Aliplast — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✓Rinse with cold, clean water after washing.
• ✓Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• ✕Do not use solvents such as acetone, petrol, or nail varnish remover on or near glass.
• ✓Do not clean in direct sunlight or high temperatures.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on the glass surface.

Aluminium Frames (Powder Coated)

• ✓Clean with Aliplast Periodi Clean and lukewarm water.
• ✓Rinse with cold, clean water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.
• ✓Annual protection treatment: apply Aliplast Maxi Gloss directly after cleaning with Periodi Clean. This extends colour retention and provides long-term protection.
• ✕Do not use solvents (acetone, petrol, nail varnish remover).
• ✓Do not use acids such as vinegar.
• ✓Do not use alkaline products such as ammonia or baking soda.
• ✓Do not clean frames in bright sunshine or at high temperatures.

Hardware

• ✓Oil all moving parts (hinges, handles, locking points) at least once per year with a light machine oil.
• ✓Clean sliding tracks and drainage channels regularly to prevent dirt buildup and maintain smooth operation.
• ✓Do not use lubricants containing solvents near powder-coated or anodised frame surfaces.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Inspect rubber seals annually for cracking, shrinkage, or detachment.
• ✓Clean seals with a soft damp cloth and mild soapy water only.
• ✕Do not use petroleum-based products or solvents on rubber gaskets.
• ✓Replace damaged or deteriorating seals through your Aliplast fabricator or installer.

Sliding Tracks and Channels

• ✓Clear sliding tracks regularly using a soft brush or dry cloth to remove dust, grit, and leaf debris.
• ✓After clearing, wipe the track with a damp cloth.
• ✕Keep drainage holes at the base of the profile clear. Blocked drainage causes water to pool inside the frame and accelerates seal degradation.

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 Aliplast 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 uPVC 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 Aliplast uPVC 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 Aliplast 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 Aliplast uPVC frames: solvent-free pH-neutral cleaner only -- solvents cause permanent surface damage. Avoid abrasive pads on the profile.

   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

• ★ On sliding systems, clear the track before you start cleaning - dirt in the track transfers to the glass and frame during washing.
• ★ Clean the frame edges first, every time. Dirty powder-coat edges are the primary source of streaks on Aliplast aluminium windows.
• ★ Do not clean in direct sunlight or at high temperatures - Aliplast's own documentation makes this explicit.
• ★ Skip the annual Maxi Gloss treatment and the powder coat loses protection progressively. It is not optional maintenance.
• ★ Acids and alkalis (including vinegar and ammonia) are prohibited on Aliplast powder-coated frames - most commercial glass sprays contain one or the other.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn. Quarterly in urban or polluted environments.). Coastal environments: Every 4-6 weeks for frames; quarterly for glass (Salt air accelerates degradation of powder-coated surfaces.). Annual Maxi Gloss protection treatment: 1x per year (Applied immediately after Periodi Clean washing. Part of the Aliplast official care protocol.). Hardware: 1x per year (Light machine oil on hinges, handles, and locking points.). Sliding tracks and drainage channels: 4x per year (Clear at the start of each season to protect rollers and seals.). Rubber seals and gaskets: 1x per year (Inspect annually and after heavy storms.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum, quarterly in polluted or coastal locations. Annual Maxi Gloss protection treatment: once per year immediately after Periodi Clean wash. This is part of the official Aliplast care protocol. Sliding tracks: clear 4x per year at season changes. Blocked tracks cause roller damage. Hardware: oil once per year. No solvent-based lubricants near the powder-coated frame.”

Justin Orloff