At Reddish, we know the importance of taking care of your windows. Properly maintaining your windows will extend their life and keep them looking great all year round. Every window we install comes with a ten-year warranty and a member of our team will be available to provide you with any advice you need.
When should you clean your windows?
Choosing the perfect day to clean your windows will leave you with the best finish possible. Avoid cleaning them on extremely sunny or windy days as this will cause them to dry too quickly which will leave you with messy streaks and watermarks. You should wait for a warm but cloudy day to get the perfect result.
Although aluminium and uPVC frames will need cleaning less regularly than traditional timber, we recommend performing small cleans, often on all window materials. By regularly cleaning your windows you prevent difficult dirt and stains from building up.
Cleaning the glass
When you’re cleaning the glass panes in your windows, you may think you need fancy glass cleaners, but you don’t. In fact, using a glass cleaner could affect the quality of your windows depending on the material they are. The best glass cleaner can easily be made using things from around your home. Here’s our recipe for the best streak-free glass cleaner:
- One squirt of washing up liquid
- Six tablespoons of white vinegar
- Four cups of warm water
Start by dusting off any loose dirt by gently wiping over the glass with a dry cloth. Cover the glass in the homemade solution and use a non-abrasive brush to remove any remaining dirt. Remove any remaining solution by rinsing the window using clean water. Use a squeegee to remove the additional water, leaving you with a dry, streak-free window.
Maintaining timber window frames
People often think timber requires a lot of maintenance and it simply isn’t true. The difference between timber and other materials is the need to re-treat the frames every few years. Although this is an additional step, it will ensure your windows last an exceptionally long time. At Reddish, we offer Accoya wood and it’s so easy to maintain and when properly cared for it can last for over 80 years.
Equipment needed:
- 2x soft cloths
- A non-abrasive brush
- A bucket
- Warm, soapy water
Method:
You’ll need to start by wiping over dry frames with a soft dry cloth, this will remove any dust or dry debris from the frames. If you skip this step, you’ll end up with dust smeared frames that will be difficult to clean.
Once the frames are dust-free, take your non-abrasive brush and the warm, soapy water and brush over the entire frame. You also need to brush over all of the hardware, ensuring to get into every corner and all the small crevices.
Finally take a soft, dry cloth and wipe over each of the frames until they’re dry. This will prevent unwanted watermarks or streaks from appearing.
Maintaining uPVC window frames
uPVC has grown to become the most popular home improvement material on the market, thanks to its incredible durability and low maintenance nature. When cleaning uPVC it’s important not to use any strong chemicals as these can easily damage uPVC frames both weakening them and ruining their appearance.
Equipment needed:
- A soft, non-abrasive brush
- 2x soft cloths
- A bucket
- Warm, soapy water
Method:
Start by using a dry, soft cloth to wipe any over the dry frames, removing any loose dirt from over the frames.
Taking your non-abrasive brush make sure you cover the entirety of the frames in warm soapy water. Use the brush to gently scrub at the frames, removing any remaining dirt. Make sure to get into all the cracks and the hardware, if dirt builds up in these areas it could prevent the windows from operating properly.
Ensure you wash the soap off thoroughly with clean water, this will remove soap marks and or streaks. After all the soap has been removed, you should take a lint-free cloth and wipe over the frames until they’re dry.
Maintaining aluminium window frames
Aluminium is a naturally low maintenance material, it’s non-corrosive and is ultra-durable. When cleaning your aluminium frames, it’s best that you completely avoid abrasive brushes or sponges as these can damage the powder coating added to aluminium.
Equipment needed:
- 2x soft cloths
- A bucket
- Warm, soapy water
Method:
Wipe any dust or loose dirt off by using a soft, dry cloth as this will eliminate the risk of smudges.
Use a warm soapy water solution and a non-abrasive cloth to gently clean any remaining dirt from the aluminium frames. For tough areas of dirt, you can try using a rubber brush, it’s gentle enough that it won’t cause any damage to the frames.
Dry your frames with a soft cloth to prevent watermarks developing, drying the frames will also prevent water dripping onto the glass causing streaks.