Pilkington

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Pilkington Activ Self-Cleaning Glass

• ✓The coating uses daylight and rain to keep glass clean - both are required for full function.
• ✓During long dry spells, replicate rainfall by gentle hosing or clean with a soft cloth and warm soap water.
• ✓Warm water with soap (such as washing-up liquid) is the approved basic cleaning method.
• ✓Consult Pilkington's List of Approved Cleaning Agents before using any proprietary cleaner.
• ✕Abrasive materials must never be used on the coating surface.
• ✓The coating requires activation after installation - five to seven days of direct sunlight before it becomes fully functional.
• ✓The coating handles organic dirt only - inorganic deposits like salt, mineral dust, and heavy tree sap require manual cleaning.

Silicone Compatibility (Critical)

• ✕All glazing systems using silicone-lubricated gaskets are incompatible with Pilkington Activ.
• ✓Many silicone-based rubber gaskets also interfere with the coating.
• ✓Silicone contamination creates picture framing - a hydrophobic border around the glass edge where the coating stops working.
• ✓Once silicone is removed, the Activ coating resumes normal function - but silicone is extremely difficult to remove effectively.

Standard Pilkington Glass (Non-Activ)

• ✓Clean with a clean cloth and a clear non-abrasive cleaner.
• ✓Soap water or a proprietary window cleaner both suitable.
• ✓Do not use abrasive materials on any coated glass surface.
• ✓Clean glass as soon as possible after construction to prevent bonding of cement dust, plaster, or paint.

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 Pilkington installation.

1. 1

   Identify the glass

   Before cleaning, check whether the glass is Pilkington Activ or standard Pilkington glass. Look at the spacer bar between the panes for markings. Activ glass has a subtle blue-grey reflective tint on the outer surface compared to standard glass. If you are unsure, treat it as coated glass and use the gentler approach.

2. 2

   Pre-clean and prepare

   Brush down the glass surface with a soft dry brush to remove loose dust, cobwebs, and debris. Any grit left on the surface gets trapped in the applicator cover and dragged across the coating during agitation.

   Fill the bucket with soap water. On Activ glass, use plain soap - no additives, no silicone-based products, no acid-based cleaners. If in doubt, warm water with washing-up liquid is Pilkington's own recommendation.

3. 3

   Frame edge detailing before squeegeeing

   Work the edges where glass meets frame first. Use your cotton towelling rag, finger pressed into the fabric, along every junction. This removes built-up grime from the frame-glass boundary before the squeegee pushes it across the glass surface.

   On Activ glass, pay particular attention to the gasket-glass junction. If silicone-lubricated gaskets were incorrectly used during installation, you may see a band of hydrophobic behaviour (water beading rather than sheeting) along the glass edge. Note this for the homeowner - it is an installation issue, not a cleaning issue.

4. 4

   Agitate the glass

   Dip the T-bar applicator fully into the soap water. Apply the solution across the entire glass surface with overlapping passes. The purpose of agitation is to dissolve and lift every deposit from the surface so the squeegee removes clean solution, not smeared dirt.

   On Pilkington Activ glass, the hydrophilic coating means water sheets rather than beads. You will notice the soap water spreads differently compared to standard glass. This is normal - the coating is working. Use more solution, not more pressure. The coating is 15 nanometres thick. Pressure is not your friend.

   For stubborn inorganic deposits (mineral stains, salt, construction residue), allow the soap water to soak for a full minute before re-agitating. The Activ coating only handles organic dirt - inorganic material needs manual removal with appropriate technique.

5. 5

   The three squeegee turns

   Side to side: horizontal passes across the glass. Start with the rubber blade touching a dry edge. Wipe the blade dry after every pass.

   Top to bottom: vertical passes down the glass. Same principle - dry start, dry wipe after each stroke.

   The J tune: one smooth unbroken motion, wrist rotating at each end to reverse direction without lifting the rubber from the glass. The most efficient method on large Pilkington glazed units.

   On Activ glass, maintain light, even pressure. The hydrophilic surface means water flows off more readily than standard glass - you need less pressure to achieve a clean finish. Heavy pressure on a 15-nanometre coating is unnecessary and risks micro-damage over time.

   Never clean in direct sunlight. On Activ glass specifically, UV-heated surfaces accelerate the photocatalytic reaction while you are trying to clean. Clean early morning, evening, or on overcast days.

6. 6

   Final edge detailing

   After squeegeeing, detail the residual water lines along the bottom edge and sides with a dry cotton rag. Fold to a clean corner for each pass. If the rag picks up grit at any point, replace it immediately.

   On Activ glass, do not use any silicone-containing finishing sprays or polishes. These will block the self-cleaning coating.

Pro Tips

• ★ Identify the glass before you clean - Activ self-cleaning glass requires silicone-free tools and products throughout.
• ★ On Activ glass, use more soap water and more time, not more pressure. The coating is 15 nanometres thick.
• ★ Pre-brush the glass surface to remove loose grit before the T-bar touches it - grit trapped in the microfibre scratches coatings.
• ★ Never use silicone-containing products on or near Pilkington Activ glass - silicone masks the self-cleaning function.
• ★ Never clean in direct sunlight - on Activ glass, UV-heated surfaces accelerate the photocatalytic reaction against your soap water.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Standard coated glass: 2x per year minimum (Spring and autumn.). Pilkington Activ self-cleaning glass: Inspect every 3-4 months (Clean manually during extended dry spells or when inorganic deposits accumulate.). After construction work: Immediately (Cement dust, plaster, and paint bond to coated glass rapidly and the Activ coating cannot break down inorganic material.). After salt exposure: Clean promptly (Salt is inorganic and will not be removed by the self-cleaning function.). Gasket-glass junctions on Activ installations: Every clean (Inspect for signs of silicone migration or picture framing.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Standard coated glass: 2x per year minimum, spring and autumn. Pilkington Activ self-cleaning glass: inspect every 3-4 months, clean manually during dry spells. After construction: clean immediately - cement dust and plaster bond rapidly to coated glass. After salt exposure: clean promptly - the self-cleaning coating cannot handle inorganic deposits. Frames and hardware: follow the window manufacturer's schedule - Pilkington supplies glass only.”

Justin Orloff