery

• ✓Lubricate all moveable parts on hinges and closing/locking ironmongery at least once a year.
• ✕This is a requirement to maintain the product guarantee.
• ✓Tracks should always be kept clean.
• ✓During annual maintenance: clean and lubricate ironmongery, inspect weatherstrips and glazing gaskets.

Weatherstrips and Seals

• ✓Wipe with lukewarm water and a neutral cleaning fluid using a cloth once a year.
• ✓Keep clean and free of dirt.
• ✓Brush weatherstrips with a silicone stick to minimise friction during operation.

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 Idealcombi installation.

1. 1

   Brush down first

   Before any wet cleaning, brush down the aluminium cladding and window frame with a soft dry brush. Idealcombi's powder-coated aluminium is durable but grit and pollen sitting on the surface become an abrasive paste when you add water. Removing loose particles first prevents scratching.

2. 2

   Detail the frame edges

   Dampen a cotton rag in your soap water and wipe down the frame edges around the glass. On Idealcombi's composite systems, the exterior is powder-coated aluminium and the interior is painted timber - clean each surface with the appropriate technique.

   This removes the grime sitting where the glass meets the frame. When you run the squeegee across the glass, the rubber contacts the frame edge. If there is dirt there, the squeegee picks it up and drags it across the clean glass as a streak.

3. 3

   Agitate the glass

   Dip your T-bar applicator completely into the soap water on both sides. Apply the solution across the whole glass area using overlapping strokes. The purpose is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can shave it away cleanly.

   If the dirt is not fully dissolved, the remaining particles get transported under the squeegee blade, leaving smudges or smears. Take your time with this step. Idealcombi's triple-glazed units have a firm glass surface that responds well to thorough agitation.

   Do not clean in direct sunlight. The soap water dries before you can squeegee it off, baking residue onto the surface.

4. 4

   Detail the frame again before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the window. This removes the pooled soap water sitting on the frame. When the squeegee reaches those edges, it will not pick up dirty residue and drag it back across the glass.

5. 5

   The three squeegee turns

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

   Top to bottom: same motion in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water to the lower side. Wipe dry after each line. Overlap into the next line across.

   The J tune (continuous motion): one smooth unbroken movement from top to bottom with no stops. As you complete a horizontal pass, rotate the wrist so the squeegee turns and continues down. The fastest and most consistent method for any window size once it is in your muscle memory.

   Idealcombi's Futura+ frames have clean, slim 53mm profiles that let the squeegee rubber meet the glass edge without catching. The Frame IC and Nation IC ranges have slightly more textured profiles - slow down at the edges on these systems.

6. 6

   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 your finger into the edge where the glass meets the frame seal. Remove any pooled soap water sitting there. If left to dry, it leaves a residue mark that shows up as soon as the sun hits the glass.

   Rotate the rag so you are only ever touching the glass with a clean, dry section. Replace the rag with a fresh one every few windows.

7. 7

   Idealcore rebate wipe

   After cleaning the glass and frames, wipe down the Idealcore rebate area with a damp cloth. The smooth, cavity-free polyurethane surface makes this quick. No debris should be left sitting in the rebate - even though it will not rot, accumulated dirt can affect the seal performance over time.

8. 8

   Hardware and weatherstrips

   Check that all tracks are clear and clean. Apply lubrication to all locking mechanisms and moving parts with the window in the open position. Idealcombi requires this at least once per year to maintain the warranty.

   Wipe the weatherstrips clean and brush them with a silicone stick to reduce friction. This keeps the window operating smoothly and prevents premature seal wear.

Pro Tips

• ★ Brush down the aluminium and frame with a dry brush before any wet cleaning - grit becomes an abrasive paste when you add water.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ More soap water, not more pressure - Idealcombi prohibits abrasive tools on every surface.
• ★ On Nation IC heritage profiles, slow down at the edges - the putty-line profile catches the squeegee rubber differently from the slim Futura+.
• ★ Annual ironmongery lubrication is a warranty requirement, not a suggestion - the 25-year Idealcore rot warranty depends on it.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and aluminium cladding: 2x per year minimum (Idealcombi baseline. More often in urban or coastal environments.). Timber interior surfaces: 2x per year (Inspect paint condition at each cleaning for cracking or wear.). Hardware lubrication: 1x per year minimum (Warranty requirement - all moveable ironmongery parts.). Weatherstrip cleaning and silicone stick: 1x per year (Reduces friction and prevents premature seal wear.). Idealcore rebate wipe-down: Every cleaning session (Quick wipe of the smooth polyurethane surface.). Glazing gasket inspection: 1x per year (During annual maintenance.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and aluminium cladding: minimum twice per year - Idealcombi baseline. Timber interior: twice-yearly cleaning with paint condition inspection at each session. Hardware: annual ironmongery lubrication is a warranty requirement. Weatherstrips: annual clean and silicone stick application to maintain seal performance. Idealcore rebates: wipe down at every cleaning session - smooth surface makes it quick.”

Justin Orloff