🧹 Vacuuming
Use a vacuum cleaner with the narrow crevice nozzle to remove all debris from the bottom track. Wipe with a damp cloth and a little mild dish soap, then dry thoroughly.
Annual Window Maintenance: A 3-Step DIY Guide for Aluminium & PVC
Modern aluminium and PVC windows "need no maintenance" - but that is only half the truth. The profiles will not rot, true. However, a window is a machine: gears, hinges, rubber seals and drainage channels. It deserves 1–2 inspections per year - ideally every autumn and spring.
The good news? You don't need a technician. You can do everything yourself in a single weekend, following this simple 3-step guide: clean, lubricate, check the gaskets.
Step 1: Clean the Tracks & Drainage Holes
The biggest issue, especially with sliding windows, is dirt build-up in the aluminium tracks. Dust, pollen, pet hair and dead insects clog the rail and make sliding increasingly difficult over time.
💧 Drainage Holes (Critical!)
At the bottom of the frame you will find small drainage slots. If they are blocked with dried mud, rainwater pools inside and seeps into the house. Clear them with a soft wire or straw.
⏰ When & How Often
Every autumn (before the first rains) and every spring (after the pollen season). The job takes no more than 30 minutes per window.
Step 2: Lubricate the Hardware (The Secret to Longevity)
The perimeter locking mechanism endures immense stress. Metal-on-metal friction without lubrication leads to wear, corrosion and ultimately mechanism failure.
🔧 What to Lubricate
Open the window and apply 1–2 drops to every hinge, mushroom cam, security keep and the handle spindle. Open and close the handle 3–4 times to spread the oil evenly.
⛔ What NOT to Use
Never WD-40 (classic anti-rust spray) or thick grease! They attract dust, dry out and form a sticky "glue" that destroys the mechanism over time.
✅ The Right Product
Light sewing-machine oil or (even better) a dry PTFE / silicone spray. They lubricate perfectly without attracting dirt. Wipe off any excess.
Unblocking Drains: First Aid for Pooling Water
The bottom track of a sliding window acts like a "sink." Small holes at the lowest point let water flow outside. If they are clogged with dirt and pollen, rainwater pools - risking moisture damage.
🔎 Locate the Holes
Step outside onto the balcony and look at the base of the frame - you will find plastic caps (drain covers). Remove them carefully by hand.
🪛 The Wire Trick
Straighten a paper clip, use a kebab skewer or a cable tie. Push it gently through the hole from outside to break up the mud "plug."
🧪 Water Test
Pour a glass of water into the track from inside. It should flow freely outside. Refit the caps - they act as one-way valves against wind-driven rain.
Step 3: Inspect the EPDM Gaskets (Your Insulation Layer)
The black rubber strips (EPDM) running around the sash and frame are what keep cold air out in winter. Over time, UV exposure dries them out - they shrink, harden and eventually crack at the corners, the weakest point of every gasket.
🧽 Cleaning
Wipe the gaskets with a damp cloth. Accumulated dust acts like sandpaper every time you close the window.
🖐️ Touch Test
If they feel hard like plastic or are split at the corners, take note. Gasket replacement is a very affordable repair.
🧴 Protection (Silicone Spray)
Spray silicone onto a cloth (never directly!) and "massage" the gaskets. This keeps them supple for years - under €5 covers every window in the house.
💡 Tip: 30 minutes of work on a Sunday morning, once or twice a year, is all it takes to keep your windows running like new - and to avoid costly mechanism repairs down the line.
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EPDM Gasket Maintenance: The Silicone Secret Cleaning Windows: What Destroys Aluminium & PVC Finishes Blocked Window Drains: Water Pooling in the Track Multi-Point Locking Mechanism: Ultimate Window Security
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