How to Clean Aluminium Doors and Windows
A large factor in choosing aluminium doors and windows in the first place is the fact that they are low maintenance. Modern powder coated paint finishes are usually guaranteed for 15 to 20+ years but even so, upkeep and maintenance are important if you want to get the most out of your investment.
How you clean your frames may depend on the age of them. As we mentioned above, modern frames are specially coated to last for at least a couple of decades or so. Older aluminium windows and doors may not have this finish and therefore are more exposed to the elements. Over time this exposure can stain the aluminium, but funnily enough, the anodisation that occurs will actually form a thin layer of oxide that helps prevent further corrosion, but it dulls the frames!
Overall, aluminium frames have a distinct advantage over wooden frames because they will not rot, they will not rust because they contain no steel or iron, and they do not mark or scratch as easily as UPVc.
However, aluminium windows and doors will still get dirty and need a good clean just like any other type of fitting.
It’s good practice to clean your windows once a month. We would suggest cleaning your aluminium frames once every two months.
What Is the Best Thing to Use to Clean Aluminium Door and Window Frames?
Commercial Aluminium Cleaner
First tackle tougher stains with a special aluminium cleaner:
Remove excess dirt from the frame with a nylon scrub brush – try not to use anything too abrasive or it will damage the finish.
Take note of the cleaning instructions on the back of the cleaner – wear protective clothes/gloves and protect your eyes.
Apply some of the cleaner to a soft cloth or an old rag. Always test the cleaner on a small inconspicuous area first. You may be instructed to leave the cleaner on for a while before wiping it off.
Scrub the frame in circular motions with the cloth or rag until the stains start to come away.
Rinse off the window frame with clean water and dry it with a rag.
Citrus Cleaner
Using a household citrus cleaner:
Remove excess dirt and grime from the frame with a nylon scrub brush – try not to use anything too abrasive or it will damage the finish.
Wet the frame with warm water.
Apply the cleaner to a cloth and work into the frame in circular motions to remove stains.
Rinse thoroughly to avoid any residue.
White Vinegar
Using white vinegar to clean oxidation spots from aluminium frames:
Remove excess dirt from the frame with a nylon scrub brush – try not to use anything too abrasive or it will damage the finish.
Pour equal parts white vinegar and water into a bucket.
Use the scrub brush to work the vinegar solution into the frames until the white, powdery spots from the oxidation disappear.
If the oxidation still remains, you can use fine steel wool to brush the window frames.
To get rid of any dirty water rinse the window frame with clean water and use a rag to dry the surface.
Baking Soda
Use baking soda solution to bring out the sparkle in aluminium frames:
Make a paste using 1 part baking soda : 2 parts lemon juice.
Apply the paste to the frames and leave until dry.
Use an old soft toothbrush to work into smaller areas and cracks.
Once dry, use a damp sponge to remove the paste and rinse with warm water to remove any residue – residue left over long periods could damage the finish.
How Do You Clean Aluminium Door and Window Frames?
Using either of the cleaning methods we’ve outlined previously, keeping on top of cleaning your aluminium frames is the main aim. A light clean with a wet sponge is usually sufficient for the inside of the frames – especially if they are windows that rarely get opened.
Exterior frames will benefit from a regular hosing down and twice a month giving them a good clean with one of the suggested solutions. The baking soda, white vinegar or citrus cleaner solutions should be enough for regular cleaning, whilst the commercial cleaner can be used on frames that have been neglected for a while, or that face harsher/wetter climate conditions.
Always dry the frames after cleaning as this will minimise the opportunity for anodisation to occur.
Polishing the Aluminium Frames
Finally, if you want a nice shiny finish to your now spotless frames, use a fine wire wool and water to polish in a circular motion. DO NOT apply too much pressure as this may take off some of the finish and expose the frames to weather wear. Polishing the frames is time consuming, but if done intermittently, can prolong the life of your aluminium frames. If you suspect a build-up of oxides and simple polishing is not enough, contact a professional to treat them.
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Aluminium doors and windows maintenance – what’s required?
What sort of aluminium doors and windows maintenance is needed once your new glazing is fitted? Depending upon use, all aluminium doors and windows will require some periodic maintenance over time, but it should only be about once or twice a year. You should not assume once fitted, your windows and doors are completely maintenance-free. Here’s what you need to know.
Aluminium doors and windows maintenance and why it’s needed
Everywhere you read about new windows and doors, whether aluminium, PVCu and even timber, the ‘low’, ‘virtually low’ or even ‘maintenance free’ messages are everywhere. So it’s easy to assume aluminium doors and windows maintenance isn’t needed or it’s very infrequent.
The reality is, all doors and windows need some sort of maintenance and even routine cleaning is maintenance. But what you do shouldn’t scare you into thinking you’re now expected to take care of your new windows all the time.
Depending on the product, how much you use it and its location, aluminium doors and windows maintenance varies. Some is routine, other is periodic.
What exactly is a low-maintenance window and door?
This is what happens when you don’t repair paint damage to a powder-coated aluminium window.
When it comes to anticipated maintenance, it is true that aluminium and PVCu are lower maintenance than timber windows. But what exactly does low maintenance mean? Low maintenance often implies no painting which is true of aluminium and PVCu materials.
Damage the paint on a timber window, and you should repair it as soon as possible. Damage the paint on an aluminium window and you must also repair this as soon as possible. The damage risks exposing the untreated aluminium underneath the paint. As a result, it will oxidise and you’ll see the paint bubbling over time. The takeaway is all windows and doors need care. The care needed on aluminium windows is minimal and mainly centres around cleaning some key areas.
The most important is the powder-coated finish. In order to keep the colour of your windows looking like new, it’s a good idea to clean the frames and especially outside routinely. Routine cleaning of new windows is also important where your windows are on South or West facing elevations and even more important exposed to city centre grime, sea salt or other contaminants.
The key point here is the painted finish on your windows is not just to provide colour. It also protects the aluminium surface beneath. So you need to take care of it.
How do you take care of aluminium windows?
All you need is a soft sponge or cloth and mild soapy solution. Cleaning also keeps any window gaskets clean and supple, ensuring they seal your windows well or for those gaskets keeping your glass in place.
Remove any dirt or grime with a damp, lint-free cloth and soapy water then wipe dry.
Check all fixings and tighten as necessary. Lubricate moving parts with a proprietary light oil or graphite. Sliding friction blocks should not be lubricated. Friction can be adjusted by turning the small set screw in the block. Pairs of friction stays should be adjusted equally to prevent twisting of the window frame.
Other than this, assuming your new windows are well fitted and adjusted you shouldn’t need to do much else. Of course, some windows are opened more than others so it’s a good idea to make sure the insides of the frames are clean.
The powder-coated finish on your doors, patio, sliding or folding is cleaned in the same way
The most important area is the track or threshold on all patio doors
How to look after your patio doors
The next area of aluminium doors and windows maintenance are new patio doors. So whether you have bifolding, sliding or French doors, all of these need a little more care. The reason for this is we use the doors in our home far more than our windows. They’re larger, heavier, have more demands placed on them and have far more components. The way they open is also more complex compared to a window.
Do bifold doors need maintenance?
For your bifold doors, the most important thing is keeping the bottom track clear and clean of debris. Most new folding aluminium doors are bottom hung with all the weight on the track and the rollers.
It’s also worth bearing in mind during much of the year folding doors remain closed. It’s important to open the doors periodically during the winter months, clean the track, clean the seals and make sure there aren’t any stones, leaves or other debris interfering with the smooth action of the rollers.
The more exposed nature of bifold door hardware means it’s essential you keep these clean and lubricated so they slide and fold like new every time. Of course, bifold door rollers vary from product to product so your installer should help with specific information for your particular door.
All our advice of course assumes your doors are correctly fitted and adjusted in the first place.
How do you maintain a sliding patio door?
For sliding doors, most of the components are hidden but these too need some care, again depending on the frequency of use and where they’re located.
The exposed nature of patio door tracks makes cleaning these routinely even more important and it’s a good idea to check for any debris before you open the doors if they’ve been closed for a while.
Clean the frame, brush away any leaves, small stones and other debris from the track and also keep your glass clean.
Above all, cleaning and maintaining the locks and other hardware of your patio doors, French, folding or sliding is important to keep them locking well and not creating a sticky or malfunctioning door.
It’s a good idea to lubricate the locks from time to time, once or twice a year is ideal. You can spray a little oil on the lock and even the key and operate them. Keeping your locks and key cylinders clean helps them work reliably.
Aluminium doors and windows maintenance, general advice
Assuming your doors are well made and fitted, they don’t need a lot of maintenance. Your product warranty on new doors is worth understanding as to what it covers.
For older doors, it’s worth having the details of a local double glazing repair and maintenance company. They are more likely to have come across all types of doors, windows, locks and handles. These maintenance companies are great for older and out of warranty products needing general servicing, repair or adjustment.
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