Do you remember the moment when you’ve changed the old woodwork with the brand new window frames and how clean and shiny was the windows? Certainly it took you a lot of time to choose the proper kind of frame and to appraise all pros and cons. I’m sure that the choice wasn’t simple with so many things to consider – like the level of thermal and sound insulation, what materials are used for it, are they qualitative and durable, what is the best way to maintain and clean it and so on. That’s right, sooner or later, the problem with the cleaning will show up. Sometimes even too soon – especially if the substitution of the old woodwork is a small part of a large repair. The dirt which left after all kind of construction work needs to be cleaned as soon as possible because if you wait to much there is chance that you won’t able to remove it.
Even if you clean up your windows regularly from the inside, it is proven that almost every one neglected the wiping on the street side. This is a problem especially for the people who lived near the busy street or avenue, where a lot of dust is rising. The trees and flowers are the other reason for the necessity of regular cleaning because the pollens and leaves which they release magically adheres to the windows and your white frames are not so white anymore.
Whatever the reason, there is only one treatment for this problem – To roll up our sleeves and clean the windows. Very important thing is to keep the windows from damage while we wipe it so we can use it for a long time. There are several things that we need to know so we can do that job qualitative and effective. The good news is that the plastic (PVC) profiles are relatively easy to maintain. Even if they are very dirty after the winter, cleaning work is not complicated as long as you keep in mind a few simple things.
Let’s talk a little bit about the protective film, which covers the windows during the installation and which function is to protect the profiles from mechanical damage and scratching. Many people decided to leave it permanently, perhaps with the idea of protecting the surfaces as long as possible. That practice, except that it’s not very aesthetic, in addition is conceptually wrong. The truth is that you have to remove the protective stickers after windows are installed. If you leave them, they will become more difficult to unstuck. Their corners will detached under the pressure of the rain and wind and all the dirt from the environment will be stick inside. Due to this fact the moment when you decide to remove it will become a real nightmare.
The most dangerous enemy in the fight for clean windows is the small abrasive particles. No matter what is their origin, the tiny even invisible “wounds“ which they caused to the coating layers is the main reason for the contamination of the frames. To avoid this, we should clean the windows fairly regularly – at least once a season. It is recommended to use only soft and non-abrasive cleaners and you need to take a good look to the description of the label because it is very important what it says. It must be explicitly pointed that the ingredients are harmless to your windows.
The place which requires special attention is the rubber gaskets. The tire is more sensitive material, so try not to treat it with chemicals, especially those which could lead to its erosion. Grease the gaskets with a silicone or water based lubricant at least once a year but better on every six months to extend their lives and to protect them from cracking.
Preventive maintenance of the closing mechanisms also can save you a bunch of headaches. A few drops of a fine machine oil from time to time (but at least once a year) will protect it from unpleasant creaking, which is a warning signal that soon you might need to change some of the hinges.
Cleaning of the aluminum windows is not very different. However, it is important not to use abrasive cleaners, as well as those that contain acetone. In both cases the mechanical cleaning is not desirable and the best option is by hand. If the contamination is not deep, you can even use only cold water, but do not wipe in the dry to avoid scratches.