AGC Glass Europe — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass (all products)

• ✓Wash with plenty of clean water or a pH-neutral glass cleaner and a soft sponge or rubber squeegee.
• ✓Apply cleaning solution generously across the whole surface before squeegeeing.
• ✕Do not clean glass in direct sunlight or near a strong heat source - the solution dries too quickly and leaves residue.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly with clean water after cleaning.

Coated Glass (iplus, Stopray, Sunergy, Stopsol)

• ✓Use only pH-neutral cleaning products.
• ✕Do not use products containing hydrofluoric acid, fluorine, chlorine, or ammonia derivatives - these damage coatings permanently.
• ✓Do not use highly acidic or highly alkaline products - they abrade the glass surface.
• ✓Do not apply excessive pressure during cleaning - pressure causes scratches or stains on coated surfaces.
• ✓When using a squeegee, do not allow the metal squeegee handle to contact the glass surface - use the rubber blade only.

Planibel Easy Self-Cleaning Glass

• ✕Do not use products containing wax, polish, or film-forming agents - these block the photocatalytic coating.
• ✓Do not use products containing strong solvents.
• ✓Wait at least one week after installation before first cleaning to allow sealants to fully cure.
• ✓Never clean a specific mark without wetting the full surface first with water.
• ✓The self-cleaning function requires UV light - glass on north-facing elevations or in deep shadows will see reduced self-cleaning effect.

Decorative and Acid-Etched Glass (Lacobel, Matelux)

• ✓Always wet-clean the entire surface - never spot-clean dry.
• ✓Do not use abrasive cleaners on etched surfaces.
• ✓Do not use strong alkalis on etched surfaces.
• ✕Do not use razor blades, steel wool, or similar abrasive items.

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 AGC Glass Europe installation.

1. 1

   Preparation -- before any water touches the glass

   Fill the bucket with at least 10 litres of water. Add soap for cleaning power -- enough to cut through environmental deposits, not so much you are fighting foam.

   Before touching the glass, brush down the surface to remove loose dust, spiderwebs, and debris. Any grit left on the glass during the wash phase risks scratching during agitation.

   Check the glass frame condition before you start. Confirm which cleaning product is safe for that surface before opening any bottle.

   Cover anything below the windows that cannot be moved.

2. 2

   Agitation -- apply and work the solution

   Dip the microfiber T-bar completely into the soap water, both sides. Remove excess water with your hand so it does not drip. Apply the solution across the entire glass surface with overlapping passes.

   The goal is to fully dissolve and release every deposit from the glass surface. Anything not released during agitation gets transported across the glass by the squeegee as a smear.

   For stubborn spots -- insect marks, salt residue, environmental deposits -- re-apply soap water and allow it to soak for a full minute before agitating again. Use more soap water, not more pressure.

   For panels above arm reach: attach the T-bar to an extension pole. Work in sections -- top first, then middle, then bottom -- keeping each section wet until you squeegee it.

   Rinse the T-bar cover regularly during the job. A dirty applicator causes microscopic scratches that accumulate over time.

3. 3

   Detail the frame edge before squeegeeing

   Use your 100% cotton towelling rag, finger pressed into the fabric, to work into every junction and remove pooled soap water before the squeegee pass.

   This prevents drips running down onto already-cleaned areas during squeegeeing and keeps soap water out of drainage channels.

   On AGC Glass glass frames, pay particular attention to the bottom edge where glass meets the frame sill -- water pooled here runs into drainage openings and leaves residue over time.

4. 4

   The squeegee

   Tilt the squeegee at a slight angle so soap water spills from one side of the channel only -- not both. If the rubber is jumping or squeaking, either the rubber is not lubricated enough or the glass surface has warmed.

   Cutting in: start with the rubber blade making first contact on a dry edge of the glass.

   Side to side: horizontal passes across the panel. Works well on wide sections. Top to bottom: vertical passes down the panel. Works well on tall narrow sections.

   The J tune: one smooth unbroken motion top to bottom, wrist rotating at each end to reverse without lifting the rubber. The most efficient method on larger panels -- but it requires training before applying it to premium glass.

   Wipe the rubber dry after every pass. Overlap each stroke by 2-3 cm.

5. 5

   Final edge detailing

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

   On AGC Glass frames, the bottom edge where glass meets the sill requires the most careful attention. Water left here runs into drainage and leaves residue that affects the next clean.

   Rotate the rag to a clean section after every pass. If the rag picks up grit at any point, replace it immediately.

6. 6

   Frame wipe and hardware check

   On glass from AGC Glass: use pH-neutral solution only on all coated surfaces. Any coating damage -- Low-E, self-cleaning, solar control -- is permanent and the unit must be replaced.

   Check that all drainage openings are clear and unobstructed. Water must be able to flow freely -- a blocked channel leads to accumulation that affects seal performance over time.

   Operate every opening window through its full range. Stiff handles or resistance at locking points indicate hardware that needs lubrication. Flag it to the owner rather than forcing it.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify the AGC product in the frame before cleaning - check the spacer bar for iplus, Stopray, Sunergy, or Planibel Easy markings. Each requires a different product approach.
• ★ On Planibel Easy self-cleaning glass, use plain water only - no soap. Any wax or film-forming agent deactivates the photocatalytic coating.
• ★ On iplus and Stopray coated glass, never allow the metal squeegee body to contact the glass - only the rubber blade.
• ★ pH-neutral products only on all coated AGC glass. Ammonia, fluorine, chlorine, acids, and alkalis are all explicitly prohibited.
• ★ On large-format facade panels, consistent controlled pressure prevents tracking and streaking. Do not bear down at the edges.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass (all AGC products): 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn at minimum. Quarterly in urban or high-traffic locations.). Urban and industrial locations: Quarterly (Prevents contamination building up on coated surfaces.). Coastal locations: Every 6-8 weeks on exposed elevations (Salt spray degrades coated surfaces faster than inland locations.). Planibel Easy self-cleaning glass: Plain water rinse as needed (Typically when no rain has fallen for several weeks.). After construction or renovation work: Immediate cleaning (Cement dust, silicone splatter, and paint bond to coated glass quickly. Leave too long and removal becomes a specialist job.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“AGC glass is inside most European high-performance windows - check the spacer bar before cleaning to know which product you have. iplus, Stopray, and Sunergy coated glass: pH-neutral products only. No ammonia, no fluorine, no chlorine, no acids. Planibel Easy self-cleaning glass: plain water rinse only. No soap, no cleaners, no wax products of any kind. Coastal and urban locations need more frequent cleaning - contamination builds on coated surfaces faster than plain float glass.”

Justin Orloff