Do your windows squeak and creak? Is your sliding door a little less lustrous than it was the first day? Here are some tips for getting them back to their original glory.
Moving parts
Maintaining and lubricating your windows’ moving parts will make them work better—and longer—and avoid premature wear and tear.
Maintenance
- Clean grooves and sliding fittings, where dust, sand and dirt accumulate, on a regular basis. Pay special attention to windows exposed to strong winds or placed near the ground.
- Avoid painting metal parts or weather-strip to make sure they work properly and do the job they’re supposed to do.
Lubrication
- Twice yearly, spray moving parts with a silicone lubricant. Your retailer can recommend the right brand.
- Make sure you don’t untighten the screws or nuts, or remove the door hardware for lubrication. It isn’t necessary, and may, in certain cases, invalidate the manufacturer’s or installer’s warranty.
PVC
Vinyl surfaces can keep their lustre indefinitely; it all depends on how bad the stain is.
- Small spills: To clean dust and stains left by pollution or accident and to keep surfaces shiny, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to your water. Make sure you use gentle, non-abrasive cleaning products.
- Medium spills: For hard-to-remove dust, or pencil marks, grease, tar or lipstick, use the kind of non-abrasive cleansing creams used for counters and sinks. You can also use specialized car vinyl cleaning products. Never use solvent or stripper.
- Big spills: To get rid of indelible marks on vinyl surfaces, such as permanent marker, it’s possible to lightly scratch or sand the surface, a very delicate operation that should only be entrusted to a door and window professional or contractor. Unfortunately, it may make the material lose its shine.
Better safe than sorry
You’ve already heard it, but since we care about your safety:
- Keep all products for maintaining your doors and windows out of reach of children.
- When you use any cleaner other than soap and water, make sure you protect your skin and eyes.
- Always protect your clothing, hands and eyes when you use these products.
