Rationel

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass a minimum of 4 times per year.
• ✓Use a soft brush and a squeegee with mild soapy water.
• ✓Add rinse aid to the water to prevent limescale formation.
• ✓For sticker removal, soften the sticker with water first, then use a ceramic hob cleaner very gently.
• ✕No harsh chemicals on the glass surface.
• ✕No abrasives or scouring tools.

FORMA and AURA Timber Frames (Exterior)

• ✓Carry out a visual inspection of the exterior painted surface every year.
• ✓Pay particular attention to south-facing and west-facing surfaces.
• ✕If cracks or splits appear in the paintwork, repaint immediately - do not wait.
• ✓Painting conditions: wood humidity approximately 12% (plus or minus 2%), air temperature between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.
• ✕Do not paint in the evening (risk of dew) or in the morning before the dew has dried.

FORMAPLUS and AURAPLUS Aluminium Cladding (Exterior)

• ✓Clean the external aluminium cladding a few times per year, ideally at the same time as the glass.
• ✓Use water with a mild pH-neutral soap.
• ✕No solvents on aluminium surfaces.
• ✕No abrasive cloths or pads.

Interior Frames (All Ranges)

• ✓Clean interior frame surfaces at least every 6 months.
• ✓In kitchens, clean more frequently due to grease and smoke buildup.
• ✓Use a cloth with mild pH-neutral soapy water.

Hardware and Moving Parts

• ✓Lubricate all moving parts once per year using acid-free oil. Sewing machine oil is suitable.
• ✓For side swing and side-guided windows, use Interflon Finelube (Teflon spray) specifically.
• ✕For windows within 5 miles of the coast, lubricate more frequently.
• ✓Keep glide rails free from dirt to maintain smooth operation.

Rubber Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Clean gaskets with a cloth and soapy water.
• ✓Apply a small amount of silicone care product to keep the rubber strips soft and flexible.
• ✕Never apply paint or wood preservative to the rubber strips - this causes loss of flexibility and premature seal failure.

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 Rationel installation.

1. 1

   Detail the frame edges first

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

   When the squeegee runs across the glass, the rubber blade contacts the frame. Dirty frame edges transfer straight onto the clean glass as smears. Always clean the frame first.

   For FORMA and AURA timber exteriors, use a damp cloth rather than a wet one. Do not saturate the wood surface.

2. 2

   Agitate the glass

   Dip the T-bar applicator fully into the soap solution and apply it across the whole glass area using overlapping strokes. The goal is to dissolve and release the dirt fully from the surface before the squeegee touches it.

   If the dirt is not dissolved, the squeegee drags grit across the glass and leaves smears or micro-scratches. Take your time.

   Never clean Rationel glass in direct sunlight. The soap solution dries before you can squeegee it off, baking a residue onto the glass.

3. 3

   Edge wipe before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of a cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the window. This removes pooled soap water from the frame edge before the squeegee starts.

   When the squeegee reaches the frame edge, it will not pick up dirty residue and drag it across the glass. This step takes ten seconds and eliminates most edge streaks.

4. 4

   The three squeegee turns

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

   Top to bottom: the same principle working in vertical lines from top to bottom. Start in the top corner, tilt the squeegee to direct water downward, wipe the rubber dry after each pass, and overlap into the next line across.

   The J tune: the professional continuous motion. One smooth movement from top to bottom with no stops, rotating the wrist at the end of each horizontal pass to continue downward in a J shape. When this is in your muscle memory, it is the fastest and most consistent method for any window size.

5. 5

   Final edge detailing

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

   Work your finger into the bead where glass meets frame seal and remove any pooled soap water sitting there. Left to dry, it produces a visible residue mark the next time the sun hits the glass.

   Rotate to a fresh corner of the rag every few windows.

6. 6

   Hardware lubrication

   Once per year, lubricate all hinges, locking points, and moving parts with acid-free oil. For side-swing and side-guided windows, use Interflon Finelube (Teflon spray) specifically. Keep the glide rails clear of any debris before re-lubricating.

   For windows within 5 miles of the coast, increase the lubrication frequency. Rationel notes that in extreme coastal conditions, fittings may need replacement within a few years.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify the range before starting - AURA/FORMA (timber exterior, needs annual inspection) or AURAPLUS/FORMAPLUS (aluminium exterior, low-maintenance).
• ★ Rationel recommends cleaning glass 4 times per year minimum - more than most manufacturers specify.
• ★ Add rinse aid to your cleaning water - Rationel lists this in their official care guide to prevent limescale formation.
• ★ Condition rubber gaskets with silicone care product, not just clean them. A dry gasket fails to seal.
• ★ Coastal locations: increase all maintenance intervals. Salt air accelerates hardware wear significantly.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass: 4x per year minimum (Rationel's official recommendation. More frequently in coastal or high-pollution environments.). Frame exteriors (timber - AURA, FORMA): Visual inspection every year (Repaint immediately when cracks appear - do not wait.). Frame exteriors (aluminium - AURAPLUS, FORMAPLUS): A few times per year (At the same time as glass cleaning. Mild pH-neutral soap only.). Interior frame surfaces: Every 6 months minimum (More frequently in kitchens due to grease and smoke.). Hardware lubrication: 1x per year (More frequently within 5 miles of the coast. Interflon Finelube for side-swing and side-guided windows.). Rubber gaskets: Clean and condition 1x per year minimum (Silicone care product to keep strips flexible. Never paint over gaskets.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass: minimum 4 times per year - Rationel's own specification. Add rinse aid to the cleaning water to prevent limescale formation. Timber exteriors (AURA, FORMA): annual inspection - repaint the moment cracks appear. Aluminium exteriors (AURAPLUS, FORMAPLUS): mild pH-neutral soap, no solvents, no abrasives. Rubber gaskets: condition with silicone care product annually - never paint over them. Coastal locations: increase all maintenance intervals - hardware in particular needs more attention.”

Justin Orloff