As proud suppliers of high-quality aluminium products by Bradnam’s Windows and Doors, it’s important you know how to care for your aluminium products, extend their lifespan, and keep them in pristine condition.
Although aluminium door and window frames are known for their durability and low-maintenance finish, a little love and attention will ensure your doors and windows remain clean, bright, and defect-free for years to come.
Read on to discover simple care and maintenance tips to suit your door or window frame.
In residential settings, you should aim to clean your frame twice a year. For industrial and marine environments, more frequent cleaning may be required (e.g. every 1 to 3 months).
✔ Thoroughly rinse all surfaces after cleaning to remove residue
✔ Use non-abrasive and mild detergent solutions for cleaning
✔ Wash with warm water and a clean, damp, non-abrasive cloth
Prolonged exposure to the elements and irritants can lead to glass degradation that limit light and reduce the lifespan of your new windows and doors. It’s important to remove dirt and debris before cleaning your glass surfaces to avoid scratches.
✔ Use clean water and soft, clean rags to avoid scratching your glass
✔ Avoid abrasive or household cleaners, opt for mild detergent instead
✔ Thoroughly rinse all surfaces after cleaning to remove residue
Caring for your low-e glass requires special attention as the coating that minimises infrared and ultraviolet light is more difficult to clean (which means NO abrasive cleaning agents under any circumstances).
✔ Use soft, clean clothes with a mild detergent or recommended glass cleaning solution
✔ Avoid using a squeegee, metal blade, or scraper as these may damage the low-e film
✔ Dry thoroughly after cleaning to remove excess water
HARDWARE
With proper care and attention your door and window hardware will enjoy a long and durable life alongside you and your family.
In residential settings away from the coast or heavy urban activity, you should aim to clean your hardware twice a year. For residential settings in urban or industrial settings, more frequent cleaning may be required (every 3 months). For coastal areas subject to salt deposition (15km from the east coast and 10km from the west coast), maintenance should be carried out every two weeks to a month.
For optimal performance, you may need to apply general maintenance across all hardware supplied, including locks, hinges, catches and closers.
✔ Keep external finishes clean by removing residue, such as salt spray or dirt, using a non-abrasive cleaning agent
✔ Internal mechanisms of locks and catches should be maintained with a light lubricant spray (e.g. WD40 or RP7)
✔ Protect finished surfaces when maintaining internal mechanisms (e.g. paint) to avoid damage
For optimal performance, rollers should be cleaned 3 to 4 times a year. This ensures your rollers are easy to operate and cuts down on any unnecessary repair costs over time.
✔ Remove sliding panel from inside your home by lifting the panel into the head while tilting the bottom towards you and downwards to remove from the frame
✔ Remove excess dirt and debris from window tracks with a vacuum or brush
✔ Use a soft rag and water with mild detergent to thoroughly clean the track and roller
It’s easy to miss built up dirt and grime in your window and door tracks, but the longer you let grime build up, the harder it is to remove. Avoid windows and doors that are a nightmare to open and close with the following simple maintenance tips.
✔ Remove excess dirt and debris from window tracks with a vacuum or brush
✔ Clear any drain holes of obstructions to allow water to flow unobstructed into sill channel
Cleaning your aluminium doors and windows probably isn’t your idea of fun, but with regular maintenance you can extend the life of your new products and ensure there’s no heavy-duty cleaning (or repairs) needed down the line.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s windows or doors, reach out and speak to a member of the Wood Street Windows team or visit our Bairnsdale showroom to browse our large range of aluminium windows and doors.
