Aluron — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓pH-neutral glass cleaner and microfibre cloth with rubber squeegee on all glass surfaces.
• ✓On large-format Aluron sliding and curtain wall systems, work in sections to prevent solution drying before squeegee.
• ✓Inspect glazing gaskets annually for hardening - premium gasket compound lasts longer but is not indefinite.
• ✓Check glazing bead seating annually on high-performance systems where bead precision is part of the thermal and acoustic performance.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on glass. Do not attempt to clean between panes on failed IGUs.

Frames

• ✓Clean powder-coated aluminium with pH-neutral detergent solution and soft microfibre cloth.
• ✓Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Dry immediately - do not allow solution to dry on Qualicoat surfaces in sunlight.
• ✓Apply paste wax to outer frame faces twice yearly as protective maintenance.
• ✓On anodised Aluron profiles, use only pH-neutral products. Bleach and caustic cleaners destroy anodised layers.
• ✓Check perimeter frame sealant at masonry joints annually.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all multipoint locking bars, hinges, and pivot pins with PTFE-based lubricant twice yearly.
• ✓On sliding systems, clean running tracks with stiff brush before lubricating with silicone track spray.
• ✓Check handle fixing screws annually.
• ✓Identify hardware brand from physical markings - premium Aluron installations typically use Roto, Maco, or Siegenia hardware.
• ✓If hardware requires increasing force to operate, diagnose before the fault damages the frame.

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 Aluron 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 Aluron 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 Aluron 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 Aluron 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

• ★ Aluron's high-performance systems (MB-86 SI and above) have tighter hardware tolerances than standard residential systems. If hardware is stiff or misaligned on these systems, call a professional who knows the specific system rather than attempting adjustment without the right knowledge.
• ★ Polish continental climate means sealant and gasket inspection before winter is the highest-value single maintenance action. Failed sealant entering a Polish winter causes water ingress that freezes and expands, accelerating damage.
• ★ Aluron systems installed in Germany (a significant export market) are serviced well by German window hardware specialists who know Roto and Maco hardware. Use these networks rather than waiting for Aluron-specific support.
• ★ Premium powder coat on Aluron profiles responds well to paste wax protection. A waxed frame is visibly cleaner-looking and the wax layer provides meaningful surface protection against UV and environmental deposits.
• ★ On curtain wall and structural glazing Aluron systems, any maintenance beyond cleaning and hardware lubrication should be done by a facade specialist. Structural silicone and curtain wall system adjustments require specific professional competence.
• ★ Aluron sliding system tracks are precision-engineered. Use a nylon brush for track cleaning - metal brushes score the track surface and create nucleation points for further grit accumulation.
• ★ The independent engineering approach Aluron takes means some system details differ from systems you might know from other manufacturers. If in doubt about a specific component, contact the fabricator before attempting any adjustment.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Every 6-8 weeks (Adjust for local pollution and dust levels.). Frame cleaning and wax: Every 3-4 months (Wax application twice yearly on outer faces.). Hardware lubrication: Twice yearly (Pre-winter lubrication especially important in Polish continental climate.). Full service inspection: Annually (Sealant, gaskets, drainage, hardware adjustment, and frame surface condition.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Aluron systems at premium tier are technically serious products. The fabricator who assembles the windows is still the critical quality variable - the best profiles in less careful hands produce mediocre finished windows. Polish manufacturing at premium specification is a genuine alternative to western European equivalents on technical grounds. The perception gap between Polish and German or Italian aluminium at this tier is not backed by material or engineering evidence. Export Aluron installations in Germany and Austria are maintained by local window technicians using Roto or Maco hardware knowledge. This is the correct approach - hardware brand knowledge transfers regardless of profile brand.”

Justin Orloff