Spring Window Cleaning and Maintenance: A Complete Guide

Spring is now upon us, which means you might want to get a head start on making your home clean and free from the remnants of winter. One of the best places to start is your windows. Given their integral role in ensuring the overall comfort and energy efficiency of your home, keeping them in great condition prepares them—and your home—for the warm months ahead.

Renewal by Andersen® of Eastern NY, your local source of top-notch replacement windows and doors, discusses why it’s a good idea to clean windows this spring and which signs of window failure you should watch out for. We will also tackle some cleaning and maintenance tips to get you started.

Reasons to Clean Your Windows This Spring

As you welcome the spring season, the leftovers of winter may still linger in some of the major components of your home, including your windows. Fall leaves, winter storms and early spring rains may leave noticeable grime on your exterior glass and frames. Don’t let junk around your windows drag down your home’s beauty this spring and summer; clean them now to ensure your home makes the best impression. 

Another reason to clean your double hung windows is doing so will allow you to appreciate the view of your outdoors this spring. Gone are the piles of snow and overall gloom brought about by the darkness of winter. Now, you get to witness your yard become lively again, with the flowers blooming and the grass growing. With clean windows, you likewise give your interior a boost, flooding it with sunlight to make it appear brighter, more spacious and more tranquil.

Take note that spring is also a time when bugs and other pests come out of hiding. If your windows sustained damage over the winter, these critters may find their way in your interior through cracks or weakened sealant.

You don’t want this to happen, so it is imperative to inspect your sliding windows during your routine cleaning. Check for any signs of damage to their integral components. Read on to learn more about them.

Signs of Window Failure to Watch Out For

The weakening of the window seal is one of the key things to look out for during your inspection. As windows age, the seal around the insulated glass begins to lose its strength. In time, the inert gas that fills the space between the two glass panes leaks out, causing outside air to seep into the gap.

One way to check for window seal failure on your sliding windows is to look for distortion. A double-pane window unit that leaks out inert gas may cause the glass to slightly bend and collapse in the center. You may find the glass looks more distorted when you stand at a distance outside and look at its reflection. That’s a sure sign that seal failure has occurred.

Condensation can be another sign of trouble. It is a common problem with windows, and it can be caused by several factors, including aging, poor installation, wrong choice of framing material in relation to the climate, and constant exposure to the elements.

Apart from the weakening of the window seal, drafts are another sign of window failure to look out for. When you close your double hung windows, you should not feel a draft. If you still feel air coming in, this could mean there are cracks in your window caulk.

Indeed, drafts disrupt indoor comfort. With hot weather on the horizon, you need to deal with this problem now. Otherwise, you could be looking at higher energy bills this summer as a result of needing to run your air conditioner more frequently.

While many of these window problems can be fixed with simple repairs, in some cases full window replacement is the smarter option. At Renewal by Andersen of Eastern NY, we offer a wide variety of replacement windows that fit any home style. Getting new windows is a great home improvement project to take on, especially during spring.

Window Care and Maintenance Do’s and Don’ts

Cleaning and maintaining your windows this spring ensures their smooth operation and beautiful appearance. Start by cleaning the frames, sash and grilles with a mild soapy solution and a soft, non-abrasive rag or brush. Then, with a soft, dry cloth, wipe away dust and grime from the glass. Use soapy water, diluted vinegar or liquid cleaner to wipe the glass clean. Use a clean, lint-cloth for this, wiping in a circular motion. Also, remove any debris that has collected on the sills or in the tracks.

When cleaning your sliding windows, do not apply cleaners that could damage the glass, sash, panels, frame and other components. These include solvents, abrasives and other products with harsh chemical content. Don’t risk further damage to your windows by using the wrong cleaning solution. 

It is always a good idea to apply dry lubricant to the important components of your windows like locks and hinges once every year. However, avoid wet lubricants or harsh, solvent-based greases. They don’t just damage windows, but they tend to collect dirt and other particles that induce corrosion.

When you install Renewal by Andersen® double hung windows, you can actually clean them without having to go outside your home. They have a tilt-in mechanism allowing for easy access to both sides of the window from within your home. Use the same procedures explained above.

This spring, turn to Renewal by Andersen of Eastern NY for your window needs. We are your leading provider of replacement windows and doors in the area. Apart from helping you choose the right window style to fit your home, we can also provide helpful advice for your spring cleaning efforts.

Visit our website to learn more about Renewal by Andersen products and services. Call (866) 479-1700 to discuss your choices of replacement windows. You may also fill out our contact form to request a free, in-home consultation.