Caring for your lovely sliding windows

1. Caring for your lovely sliding windows Windows are one of the most important aspects of any house, yet they get very little attention when it comes to cleaning and maintaining our houses. We just sort of take our sliding windows for granted and don't think about them until a lot of dirt builds up in the railings or they start jamming. However, it is recommended that you should perform regular maintenance on them to ensure they continue to serve you well for decades to come. One thing you need to remember if you live in a rainy area is that many window frames start to rust after a while. Luckily, people with aluminium sliding windows don't need to worry about this since aluminium is one of those rare materials that doesn't rust and requires minimal maintenance. Still, you should take a wet cloth, add some cleaning liquid or simple detergent to it and use it to rub all your window frames at least once every two months. This prevents any kind of build-up on the metal and keeps your window frames nice and shiny throughout. Many aluminium frames start looking dull after a while, so make sure you regularly clean them, especially if you have colored frames. Depending on the kind of window design you have, you may also want to deal with the build-up of dirt and dust in the railings. Many people struggle to clean the railings well and often let things collect in there. In time, this can warp your window frame and cause it to jam permanently. A simple and easy way to clean them involves using a damp rag and a toothbrush. Simply place the rag over the toothbrush and run it along the railings, it will easily scoop up all the dirt and help you achieve clean window railings. Once cleaned, you may want to use some lubricant to ensure your railings continue to work well with your sliding windows. If you have old-school sliding windows, they may have rollers at the bottom to help them slide. You can use the toothbrush to clean the rollers directly. If your window starts jamming and cleaning the railings and rollers doesn't help, you may need to remove the window from its frame and examine it to determine the exact cause. While you should be able to easily do it with the help of a screwdriver, removing a window from a frame is not recommended unless you are confident of your abilities. In such instances, you might want to take the help of a professional. Even though aluminium sliding windows are made to last for decades, even the best of them can fall prey to environmental factors like dirt, dust, bugs, and grime. To prevent a major issue, make sure you regularly check and clean your windows and pay special attention to the frames. If you are planning to get new window frames, consider switching to aluminium if you are using any other metal since they provide the best value for money - be it its durability, longevity, or quality.