How To Spring Clean Your Windows & Doors

After what seems like an eternity, spring has finally come knocking on Ontario’s door again.

Those short winter days and long cold nights are beginning to fade, and the sun is starting to warm up our beautiful province once again. We can finally say goodbye to all the salt, snow, and runny noses that accompany the winter months!

After a harsh Canadian winter, you’ll probably notice your home is in need of a little TLC to get back into top shape. Floors and furniture often get the most attention, but your Ontario windows and doors need a little love too!

So how can you spring clean your windows and doors?

There are actually plenty of simple, easy techniques you can use to help your fixtures recover from the cold winter and get them ready for a lovely summer. Read on to find out more!

Gentle Is Better

As with a lot of cleaning jobs around the home, a gentle approach is actually often the best one.

You might think that because your windows and doors face the outside and bear the brunt of the elements, they would need an equally harsh chemical clean come spring. In fact, most window and door materials benefit the most from gentle cleaners to help them recover from the winter.

Avoid bleach, chlorine, or other intense cleaning chemicals. Instead, use a regular window cleaner, water mixed with vinegar, or water with a little bit of dish soap in it to get the job done. These mixtures will not only clean your Ontario windows and doors, they will do so without stripping their protective coats or causing discolouration.

Get Into The Nooks and Crannies

Now that you have your cleaning solutions ready to go, it’s time to get to work.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is take a brush like from your dustpan and broom, or a vacuum with a dusting attachment, and clean out all the little cracks and crevices in your windows and doors. Open your windows and clean out the tracks and sides of the frame, making sure you get rid of any built up debris and plant matter. Similarly with your doors, open them and try to clear all of the excess detritus in the jamb and the hinge section.

Clearing these areas out is crucial to ensuring your Ontario windows and doors continue to function properly and have that squeaky clean look that homeowners everywhere are looking for.

Clean Screens

Next up is getting your window and door screens back in tip top shape.

Winter has a tendency to be especially punishing on Ontario windows and doors. All of the salt that is used to melt snow can build up on screen doors and window coverings, causing them to look dirty and impede their light filtering properties. Once the warmer months roll around and no more salt is being laid down, it’s time to clean those elements and get them beautiful again.

Remove your window screens carefully and then spray them down using your garden hose on a very gentle setting. Usually you will find that most dirt comes off with just water, but if you need a little more cleaning power, use some of your preferred gentle cleaning solution and a damp cloth and gently wipe over the screens. Once you are done, reinstall them following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Limber Up

Something else you’ll want to do once spring is here is to give your hinges a little freshen up.

Much like with your screens, salt and snow can do a real number on your hinges and sliding mechanisms. The salt can build up and make these elements not work as smoothly as they should, and it can even cause them to rust. Once it is warm enough to do so, cleaning and lubing your hinges is a must for any Ontario window owners.

Start by cleaning your hinges or sliding mechanisms with a damp cloth and a gentle cleaning solution. Try to get off as much salt and dirt as possible, leaving them shiny and clean. Next, add a little mechanical lubricant to them, such as WD40, to help them slide and rotate smoothly and easily. Once you have helped them limber up, you’ll notice they are working as good as new again.

How To Get Sparkling, Streak-Free Glass

The last, and possibly most satisfying, step in the spring cleaning process is getting those glass panes sparkling.

With the long and cold winter, you might have forgotten what it was like to have clean and clear windows and doors. Salt, snow, and dirt all pile up on Ontario windows, leaving them cloudy, dirty, and stopping light from coming through. With spring and warmth returning to the province, it’s time to get them clean and clear again!

Use a microfiber cloth with a window cleaner or a mixture of water and vinegar and clean the outside of the window first. Work in an ‘S’ pattern from top to bottom to prevent any dirt redepositing and get that streak free shine. Next, move inside and repeat, but work horizontally this time. Once you are done and you notice any streaks, you’ll be able to tell if they are on the inside or the outside based on which direction they are going and you can go and fix them.

If you have followed out guide step by step, your Ontario windows and doors will be back in fighting form again and ready to take on another beautiful spring and summer! Do you have any tips for spring cleaning your home? Let us know in the comments below!