Aliplast

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Glass

• ✓Clean glass with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
• ✓Rinse with cold, clean water after washing.
• ✓Dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• ✕Do not use solvents such as acetone, petrol, or nail varnish remover on or near glass.
• ✓Do not clean in direct sunlight or high temperatures.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on the glass surface.

Aluminium Frames (Powder Coated)

• ✓Clean with Aliplast Periodi Clean and lukewarm water.
• ✓Rinse with cold, clean water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.
• ✓Annual protection treatment: apply Aliplast Maxi Gloss directly after cleaning with Periodi Clean. This extends colour retention and provides long-term protection.
• ✕Do not use solvents (acetone, petrol, nail varnish remover).
• ✓Do not use acids such as vinegar.
• ✓Do not use alkaline products such as ammonia or baking soda.
• ✓Do not clean frames in bright sunshine or at high temperatures.

Hardware

• ✓Oil all moving parts (hinges, handles, locking points) at least once per year with a light machine oil.
• ✓Clean sliding tracks and drainage channels regularly to prevent dirt buildup and maintain smooth operation.
• ✓Do not use lubricants containing solvents near powder-coated or anodised frame surfaces.

Gaskets and Seals

• ✓Inspect rubber seals annually for cracking, shrinkage, or detachment.
• ✓Clean seals with a soft damp cloth and mild soapy water only.
• ✕Do not use petroleum-based products or solvents on rubber gaskets.
• ✓Replace damaged or deteriorating seals through your Aliplast fabricator or installer.

Sliding Tracks and Channels

• ✓Clear sliding tracks regularly using a soft brush or dry cloth to remove dust, grit, and leaf debris.
• ✓After clearing, wipe the track with a damp cloth.
• ✕Keep drainage holes at the base of the profile clear. Blocked drainage causes water to pool inside the frame and accelerates seal degradation.

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 Aliplast installation.

1. 1

   Clear the tracks first (sliding systems)

   On Aliplast sliding systems, before touching the glass, clear the track with a dry soft brush or cloth. Remove grit, leaves, and any compacted debris from the channel. This stops you washing dirt from the track back up onto the frame or glass.

   Block the drain holes briefly with a cloth to check they are clear. If water pools in the track during cleaning and cannot drain, it sits against the seals and degrades the rubber over time.

2. 2

   Detail the frame edges

   Wipe the aluminium frame edges with a damp microfibre cloth and mild soapy water before touching the glass. This lifts the sitting dust and pollen from the profile surface. Aliplast powder coat is smooth and picks up fine dust easily, particularly in urban environments.

   If the frame has not been polished with Maxi Gloss recently, the surface may feel slightly rougher to the cloth. That roughness means more dirt is anchored to the surface - take extra time on the frame wipe.

3. 3

   Agitate the glass

   Dip your T-bar applicator fully into the soapy water on both sides. Apply solution across the whole glass surface in overlapping strokes. The goal is to dissolve the dirt so the squeegee can remove it cleanly.

   Work across the full pane before picking up the squeegee. If you squeegee too early, grit that has not yet dissolved gets dragged across the glass surface.

4. 4

   Detail the frame edges again before squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of the window. Remove the pooled soap water sitting on the aluminium profile. When the squeegee reaches those edges and picks up dirty residue, it drags it across clean glass as a streak. This detail step takes ten seconds and prevents most problems.

5. 5

   The three squeegee turns

   Side to side: start at the top edge with a dry rubber. Work across the glass in a straight horizontal line. Tilt the squeegee so the soap water spills from one side of the channel only. Wipe the rubber dry after each pass. Overlap slightly into the next line down.

   Top to bottom: the same principle, working in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward. Wipe dry after each pass. Overlap into the next line across. Particularly effective on taller Aliplast window and door lights.

   The J turn: the professional continuous motion - from top to bottom in one unbroken stroke. Your thumb guides the rotation as you reach the end of each horizontal pass, rotating the squeegee so it turns and continues down. The fastest and most consistent turn for any size of Aliplast glazing.

6. 6

   Edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, take a dry cotton rag folded to a clean corner and detail the bottom edge and side edges in one smooth pass. Get your finger into the edge where the glass meets the aluminium frame seal. Remove any pooled soap water sitting there.

   Rotate the rag to a clean section after each edge. Replace with a fresh rag every few windows.

Pro Tips

• ★ On sliding systems, clear the track before you start cleaning - dirt in the track transfers to the glass and frame during washing.
• ★ Clean the frame edges first, every time. Dirty powder-coat edges are the primary source of streaks on Aliplast aluminium windows.
• ★ Do not clean in direct sunlight or at high temperatures - Aliplast's own documentation makes this explicit.
• ★ Skip the annual Maxi Gloss treatment and the powder coat loses protection progressively. It is not optional maintenance.
• ★ Acids and alkalis (including vinegar and ammonia) are prohibited on Aliplast powder-coated frames - most commercial glass sprays contain one or the other.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn. Quarterly in urban or polluted environments.). Coastal environments: Every 4-6 weeks for frames; quarterly for glass (Salt air accelerates degradation of powder-coated surfaces.). Annual Maxi Gloss protection treatment: 1x per year (Applied immediately after Periodi Clean washing. Part of the Aliplast official care protocol.). Hardware: 1x per year (Light machine oil on hinges, handles, and locking points.). Sliding tracks and drainage channels: 4x per year (Clear at the start of each season to protect rollers and seals.). Rubber seals and gaskets: 1x per year (Inspect annually and after heavy storms.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum, quarterly in polluted or coastal locations. Annual Maxi Gloss protection treatment: once per year immediately after Periodi Clean wash. This is part of the official Aliplast care protocol. Sliding tracks: clear 4x per year at season changes. Blocked tracks cause roller damage. Hardware: oil once per year. No solvent-based lubricants near the powder-coated frame.”

Justin Orloff