3 Long Island Replacement Window Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

Now that you’ve installed your replacement windows in your Long Island home, you probably find yourself smiling when you catch a glimpse of the scene on the other side of the glass. Renewal by Andersen replacement windows give you a crystal clear view of your world, but sometimes those mystery spots from sprinklers or the water hose can be irritating.

It’s fairly easy to wipe off the airborne pollen and dust that accumulate on your window surfaces. For the occasional tough spot, or upper level windows, cleaning can be a bit more challenging.

Here are three maintenance and cleaning tips to help you maintain a perfect view, and protect your new home improvement products.

Tip 1: Banish the Water Spots

Water spots come from a variety of sources – rain water baked on by the sun, water hose splashes and sprinkler residue, a rowdy water gun fight. For most homeowners, water spots are an irritation, but most are not difficult to remove.

White vinegar works wonders for cleaning glass surfaces. Simply add a cup of white vinegar to a cup of warm water to make a mild cleaning solution. Apply with a soft, lint free cloth or sponge and dry immediately with a dry cloth or squeegee.

For difficult spots, you can increase the vinegar strength. It’s okay to use white vinegar without diluting it for especially difficult water spots, as long as you dry the glass immediately.

Caution: shrubs and plants don’t tolerate vinegar well. To avoid damaging your greenery don’t use a spray bottle or a hose with a dispensing attachment.

Extra Steps: Heavy rain falling into flower beds and bare dirt spots near your patio doors and windows often produces muddy splashes. Examine the landscape around the perimeter of your home. Planting ground cover or adding pebbles or mulch to your beds may help you control those frustrating spots.

Tip 2: Removing Bird & Bee Droppings

If you notice yellowish spots that resemble water marks, but don’t lift off easily with a mild vinegar solution, your home may be in the flight path of busy bees collecting pollen. The best cleaning solution for these bothersome gifts from nature is a mix of distilled water and a mild detergent. Try saturating the spot with plain water first.

For upper level fixed windows, use an extension pole designed for window washing, or consult a professional window cleaning service. Take extra precautions if you decide to clean your own exterior windows.

• Use a sturdy ladder.
• Enlist the help of a family member or friend to serve as a spotter on the ground.
• Avoid overreaching. Instead, move the ladder whenever you can’t easily reach the surface areas.

Caution: Don’t use harsh chemicals or sharp scraping tools to remove dried on animal feces.

Tip 3: Routine Maintenance Schedules Keep Your Windows Clean & Hassle Free

While our replacement windows don’t come with a magic genie who keeps vigil day and night to keep your windows and patio doors spotless, our home improvement products are custom built to reduce the time you spend maintaining and cleaning them.

High-performance Low-E4 glass makes cleaning a breeze with special factory treatments that minimize those worrisome water spots. When sunlight strikes the glass, it activates the titanium dioxide coating to repel spots from forming by releasing the dirt. The next gentle rain will wash away surface dirt and allow faster drying times.

To maintain your frames and weather-stripping, you’ll need to inspect your tracks and sills. At least twice a year, remove any dirt and debris in the tracks to keep your windows opening smoothly and prevent build up that could damage your window components.

• Use a mild soap and water solution to wipe down frame, trim, grilles and sash.
• Apply a dry lubricant such as Teflon or silicone, if needed, to sliding window frames and double-hung side covers to make operation smoother.
• Clean TruScene Insect Screens with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Wipe down hardware and operational levers with a mild detergent solution. Never apply harsh cleaners to hardware or use brushes when cleaning, doing so could damage your beautiful finishes and encourage surface degradation.
• Remove non-permanent grilles before cleaning glass surfaces. Wipe down with a clean, dry cloth. For stubborn spots on grilles, use a mild soap solution or purified water and dry immediately.

For more detailed instructions about cleaning and maintenance inspections, visit our helpful homeowner resource page where you’ll find printed and video support.

Easy-Clean Replacement Windows & Patio Doors from Renewal by Andersen of Long Island Save You Time & Hassle

If you haven’t already installed replacement windows in your Long Island home, we’d appreciate the opportunity to talk to you about our custom solutions that provide years of long-lasting beauty with virtually zero maintenance. Easy-clean tilt-in double-hung windows and lift out slider designs allow you to clean your windows from inside your home, making the process faster and safer.

Give us a call toll-free at 1-877-315-9052 or fill in the short form on this page to schedule a personal consultation.

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• The Difference Between Replacement and New Construction Windows!
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