Cleaning and caring for your uPVC windows & doors

Congratulations, you’re the proud owner of uPVC windows and doors in your home. Why congratulations? Unlike other materials uPVC is one of the lowest maintenance materials available on the market, making life easier for you. Materials such as wood require continuous weatherproofing/treating/painting, and in a busy modern world who really has time for that, especially when a home has so many windows and the paint is required inside and out? Today’s article is going to guide you through caring for your uPVC windows and doors, to ensure that they continue to impress by looking great, and last you as long as possible.

Cleaning uPVC Windows & Doors
You may be wondering how often you need to clean your uPVC in order to keep it in pristine condition, as well as making sure it looks nice. Well, the good news is that you can get away with this as little as a couple of times a year if you want to… but there is no harm in cleaning them more times either, cleaning is only going to enhance the appearance of your windows or doors, not damage them.

First, let’s start with cleaning the uPVC. The good news is you don’t need to invest in any fancy cleaning products for this (although you will find plenty available in the shops, they really aren’t necessary). Simple warm soapy water is sufficient for cleaning your uPVC, window frames and doors alike.

Using a soft cloth (avoid abrasive materials such as brillo pads or rough sponges, they aren’t necessary), the uPVC surface can simply be wiped down which will remove any dirt… a bit of elbow grease may be required for more stubborn marks that have been there for a while.

Don’t forget to open the windows and doors and give the insides a clean too. Using a soft brush (an old toothbrush would suffice) gently loosen up any dirt that may have gathered in the grooves, then again using the soft cloth, soap and water remove easily.

Seems too simple? That really is all that it takes, and your uPVC window or door will be gleaming again for months to come! The same applies for inside and outside, of course depending on where you live you may need to clean the inside and outside at different times, but you can figure that out.

Cleaning The Window Glass
Now your uPVC is clean and sparkling, you can now turn to the glass panes. Although they are double glazed, you don’t have to worry about dust gathering inside of the panes as they are tightly sealed providing your home with that thermal insulation and noise reduction. Using any normal glass cleaning product (found in any supermarket) and cloth, windows can be easily cleaned inside and out.

Some outside windows you may prefer to clean with soapy water first, then finish with a once over with a glass cleaner, depending on how long you’ve left in-between cleans. Some tips:

• Don’t clean windows in direct sunlight, as this can often leave streaks.
• Using paper towel and window cleaner means you’re left without dust particles.
• Regular cleaning makes cleaning a lot easier, for both inside and outside of the window.

Maintaining Window & Door Hardware
Now that your windows and doors are sparkling clean the only other area that you need to worry about is the actual working mechanisms of the hardware, i.e. the locking systems, handles and hinges. And what do you need for this? A simple spray oil (again widely available) is sufficient for the maintenance of these working parts.

Simply open your windows/doors to reveal the metal parts inside such as the hinges, and apply a small amount of spray oil. This will ensure that they continue to work smoothly over time, without creating any resistance or noise.

Looking after uPVC windows and doors really couldn’t be any easier. If you would like to know more about Integra’s window and door systems, please contact one of our friendly sales team today or call us on (02) 8964 7764 and we’d be happy to help.