Inwido

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass approximately four times per year using a soft brush, squeegee, and mild soapy water.
• ✓A rinse aid may be added to prevent limescale formation.
• ✓For sticker removal, soften with water first. Use a ceramic hob cleaner gently for stubborn residue.
• ✕Do not use abrasive tools, razor blades, or steel wool on glass surfaces.
• ✓Avoid strong cleaning agents containing ammonia or solvents on glass.

Wood Frames

• ✓Inspect painted frames annually for cracks in the finish, particularly on south-facing and west-facing elevations.
• ✕Repaint when cracks appear. Stained windows in exposed locations may need annual treatment.
• ✓The woodwork must be dry before any maintenance - moisture content below 15%.
• ✓Paint in suitable conditions only: air temperature 10-20 degrees Celsius, wood humidity approximately 12%.
• ✓Clean interior frames every six months with a cloth and mild pH-neutral soapy water. In kitchens, clean more frequently.
• ✓Do not apply paint or wood preservative to rubber gaskets.

Aluminium-Clad Frames

• ✓Aluminium-clad exterior surfaces are virtually maintenance free.
• ✓Clean external aluminium a few times per year, ideally when cleaning the glass.
• ✓Use a soft cloth with mild pH-neutral soapy water.
• ✓Rinse with clean water after washing.

uPVC Frames

• ✓Clean with lukewarm water and a mild pH-neutral detergent.
• ✕Always rinse with clear water after cleaning - residue left to dry on uPVC can cause permanent discolouration.
• ✓Do not use abrasive cleaners, solvents, or strong chemical products.

Hardware and Gaskets

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts once per year with acid-free oil. Sewing machine oil is suitable.
• ✓For side-swing windows, use Interflon Finelube (Teflon spray).
• ✓In coastal locations (within five miles of the sea), lubricate more frequently.
• ✓Keep glide rails and rotation tracks free of dirt and debris.
• ✓Clean gaskets with a cloth and soapy water. Apply a silicone care product to maintain flexibility.
• ✕Keep gaskets free from paint and wood preservatives - these destroy the sealing capability.

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 Inwido installation.

1. 1

   Detail the frame first

   Before touching the glass, wipe down the window frame edges with a damp microfibre cloth. On wood frames, use only soap water and dry immediately. On aluminium cladding, a soft cloth with mild soapy water is enough. On uPVC, rinse with clear water straight after.

   This removes the dust, pollen, and grime sitting on the frame edge. If you skip this, the squeegee picks up that dirt and drags it across the clean glass as a streak.

2. 2

   Agitate the glass

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

   On Inwido's triple-glazed units, the glass is firm and does not flex much, so you can apply consistent pressure across the surface. Never clean in direct sunlight - the soap water dries before you can squeegee it off. On uPVC frames, dried cleaning product burns into the plastic permanently.

3. 3

   Detail the frame edges before squeegeeing

   Once the glass is agitated, run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges. This removes pooled soap water from the frame edge. On Inwido's reversible windows, make sure you clear the rotation track area as well - soap water pooling there attracts grit that damages the mechanism.

4. 4

   The three squeegee turns

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

   Top to bottom: same principle, working in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward. Wipe dry after each pass. Overlap into the next line across.

   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.

5. 5

   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. On uPVC frames, this is critical - soap water left to dry burns in permanently. On wood frames, standing water accelerates paint deterioration.

   Rotate the rag so you are always using a clean, dry section. Replace the rag every few windows.

6. 6

   Reversible windows and hardware

   If your Inwido windows have a reversible sash, use the rotation mechanism to access the exterior glass from inside. Rotate the sash 180 degrees, clean the outer pane using the same technique, then rotate back.

   After cleaning, apply acid-free oil to the rotation hardware once per year. Clear grit from the rotation tracks. Clean gaskets with a damp cloth and apply silicone care product.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify the brand and frame material before you start - wood, wood/aluminium, or uPVC. Each needs different care.
• ★ Clean the frame first, every time. Most streaks come from dirt the squeegee picks up at the frame edge.
• ★ Never let cleaning product residue dry on uPVC frames - the damage is permanent.
• ★ Do not apply paint or wood preservative to rubber gaskets - it destroys their sealing ability.
• ★ Lubricate all moving parts once per year with acid-free oil without fail - neglected hardware leads to mechanism failure.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 4x per year (Rationel's recommendation. Minimum twice per year inside and out.). Frames: When cleaning glass (Minimum twice per year, more frequently in kitchens.). Hardware lubrication: 1x per year (Acid-free oil on all moving parts. More frequently in coastal locations.). Gasket treatment: 1x per year minimum (Clean with soapy water and apply silicone care product.). Wood frame paint inspection: Annually (Repaint when cracks appear. Stained frames in exposed locations may need annual treatment.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass: 4x per year (Rationel recommendation), minimum 2x per year inside and out. Frames: wash when cleaning glass, more frequently in kitchens and near industrial areas. Hardware: annual lubrication with acid-free oil without fail. Coastal locations need more frequent attention. Wood frame paint: inspect annually, repaint when cracks appear before moisture damage sets in. Gaskets: annual cleaning and silicone treatment to maintain flexibility and sealing.”

Justin Orloff