How to keep your windows and doors looking like new!

Have you just built your dream home? After house construction, pay particular attention to ensuring that builder’s debris and dirt are cleaned from the inside of all door and window sills so that drainage holes are unobstructed. This is especially applicable to doorways that have been in regular use during the construction phase. Regularly clean door sills, tracks, threshold drains and all drain holes as part of your ongoing maintenance program.

The right windows and doors can transform your home with beautiful natural light, soft breezes and connection to the big, wide world. And with a little TLC, they can last a very long time! Here’s how to keep them looking great for many years to come.

Cleaning your frames.

If you have aluminium frames, wash them with warm water and soap or detergent.

For anodised material, try solvent cleaners, e.g. kerosene, turpentine, white spirit, non-etching chemical cleaners or a wax-based polish cleaner. Please note that solvent-based cleaners should never be used on powder-coated surfaces or hardware.

Powder-coated surfaces.

Use a soft brush and mild detergent, followed by a water rinse. Avoid strong solvents or abrasive cleaning products. If you need to remove splashed paint, sealants or mastics, use white spirits. Wipe gently with a soft cloth.

Cleaning glass.

To clean clear float or toughened glass, simply wipe them with a few drops of methylated spirits on a damp cloth, then polish with a lint-free cloth.

For coated, laminated or tinted glass, e.g. Low-E glass, it’s a good idea to check the glass manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.

Hardware.

Wipe down exposed surfaces with warm, soapy water and a soft rag then rinse clean with fresh water. After you’ve rinsed, give your hangers, hinges, pivots and brackets a light spray of a corrosion preventative, such as lanolin or dry silicone, followed by a light wipe with a dry cloth.

Removing rust spots.

If rust spots appear on stainless steel, they can be removed with a mildly abrasive cleaner and rinsed with fresh water. If there’s a lot of rust, use a Scotch-Brite™ hand pad. Whatever you do, don’t use bleach, hydrochloric acid, soap concentrates or water with high iron content, such as bore water!

Roller tracks.

Keep your roller tracks free of dirt and grime to ensure your sliding or bi-fold windows and doors continue to work like a charm.

FlowTHRU™ drains.

If your windows or doors are installed with a FlowTHRU™ drain, remove the grate and clear the channel and outlet every three months.

How often should you maintain your windows and doors?

At AWS, we recommend you maintain your windows and doors:

• Every three months if they’re exposed to salt air or industrial pollutants.

• Every six months in rural areas.

• Monthly if you’re on the beachfront, in a severe marine environment or surrounded by very high industrial pollution.

If you have more questions about how to look after your windows and doors, our team is here with the answers!

 View our Care & Maintenance brochure here

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