Cleaning Windows & Doors Guide
A comprehensive guide to cleaning glass and aluminium joinery on your new windows and doors. Proper care and maintenance will help keep your windows and doors looking great.
NOTES
With any cleaner, test on a small non-visible surface first.
Always use non scratching cloths.
Please don’t use any other products other than those listed – consult NZWindows if you have any questions.
Contact NZWindows for gloss or metallic finish.
Download our guide to cleaning Aluminium and Glass products.
| POWDERCOATED MATT FINISH | FROST ANODISED | HARDWARE POWERCOATED | HARDWARE STAINLESS | GLASS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SILICONE OR SEALANT | Holdfast TopTec or Glasscorp 7803 * | Holdfast TopTec or Glasscorp 7803 * | Holdfast TopTec or Glasscorp 7803 * | Holdfast TopTec or Glasscorp 7803 * | Do not use scrapers or razor blades. Use a small amount of Mineral Turps to thin and clear the silicone or sealant and wipe with clean lint free cloth or paper towel. Then immediately wash glass down with clean water and mild detergent. |
| CEMENT PRODUCTS | Water and detergent. Cem- Gon for extended exposure or cement in crevices. # | Clean immediately with water or it’s destroyed. Try Cem-Gon and rinse well for extended exposure – you may get lucky! # | Water and detergent. Cem- Gon for extended exposure or cement in crevices. # | Water and detergent. Cem-Gon for extended exposure or cement in crevices. # | Immediately wash down with clean water and mild detergent. Do not allow splashes to harden and do not use solvents to clean. |
| LIGHT SCRATCHING | CRC RE-PO Cutting Compound 300g – 9500 | CRC and Scotchbrite. ** | Dulux Gloss Up. | JIF or other mild abrasive, followed by warm water and detergent, rinse well. | Light scratches may be able to be buffed or rubbed out using “Clean-X Cream Cleanser” or proprietary “nonabrasive” cleaner. In general if the scratch can be felt by rubbing a finger nail across it, the glass is damaged beyond repair and may need replacing. |
| INGRAINED DIRT, OILY MARKS, FINGERPRINTS | Methylated spirits or Isopropyl alcohol, followed by warm water and detergent and rinse well. | White spirits, Meths, Glasscorp 7803 or Spray n Wipe. For ingrained dirt use Chemico pumice based cleaner ** | Methylated spirits or Isopropyl alcohol, followed by warm water and detergent and rinse well. | Methylated spirits or Isopropyl alcohol, followed by warm water and detergent and rinse well. | To clean use non-abrasive cleaners, mild detergents or a proprietary glass cleaner such as “Hi-Sheen” Glass Cleaner. Fingerprints, fat stains or putty can be removed with solvents such as:- Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) or diluted Ammonia. These solvents are safe to use provided they do not attack the gaskets, sealants or finishes of the window (to be tested before cleaning). |
| PAINT SPLASHES | Clean immediately with water. | Turps | Clean immediately with water. | Turps. Be careful not to get on surrounding powercoated surfaces. | Do not use scrapers or razor blades on glass. Immediately wash down with clean water and mild detergent. Do not allow splashes to harden. |
| GENERAL CLEANING | Warm water and detergent, rinse well. | Warm water and detergent, rinse well. | Warm water and detergent, rinse well. | Warm water and detergent, rinse well. | Clean every 3-6 months. Soak glass surface with warm water and mild detergent solution or proprietary glass cleaner. After washing, rinse with clean water and then dry glass using a clean grit-free squeegee, cloth or paper towel. |
ALUMINIUM & HARDWARE
* When using solvent cleaners (Meths, Holdfast TopTec, Glasscorp 7803, white spirits) always use sparingly in factory conditions only. Follow with soapy warm clean water, then fresh water rinse. Never use solvent based cleaners on powercoated surfaces when metal is warm. Hot sun on dark colours will soften powder to the point where solvents will cause severe damage.
# If you use Cem-Gon, please ensure you scrub with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly afterwards.
** When using any polishing or abrasive cleaner, always rub along extrusion profiles – never across. Some metallics blacken when abrasives are used. Electro colours are susceptible to this – it is critical to test first.
GLASS
Take special care when cleaning reflective glass surfaces and always try a small area first, using the above procedures.
Keep solvents away from the edge of Laminated Glass or Insulating Glass Units.
Toughened Glass: Due to the manufacturing process surface grit or fine particles of glass may be fused onto the glass surface. This is known as “pickup” and care must be taken not to dislodge the pickup and drag this over the surface with blades or scrapers as it will scratch. It is recommended that one area be cleaned first with proprietary cleaners and rags only as a test and the glass inspected for scratches.
Please note that if paint or cement is allowed to harden (i.e. not addressed as per instructions above) it is likely that permanent damage may have been done to the glass and it may need replacing. If you have caused this yourself, or cannot attribute the problem to another party and you wish to remove the paint or cement knowing that permanent damage is likely then you may (at your own risk and without liability to NZWindows) try to remove the hard residue with a plastic blade with minimal scratching motion (attempting to “click” the residue off). Then follow the instructions as above for “light scratching” and then “ingrained dirt”.
If you notice that paint or cement has fixed to the glass as a result of builders or contractors having been on site then we recommend you make immediate contact with your builder or contractor and request that they attempt to remove as the use of any scraper or plastic blade or any device to mechanically remove/scrape on the glass surface is risky.