Aluminco — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Use pH-neutral glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth with rubber squeegee finish.
• ✓In coastal locations, increase glass cleaning frequency to monthly - salt deposits etch glass over time if left.
• ✓Check glazing gaskets annually for UV-induced hardening, particularly on south-facing elevations.
• ✓On large-format sliding panels, work one panel section at a time to prevent rapid drying of cleaner in Mediterranean summer heat.
• ✓Inspect structural silicone bonds on facade and curtain wall systems every 2 years for UV discolouration or bubbling.

Frames

• ✓Clean powder-coated aluminium frames with pH-neutral detergent and water on a soft microfibre cloth.
• ✓In coastal locations, clean frames monthly and apply paste wax after each clean to protect against salt deposition.
• ✓For anodised frames, use only pH-neutral products. Never apply bleach or caustic products to anodised aluminium.
• ✓Check for chalking on dark powder-coated frames on south-facing elevations at each service - Qualicoat Class 1 degrades faster in extreme Greek UV.
• ✓Inspect perimeter sealant at masonry joints twice yearly, and after any seismic event regardless of timing.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all hinges, pivot points, and multipoint locking hardware with PTFE-based lubricant three times yearly in Mediterranean climates.
• ✓On sliding systems, clean tracks with stiff brush and vacuum before applying silicone track lubricant - do this every 3 months in dusty Greek environments.
• ✓In coastal locations, use a marine-grade lubricant on all hardware to resist salt air corrosion.
• ✓Inspect roller condition on sliding panels annually - coastal salt accelerates roller degradation.
• ✓Hardware showing rust bleed (brown staining from steel components) needs immediate professional attention in coastal environments where corrosion progresses rapidly.

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 Aluminco 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 aluminium 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 Aluminco aluminium 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 Aluminco 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 Aluminco powder-coated aluminium frames: use pH-neutral cleaner only, never abrasive pads or steel wool. Dry immediately after wiping.

   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

• ★ Greek coastal installations within 2km of the sea need monthly frame cleaning and waxing. Salt deposition on aluminium is invisible until it starts attacking the powder coat adhesion, by which point repair is expensive.
• ★ Dark powder-coated Aluminco frames in Greek summer reach temperatures where standard gasket rubber compounds begin softening. Annual gasket checks in these locations are essential, not optional.
• ★ After the seismic events common in Greece and the Aegean, check perimeter sealant on all windows before checking anything else. Frame-to-masonry joint integrity determines whether water ingress has started.
• ★ Aluminco bioclimatic pergola louvre systems need separate lubrication - the louvre pivot pins and gear mechanism are specific products, not standard window hardware. Use the Aluminco pergola maintenance guide for these systems.
• ★ On large Greek villas with extensive sliding glass facade systems, track cleaning is a significant job. Budget 45 minutes per large sliding door for proper track preparation before lubrication.
• ★ Qualicoat Class 2 powder coat is the correct specification for south-facing Greek facades. If you see chalking on frames within 5 years of installation, this suggests Class 1 was applied. Flag this to the building owner.
• ★ Anodised Aluminco frames (often preferred on heritage buildings or where a metallic finish is specified) need marine-grade protection products in coastal locations as the anodic layer, while corrosion-resistant, is not immune to salt attack over time.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Monthly in coastal zones, every 4-6 weeks inland (Salt and dust loads in Greece justify shorter intervals than northern Europe.). Frame cleaning and wax: Monthly coastal, every 3 months inland (Wax application at every clean in coastal locations.). Hardware lubrication: Three times yearly (Pre-summer, mid-summer, and post-summer given extreme seasonal range.). Full service inspection: Twice yearly (Plus post-seismic event check on sealant and frame-to-masonry joints.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Greek coastal window installations are among the most demanding maintenance environments in European residential work. Salt, UV, and heat combine in a way that makes the difference between maintained and unmaintained aluminium windows very visible within 3-5 years. Aluminco systems at premium tier are well-engineered for the Mediterranean context. The limiting factor in long-term performance is almost always maintenance frequency, not product quality. The bioclimatic pergola product range from Aluminco is a growing category. Louvre systems require specialist maintenance knowledge that differs from window and door system care.”

Justin Orloff