Care & maintenance

Keep themlike new.

A few minutes of the right care keeps your windows and doors clear, smooth and sealed for years. Here's how to clean each part without damaging it.

Do

Skip direct sunlight: cleaner dries too fast and streaks. A cloudy but dry day works best.
Wash from the top down so drips land on parts you haven't cleaned yet.
Use gentle soap or white vinegar diluted in water (half a cup per gallon) instead of commercial window cleaners, which often contain ammonia.
Never use chlorine bleach, organic solvents, acetone, or muriatic, hydrofluoric or phosphoric acid. They can attack the frame and seals and permanently damage the glass.
Change your wash and rinse water often.

Avoid detergents and abrasive cleaners: they streak the glass and can damage the seal between the glass and the frame.
Soapy water or diluted white vinegar is the safest choice. Glass cleaning products aren't needed and often leave a residue.
Don't worry about scratching the Low-E coating. It sits on the inner surface of the insulated glass unit, out of reach.
Wash one side with horizontal strokes and the other with vertical strokes. If a streak is left, you'll know which side it's on.
Wait two minutes, then wipe with a clean damp cloth or a squeegee. Dry the squeegee blade after every pass, and finish with newspaper to remove water spots.

Vinyl (PVC) cleans easily: no aggressive solvents needed. Don't dry-wipe, which can scratch the surface.
Wash the outside frame with a wet sponge and clean water. If it's very dirty, rinse it first with a garden hose at low pressure. Never use a high-pressure spray.
Don't scrub dirt or use razor blades or metal scrapers on bird droppings or stubborn stains. A plastic spatula lifts them without scratching.
A soft toothbrush gets dirt out of the corners. Then wipe with soapy water and rinse with warm water and a soft cloth.
Keep the weep holes clear. These small openings on the outside of the frame drain rainwater; clear dust with a dry paint brush or a vacuum brush attachment.
Look over the seals now and then. They're built for a long life, but a quick visual check catches damage early.

Remove dust with a vacuum brush attachment.
For a deeper clean, take the screen out and wash it on a clean, flat surface with warm water and a soft brush. Rinse and let it air-dry completely.
Clean the upper and lower tracks before you put the screen back.

Clean locks, handles and hinges with the same non-abrasive cleaner and a soft cloth. Rinse off any residue and let them dry completely.
Lightly lubricate all moving parts once a year so they keep operating smoothly.
Use a silicone-based lubricant that is safe for vinyl. Avoid lubricants with oil or acid: if they touch the glass, they can leave permanent marks.

Cleaning the outside from indoors.

Open the bottom sash about three inches.
With both hands, release the tilt latches on both sides at the same time and tilt the sash in. The outside of the glass is now within reach.

Cleaning the outside from indoors.

A casement sash swings open like a door. Open it to 90 degrees and there's enough room between the frame and the sash to reach the outside of the glass.

Keep the roller tracks free of dirt and debris so the door glides: vacuum them first, then finish with a sponge and soapy water.
Never put oil on the tracks. It makes them slippery and collects grit.