How to maintain your windows in seven easy steps

TAYLOR, Mich., December, 17, 2008 – Wallside Windows – the largest retailer/manufacturer of windows in a single geographic market in the United States – has listed seven steps to follow if you want to keep your home’s windows in tip-top shape.

Window maintenance is a relatively simple matter, and spring and fall are the perfect times for doing it. Begin with a routine cleaning of the window frames and sills, as well as the tracks of sliding windows.

“Windows that don’t get opened and closed much tend to attract dirt, bugs and nests,” said Stanford Blanck, co-owner of Taylor-based Wallside Windows. “That sort of buildup can cause windows to stick and eventually, not operate properly.” Blanck says to:

1.    Clean any residue and dirt from the window frames and then vacuum them out.  If necessary, wash any fingerprints or smudges from the frames with an appropriate household cleaner.

2.    If the tracks on sliding windows are grimy or sticky with dirt, wash them with a spray cleaner and rag, getting as little moisture as possible on the frames. After washing frames or tracks, dry them completely with paper towel.

3.    About once a year, lubricate all moving parts of your windows – the tracks, slides, crank mechanisms and metal brackets.

4.    Metal frame windows – particularly those painted bronze or black – tend to oxidize in the sun, losing some of their color. A little car wax, used according to directions, will often restore the frames’ luster.       

5.    Windows that “sweat” on the inside are not defective – the moisture is simply a product of too much humidity in the house, which condenses on the inner windows in winter. There’s not much you can do about it, other than reducing humidity in the house or perhaps setting up a fan near the windows.

6.    Glass that clouds up from the inside is defective. The cloudiness means that seal on the window has been broken, allowing air and moisture to seep between the panes of glass. The only remedy is to replace the glass.

7.    On double-hung windows, where both windows slide up and down (on a single-hung window, only the bottom slides up and down), the counterbalance mechanism that keeps the windows in a raised position may malfunction. This mechanism usually consists of ropes, and can sometimes be repaired or replaced. There are also several aftermarket products, such as compression springs, that can be installed on windows to keep them in place. Check your local hardware store for these products. 

Founded in 1944, Taylor, Michigan-based Wallside Windows specializes in the manufacturing and installation of custom-built vinyl replacement windows, and offers a variety of styles such as: bay, bow, sliding, garden and picture windows.  For more information on the company, please visit www.wallsidewindows.com.