Assured that winter has at last made its final retreat, homeowners across the state are ready to throw their windows open to the refreshingly pleasant, warm Summer air. The problem is, some of those windows just won’t budge. The following window care tips can help you see the light of day.

Window maintenance

Window maintenance is a relatively simple matter, and Summer is the perfect time 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 scrape 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. 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.

Stanford Blanck, who has more than 30 years of window replacement experience, offers these additional maintenance tips:

• About once a year, lubricate all moving parts of your windows – the tracks, slides, crank mechanisms and metal brackets. Teflon spray is best, as silicone has been found to yellow certain vinyl windows. Do not use WD-40, or any oil or petroleum-based products – they make a gummy mess that attracts even more dirt.
• 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.                              
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 after market products, such as compression springs, that can be installed on windows to keep them in place. Check your local hardware store for these products. 

Window glass cleaning

1. Prepare a cleaning solution of one capful of ammonia in 2 gallons of water or 1 cup of vinegar in one quart of water.
2. Dip a cloth, sponge or chamois in the solution, and wring it out to almost dry. You want just enough solution to cover the window without flooding it.
3. Wash the surface of the window with the sponge, paying special attention to the sides and corners of the window frame, where dirt and grime tend to build up.
4. Dip a squeegee into a bucket of clean water. Press the squeegee lightly into the surface of the window, starting at the top and pulling down vertically, stopping a few inches before the bottom of the window.                                      
5. Wipe off the squeegee with a paper towel. Press the squeegee down the area of window directly beside the one you just cleaned, stopping at the same place (a few inches before the bottom of the window).
6. Continue this process until the entire surface of the window except the final few                          inches at the bottom has been cleaned.
7. Pull the squeegee horizontally across the bottom section of the window and the wipe the squeegee off with a paper towel.
8. With paper towel or newspaper, dry off any water collected at the bottom of the window frame.

Tips:

• Avoid washing windows in direct sunlight as they tend to streak.
• For hard-to-reach windows, squeegee extension poles are available at most hardware stores.
• Be careful not to drip cleaning solution on painted or varnished woodwork, as it can damage the finish.
• Do not wash windows with a high-pressure spray – the pressure could crack or displace the caulking around the window.