How to care for plastic windows at home?

Modern PVC windows are reliable, practical, perfectly protect the room from noise and the penetration of cold air and seem durable. However, for the design to serve as “faith and truth” for many years, it is necessary to timely and competently care for plastic windows. Moreover, it is necessary not only to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the glasses, but also to lubricate the metal parts of the fittings, to clean the rubber seal from the stubborn dirt, to free the drainage holes from dust and small debris, and to thoroughly rinse the nets.

PVC window maintenance

Any window is usually washed at least once every six months, with the onset of spring or autumn. Plastic construction is no exception. Before starting work, stock up on suitable cleaning products.

To clean a double-glazed window, specialized aerosols for glasses that are sold in any household goods store are excellent.

You can prepare a cleaning solution from the products available in the house. To do this, dissolve 1 tbsp in 1 liter of warm water. l liquid soap and the same amount of alcohol or vinegar.

You can wash a plastic profile with a regular sponge, dampening it in soapy foam or using a special plastic care product. Do not use solvents or other aggressive substances, iron brushes, or powders containing abrasives. From them, yellow spots and scratches may remain on the frame and window sills.

Rubber seals are treated with substances containing silicone or glycerin.

The hardware is lubricated with high-quality technical oils without the addition of salts and acids. Solidol, petroleum jelly or technical oil with silicone is excellent for these purposes. At home, craftsmen recommend using the composition "WD-40". You can use tools for the care of metal parts from a kit designed to serve plastic windows. Typically, such goods are sold in companies engaged in the manufacture and installation of PVC windows.

PVC profile care

Professionals who produce plastic structures unanimously declare that the profile does not need special care. "Special" - this does not mean "no." The outer side of the window frame suffers from natural pollution: dust, snow, rain. Inside the room, dust also remains on the window, a spider web forms, traces of flower pots appear on the windowsill. All these contaminants must be carefully cleaned and without scratching the plastic surface. If, for any reason, chips and deep cracks form on the plastic, they must be coated with special glue.

All plastic windows have drainage, which is important to care for in a timely manner. These holes are made specifically to remove moisture formed on the glass and are located in the lower part of the structure, under the sash. If you do not periodically clean the drainage, the holes will become clogged with dirt draining from the windows, and the windows will begin to fog.

It is better to clean the drainage holes with a toothbrush or brush. The frequency of cleaning is usually related to the location of the home. If a busy highway passes near the house, then you will have to clean the drainage every month.

Service of double-glazed windows

Double-glazed windows in PVC windows are washed, like any other glass. The main thing is to use only soft materials for cleaning so as not to scratch the glass surface.Do not scrape the glass with a knife or other sharp objects. If paint or glue got on the glass unit during operation, to remove stains, it is necessary to use a tool specially designed for these purposes, abandoning acetone or kerosene. A double-glazed window is a fragile design, it is afraid of shock and other mechanical influences.

How to clean rubber seals?

Rubber sealant is an important component of plastic windows. It ensures tightness of the structure. Usually rubber gaskets are made of rubber (EPDM) and painted in dark gray. The elastic bands laid around the entire perimeter of the frames and sashes require cleaning every six months.

This happens as follows:

1. the seal must be washed with soapy water;
2. treat with a product containing silicone or glycerin.

Never use solvents! If the rubber is cracked and the gaskets lose their elasticity, it is better to replace them. With proper care, this does not happen earlier than five years after the installation of windows.

Not so long ago, products with gaskets appeared on the plastic window market, which include thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). They serve much longer, although they do not require careful care.

How to lubricate hardware?

Fittings installed in a plastic window make using the structure as convenient as possible. With its help, the sashes of the windows are tilted, rotated and fixed in a certain position; additional ventilation can be arranged and the sashes can be protected from sagging. High-quality fittings with proper care of PVC windows have been used for more than a decade, providing warmth and comfort in the home.

Here are the simple rules for caring for plastic construction fittings:

• When cleaning windows, remove dust and dirt from metal parts. To do this, use a soft sponge and soapy solution. From inaccessible places, dirt is cleaned with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
• Metal parts of the structure should be lubricated at least twice a year.
• Lubricants must not contain tar.

The lubricant must be applied very carefully, avoiding contact with the rubber seal, as this can ruin it. All contact areas of metal parts must be carefully lubricated: bolts, fastenings and brackets, latches, hinges, handle mechanism. In addition, oil must be poured into all technical holes and evenly distributed around the perimeter of the structure. After that, to evenly distribute the lubricant, it is necessary to close and open the sash several times. After making sure that all the parts have received their portion of the lubricant, the remaining oil is removed with a piece of dry cotton cloth.

Mosquito net care

At the request of the customer, plastic windows can be equipped with a mosquito net. This addition is mainly relevant for summer houses and country houses, where in the summer there are a lot of mosquitoes, midges, flies and other flying insects.

If you properly care for the mosquito net, then it will last for many years. Periodically, the mesh must be pulled out and washed away from street dust that has become clogged in the cells with a soft brush dipped in soapy water. You can rinse the grate in the shower.

With the onset of autumn, mosquito nets are removed, washed and stored for storage in the utility room, where they will be protected from frost and bird attacks.

The consequences of illiterate care

The rules for servicing plastic windows are very simple; most consumers can follow them. If you do not follow the advice of professionals, windows will quickly lose their respectable appearance. The rubber seal will crack and burst. Cold air will come into the formed cracks, noise from the street will be heard. The fittings are shaken and out of order. To close the transom, a lot of effort will have to be made.

Some breakdowns can be fixed quickly and without much cost. For example, replace the handle or stick a new rubber seal.But in most cases, you have to change the whole window, since it is difficult to pick up new parts instead of worn ones.

Proper maintenance of plastic windows is the key to their durability. If at least once every six months you pay attention to the care of PVC windows, then you can enjoy the comfort and coziness in your home for several decades.