ASAŞ Alüminyum — 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 on a microfibre cloth and rubber squeegee for all IGU surfaces.
• ✓Inspect glazing gaskets annually - mid-range gasket materials may show early hardening in hot or cold climate extremes.
• ✓Check glazing bead condition each year, particularly at corners where PVC beads can lift from thermal movement.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on glass - IGU coating types vary by fabricator specification.
• ✓Condensation between panes indicates IGU seal failure. Replacement is required - cleaning does not address this.

Frames

• ✓Aluminium frames: pH-neutral detergent and water, soft microfibre cloth, rinse thoroughly and dry immediately.
• ✓PVC frames: warm water and pH-neutral detergent, soft cloth, no abrasives.
• ✓Apply paste wax to aluminium frames and PVC restorer cream to white PVC twice yearly as surface protection.
• ✓Clear drainage holes every 6 months with a soft brush.
• ✓Inspect perimeter frame-to-masonry sealant annually for cracking.

Hardware

• ✓Lubricate all hinges, pivot points, and locking keeps with PTFE spray or light machine oil twice yearly.
• ✓Identify hardware brand from markings on keeps and hinges - this is essential for sourcing replacements.
• ✓Check handle fixing screws and tighten annually.
• ✓On tilt-and-turn windows, test both functions after every service.
• ✓If handle torque feels inconsistent or increasing, investigate 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 ASAŞ Alüminyum 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 Asas Aluminyum 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 Asas Aluminyum 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 Asas Aluminyum 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

• ★ When you cannot confirm material type from documentation, a strong magnet is a useful field test - it sticks to the steel reinforcement bar common in PVC frames but not to aluminium.
• ★ At mid-range price points, ASAS aluminium powder coat specification may vary. If chalking appears on relatively new frames, note this for the building owner - early re-coating is cheaper than waiting for substrate corrosion to start.
• ★ Hardware brand identification is the most important maintenance task on export market windows. Roto, Maco, and Winkhaus hardware all have European replacement networks regardless of where the window was made.
• ★ Turkish-manufactured windows exported to colder European climates may have been specified with climate ranges that match Turkish norms rather than northern European winters. Pay particular attention to gasket condition in cold climates.
• ★ PVC profiles from ASAS meet EU lead-free requirements for export, but check any very old installations for potential lead stabiliser content if pre-2000 manufacture is possible.
• ★ Drainage slot clearing is even more important in MENA-region export installations where sand and dust loads are much higher than European residential environments.
• ★ For any ASAS window installed in a location without local service support, photograph and record all hardware markings at the first service visit. This documentation is invaluable if parts are needed later.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass cleaning: Every 6-8 weeks (More frequently in dusty or coastal environments.). Frame cleaning: Every 3-4 months (Drainage check every 6 months.). Hardware lubrication: Twice yearly (More often in extreme hot or cold climates.). Full service inspection: Annually (Including gasket condition, drainage, sealant, and hardware check.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Turkish-extruded aluminium profiles are technically comparable to EU-extruded profiles at equivalent alloy specification. The real quality variable is the fabricator who assembled the windows, not the extrusion origin. ASAS windows are increasingly common in eastern European and Balkan residential markets where price-to-specification ratio is the primary driver. Maintenance requirements are identical to any other mid-range aluminium or PVC system. The dual-material offering (aluminium and PVC) from a single group is a fabricator convenience feature. For maintenance purposes, always treat each material independently.”

Justin Orloff