How To Clean Sash Window.

• Step 1. Ensure Personal Safety. 
• Step 2. Position Your Window. 
• Step 3. Prepare Cleaning Solution. 
• Step 4. Cleaning The Frame.
• Step 5. Change Your Soapy Water 
• Step 6. Clean Your Glazing. 
• Step 7. Close Window & Inspect.

When you install a uPVC sash window into your home, it is important to ensure that you regularly clean and maintain your sash windows to retain maximum daylight and performance. Abandoning your sash window may result in worn/damaged glazing, and a discolouring frame. However, it is equally as important to make sure you correctly clean your sash window. Cleaning your window incorrectly can result in glazing scratches, chips, and even worn out low-e UV protection film. We have put together this guide to help you gain a sparkly clean window, with no damage to the frame or the frame. 

Ensuring Personal Safety: 

When cleaning your sliding sash windows, it is important to access your situation and ensure that you are not putting yourself in danger. Not just because windows tend to be at higher heights, but because they include heavy hardware, latches, springs that may malfunction and cause injury to the individual. We strongly advise using a chair, or instable ladders while cleaning your window. If your window is out of reach always invest in a long-handle microfibre cleaning solution. This minimises the results of slips and trips, which at height could result in serious injury or fatality. We recommend opening your windows and waiting around 1 minute before you start cleaning to ensure the hardware is secure and will not slam closed. When cleaning window latches, hardware, and springs. Make sure to wear a padded glove and keep your head away from the windows sash. 

Once you have accessed your situation, and confirmed that the window is secure. Take the following steps to clean your window safety and correctly.

1. Position the window: 

Slide/Open the window to preferred cleaning position to desired position for cleaning. Leave for one minute to ensure sash is secured and won't slam back. Quickslide windows go through various tests, and quality control to ensure this does not happen to your window. However, on other brands or older models, it is better safe than sorry. For Quickslide windows, place the bottom sash in a tilted position by cautiously pulling the sash towards you. Then slide the top sash downwards and tilt it by pulling the knobs into the sash. you should not be able to pull the sash towards you into its tilted position.

2. Prepare cleaning solution: 

When cleaning a uPVC sash window, you need to take the features of your double glazing into account. Toughened and laminated double glazing sometimes come with films and a low-e coating to protect your home from UV rays. In this case a harsh chemical solution would over time breakdown the seal and weaken the glazing, and its features. We always recommend using soap in luke-warm water and stir to ensure the solution is fully mixed. However, some low strength glass cleaners are also advisable. 

3. Cleaning the frame: 

Take your bowl of luke-warm soap water and a microfibre cloth. It is important to use a microfibre cloth, as the soft material limits a build up of visible chips and scratches. Keeping your window new looking for longer. Put your microfibre cloth into the soapy water, remove, and squeeze over the bowl to remove excess liquid that may drip onto the wall, flooring, or furniture. Gently, wipe down each side of the frame, and bars (if you have them). If there is a dust build up on your uPVC sash window, dust this down first. You can dip your cloth as many times as you need until the frame is squeaky clean. You can also use  uPVC cleaner, which works best on uPVC frames. 

4. Change your soapy water: 

If you opted to use soapy water on the internal and external glazing too, instead of a  glass cleaner, change this water over now. The build up of dirt from the frame may leave streaks or scratches on the glazing. If you are using a low strength glass cleaner, go to step 5. 

5. Cleaning the glazing:

Usually the external pane is where you see the majority of dirt and grime, due to significant exposure to the elements. Sometimes, soapy water may not be strong enough to dissolve thick grime. This is where a low strength glass cleaner should be used. Avoid strong chemicals such as bleach and nail polish remover. For more permanent stains, contact the manufacturer. Once your cleaning solution is on your cloth. Start cleaning the external pane, we recommend using circular motions. Cleaning in a circular motion minimises streaks left behind, because the ridges on the cloth are constantly overlapping the fluid left behind by the other fibres. Resulting in a less streaky and smooth finish. For the internal pane, use the same motion. 

6. Close the window and inspect: 

Close the window by pushing the upper sash into an upright position and slide it upwards back into closed position. Then push the bottom sash into its upright position, slide it downwards and lock both sashes into an interlocked position. Skim over your work and make sure there is no missed spots, chips, or scratches. 

While you are with the window we suggest giving your window a little health check. Make sure there are no chips, breakdown, or scratches on the frame or glazing. If you spot any quality discrepancies you should immediately investigate and act to prevent further loss. If you are unsure what is causing the issue or how to solve it. Please contact the manufacturer, or ourselves if you bought a Quickslide window from us. 

Now your window should be clean. If there is any stubborn dirt or stains you do not know how to remove, you can try non-harsh chemical cleaners like baking soda, white wine vinegar, or lemon juice. These contain acidic content, but not enough to cause significant damage to the glazing. If this does not work. You should contact the manufacturer. 

FAQ's

Where to buy microfibre clothes?

 You can usually buy microfibre clothes from a local supermarket. However, if you don't have the time. We recommend ordering off our partners at YARDfixt, who can ship out to you at trade price.  Shop Microfibre Clothes. 

What soap works for cleaning glazing?

Usually dish soap is the best type of soap to create a cleaning solution for glazing. 

Where to buy uPVC cleaner, or low-strength glass cleaner?

Again, our partners across at YARDfixt have designed part of their website for windows and glazing. You can shop  uPVC cleaner, and glass cleaner at trade price for next day delivery. 

For any further questions on your uPVC window. Please contact our marketing team on marketing@yarddirect.com.