APL Window Solutions — Window Cleaning Guide

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Pre-rinse glass with clean water before applying cleaning solution - standard practice across NZ regardless of apparent coastal proximity.
• ✓pH-neutral glass cleaning solution, squeegee from top to bottom, overlap strokes, wipe rubber after each pull.
• ✓Check glazing seals at every service - NZ wind-driven rain reveals seal failures faster than in calmer climates.

Aluminium Frames

• ✓Wipe with pH-neutral dampened soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly. No abrasive pads on any APL powder-coated frame.
• ✓On Altherm and Vantage thermally broken frames, clean the polyamide break junction with a narrow cloth.

Tracks and Weep Holes

• ✓Brush and clear all sliding track channels before introducing water.
• ✓Clear weep holes at every service - NZ wind-driven rain makes blocked weep holes a significant water ingress risk.
• ✓Apply silicone lubricant to sliding track surfaces after cleaning.

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 APL Window Solutions 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 APL Windows 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 APL Windows 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 APL Windows 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

• ★ In Wellington, pre-rinse is non-negotiable even after a week of dry weather - the Southerly wind deposits salt across the entire city regardless of how far from the harbour a property sits
• ★ On Vantage thermally broken windows, the thermal break junction is a visible mid-frame line - clean it with a narrow folded cloth rather than trying to reach it with a standard frame cloth

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Wellington and exposed coastal NZ: Every 4 to 6 weeks (Wind-driven salt requires frequent service). Auckland residential: Every 4 to 8 weeks (Humid, salt-affected microclimate). South Island residential: Every 6 to 10 weeks (Lower humidity but strong UV and seasonal wind)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Auckland properties face a humid, salt-laden microclimate that demands 4 to 6 week cleaning intervals on exposed positions. Wellington's notorious wind accelerates salt deposition across all elevations regardless of orientation. South Island properties in Christchurch and Dunedin face lower humidity but strong UV. Glazing seal condition on older APL windows in the South Island is frequently poor - document and report at every service.”

Justin Orloff