Arian Glass (Arian Nicoll) — 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 with pH-neutral glass cleaner on a microfibre cloth. Squeegee for streak-free finish.
• ✓Inspect glazing gaskets annually - continental climate temperature ranges accelerate gasket hardening.
• ✓Check glazing bead integrity on PVC units each year, particularly at corners where beads are most likely to lift.
• ✓Condensation between panes means IGU seal failure - cleaning cannot fix this. Replacement is required.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on glass surfaces.

Frames

• ✓Aluminium frames: pH-neutral detergent and water, soft cloth, rinse and dry immediately.
• ✓PVC frames: pH-neutral detergent and warm water, soft cloth, no abrasives or solvents.
• ✓Apply protective wax to aluminium frames and PVC restorer cream to white uPVC twice yearly.
• ✓Clear drainage holes every 6 months.
• ✓Check perimeter frame sealant at masonry interface each spring.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all multipoint hardware, hinges, and pivot points with PTFE spray or light machine oil twice yearly.
• ✓Identify hardware brand from markings for spare parts purposes.
• ✓Check handle fixing screws annually and tighten as needed.
• ✓Test full tilt-and-turn function after every service.
• ✓Report stiff or increasingly heavy handles before hardware damage progresses.

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 Arian Glass (Arian Nicoll) 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 Arian 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 Arian 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 Arian 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

• ★ Continental climate in Romania means wider temperature swings than western Europe. If Arian Glass windows are installed in Romania or similar climates, annual gasket checks are not optional - they are the most important maintenance task.
• ★ At mid-range price points, checking that all multipoint locking engages fully on each window is worth doing at every service - partial engagement is a common fault that goes unnoticed until weather performance drops.
• ★ Romanian manufacturers source profiles and hardware from established European suppliers. Profile markings in the frame chamber are worth checking - knowing the profile brand helps if you ever need technical data or compatible replacement seals.
• ★ If the windows are in a building that went through a cold winter without the drainage holes being cleared in autumn, check for water damage to frame interiors in spring.
• ★ For export installations, photograph all hardware brand markings at first service. The building owner may not have any documentation and this record becomes the basis for any future maintenance.
• ★ Tilt-and-turn windows that exhibit handle stiffness in cold weather may simply need a small amount of lubricant on the mechanism rather than hardware adjustment. Cold lubricant thickens.
• ★ On older Arian Glass PVC units, check glazing bead clips for brittleness before applying any lateral pressure during cleaning. Brittle clips break and release the bead.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Every 6-8 weeks (Adjust for local environment and dust levels.). Frame cleaning: Every 3-4 months (Drainage check every 6 months.). Hardware lubrication: Twice yearly (Pre-winter lubrication especially important in continental climate.). Full service inspection: Annually (Gaskets, drainage, sealant, hardware adjustment, and frame condition.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Romanian-manufactured windows at mid-range tier perform consistently when well-maintained. The most common fault we see is hardware that has never been lubricated since installation - a simple first-service fix. The dual-material (aluminium and PVC) product range means a single building may have both types. Always confirm material type per window rather than assuming uniformity. Arian Glass installations in export markets often have no local service chain. Building management teams need basic hardware identification skills to manage these windows effectively long-term.”

Justin Orloff