Asia-Pacific · Glass Manufacturer
Viridian Glass — Window Cleaning Guide
🇦🇺 Australia · Last reviewed by Justin Orloff
Quick Facts
founded
Est. Australia
hq
Australia
primaryMaterials
Float glass, coated glass, insulated glass units
glazingPartner
Viridian is the glass manufacturer - supplied to window fabricators
marketTier
Specialist - glass manufacturer, not window frame manufacturer
Brand at a Glance
- Country: Australia
- Role: Float glass producer and coated glass manufacturer
- Key product: SmartGlass high-performance coated glass range
- Supplied to: Window manufacturers across Australia
- Climate context: Australia-wide - UV index 12+ in summer, coastal salt, tropical humidity
Product Range
- SmartGlass COOL
- SmartGlass BALANCED
- SmartGlass CLEAR
- Float glass
- Toughened and laminated glass
Why This System
Viridian's coated SmartGlass products have the low-e or solar control coating on the internal face of the outer pane within the insulated glass unit. This coating is never exposed to the cleaner - it cannot be touched or damaged during external cleaning. However, if a SmartGlass unit is installed as a single pane (not an IGU), the coating may be on the accessible face. In that case, abrasive cleaning will damage the coating irreversibly. Reflective SmartGlass products show cleaning marks under raking light more prominently than standard clear glass. Clean squeegee technique - wipe the rubber after every pull, overlap strokes by 2cm, detail edges - is essential on reflective glass. Australian UV conditions mean that the solar control performance of SmartGlass is particularly valuable. Keeping the glass surface clean maintains the solar performance - a salt-filmed or dirty SmartGlass surface transmits more solar heat than a clean one.
Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations
Official Care Guidance
Source: ORLOFFS PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE - BASED ON 25 YEARS FIELD EXPERIENCE ON AUSTRALIAN HIGH-PERFORMANCE GLASS SYSTEMS
Standard SmartGlass in IGU
- Pre-rinse glass with clean water before applying cleaning solution.
- Apply pH-neutral glass cleaning solution. Soft window washer only - no abrasive pads.
- Squeegee from top to bottom, overlapping strokes, wipe rubber after every pull.
- Detail edges with a clean dry cloth.
- Inspect IGU seals at every service - failed seals on Viridian SmartGlass units cause condensation between panes that cannot be cleaned from the outside.
Potential Single-Pane Coated Glass
- If you see a slight reflective tint on a single pane of glass, treat it as a coated surface - pH-neutral solution, soft washer only, no abrasives under any circumstances.
- Do not use razor blades or scratch pads on any Viridian glass - coated or otherwise.
Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol
The Orloffs Protocol
Since 1999 I've cleaned hundreds, if not thousands, of different window brands and systems. The physics of clean glass don't change from one brand to the next. Follow the steps below and you'll clean your Viridian Glass windows to a professional standard — guaranteed.
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 Viridian Glass installation.
- 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
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
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 Viridian 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
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
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 Viridian 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
Frame wipe and hardware check
On glass from Viridian 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
- On SmartGlass with a reflective tint, view the panel at 45 degrees from the side after cleaning to check for any remaining streaks - reflective glass reveals cleaning quality at angles that straight-on inspection misses
What NOT To Do
- Do not use abrasive pads, scratch pads, or razor blades on any Viridian coated glass
- Do not use acid-based glass cleaners on SmartGlass products - acid attacks low-e coatings
- Do not skip pre-rinsing on coastal properties - salt film on SmartGlass reduces performance
- Do not attempt to clean between the panes of a failed IGU - this requires glass unit replacement
Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations
Bundle Kit
Cleaning Frequency
Coastal Australian properties: Every 4 to 6 weeks (Salt film on SmartGlass reduces solar control performance). Standard residential: Every 8 to 12 weeks (Australian residential norm)
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Notes
“SmartGlass IGU failures in Queensland are more common than in southern states - the greater thermal cycling from cool nights to very hot days stresses the IGU seal faster. Failed IGU seals on SmartGlass show as a milky haze between the panes. When quoting a property with Viridian SmartGlass, note the glass specification on the job sheet - if a client claims the glass was damaged during cleaning, you need to be able to show that the coating is on an internal face and was not accessible.”
Justin Orloff
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