Cleaning Timber windows

Yes, we know, but it is actually important. Especially when most people cleaning a window (if we choose to clean them at all!) only results in the glass being wiped down. Cleaning the frames correctly will help your timber windows live a long and full life.

Quick & Simple

Use a damp, soft cloth – microfibres are fantastic. Most dirt will come away easily from the smooth paint finish with very gentle movements.

A bit of washing up liquid and warm water should deal with any dirt and grime that’s more well-adhered to the paint. We really do recommend being gentle and taking some time over this if necessary. It’s far less hassle taking time over cleaning than re-painting.

Mechanical components can be cleaned equally easily with a cloth and some warm soapy water. If a more in-depth cleaning is needed, isopropyl alcohol can be used on metal parts, but should be avoided on plastics and paint. When cleaning mechanical components you may need to re-lubricate them, your product manual should include when and what to use for this, or you can contact your supplier and they should be able to find out for you. Generally, the advice is to use an acid-free oil.

Easy Please-Don’t-Try-This Rules!

Do Not use isopropyl alcohol or other solvents on paint. The paint used on timber windows will soften, become tacky, and then smear off terribly. We have encountered this.
Do not use pressure washers. Most people reading this wouldn’t, but the writer did once get theirs out before realising the mistake. It’s a generally terrible idea as the pressure can be enough to dent the timber, or possibly damage the seals. Paint can be stripped clean off if you combine a small chip and an angled jet.
Avoid using hot water: if you can put your hand in it, you’re good to go. If it’ll hurt your hand, it’ll probably hurt the paint. Paint on timber windows isn’t designed to deal with high temperatures.

Clean Immediately After Noticing

Certain types of stains and dirt should be removed quickly; the most common of these are listed below.

Bird droppings: these are acidic which etches away the paint
Tea/Coffee: both will stain, so it’s best to wipe them off soonish
Painters tape/masking tape. Whilst not a bother in the short term, painters tape should be removed in a timely manner, and any stuck residue wiped away with a microfibre. Many adhesives contain acids which will slowly damage the paint – as soon as it’s needed, best remove. Try not to leave on for more than a day, and always use low-tack tape.

Final Outliers

Homes near the coast should be cleaning frames regularly, regardless of how they look. Salt-air environments can affect anything exposed, so it’s even more important to keep on top of a cleaning schedule throughout the year. You’ll find that most factory warranties will have wording in the not-covered-within-the-guarantee section to the effect of “damage caused by lack of basic maintenance”.

Aluminium-clad timber windows are designed to be much lower maintenance, but that doesn’t mean “zero-maintenance” if they are to last their 80+ year lifespan. As with timber, the external face has to deal with being exposed to everything over the years, so running that damp soapy microfibre around the frames when you next clean the glass will make a difference in the long term.