How to Clean Aluminum Window Frames

Aluminum window frames are known to last longer, but that does not mean they do not need to be taken care of occasionally by cleaning.

So how often should you clean your windows? Cleaning the exterior of your windows once or twice a year will be enough in most cases. As for the interiors of your windows, they should be cleaned once a month. However, this will vary depending on the weather and how much your windows are exposed to increased dust and sunlight. 

Below, we'll take a look at how to clean aluminum window frames. Let's start with cleaning window glasses.

Cleaning the glass

While you intend to clean your aluminum window frames, it is important not to rule out cleaning your window glass. A simple process to clean the glass of your windows is as follows:

• Foremost, spray the glass with glass cleaner or multiple-purpose cleaning solution
• Secondly, use a soapy multiple-purpose scrubber to scrub the glass by working your scrubber from left to right and from top to bottom
• Now, focus your scrubber on any hard streaks aggressively or use cotton buds
• Lastly, rinse the window with water

Note, most times streaks may not come off in the first exercise of cleaning.  So what do you do?

Reducing streaks

To get rid of streaks, here are some strategies to keep your window glass sparkling: Using a squeegee. You need to have two types of squeegees, a spongy one for the initial cleaning phase followed by a hard one made of rubber to efficiently knock out the streaks.

• Using newspapers. This common method removes the streaks without leaving any stains on your window. The reason is that most newspapers are made of dense fibers and soy-filled inks which cannot leave marks.
• A good homemade cleaning solution for instance a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice, and hot water(let the boiled water rest slightly)
• Clean your windows in cool weather so that the sun does interfere with your cleaning by drying the cleaning solutions before you're done.

Sometimes while cleaning your windows you could end up leaving scratches. If this does happen, there are simple DIY methods of removing scratches on window glass such as using toothpaste.

Now that you're done with the glass of your windows, let's move on to cleaning your aluminum frames.

Cleaning aluminum window frames

Before cleaning your aluminum window frames, take note that aluminum as a metal tends to corrode easily because of its reactive nature. We'll tackle how to clean oxidized aluminum in an upcoming section. For now, let's look at how to clean your aluminum window frames:

Use Water and Dishwashing Soap

You can clean your aluminum window with something easily available in your home such as water and dishwashing soap. All you need to do is warm water slightly and add some dishwashing soap to the water and mix.

Use a Soft Pad

Once you have the water and soap solution ready, dip your soft pad into the water and wipe the frames gently. Regular wiping of your aluminum frames ensures that there are no tough stains that form on your frames.

But in case your aluminum windows have become too dirty and have tough stains, other high-quality window cleaners like the Somaca Hi-sheen can make your windows sparkling clean.

Moving on, mildew is an ugly problem you want to get rid of when dealing with window maintenance issues. Let's look at how you can deal with mildew if it happens to you.

Removing mildew

Mildew is a common issue especially when your house is in a highly humid environment. You may try good ventilation so that you have no moisture trapped in your house but what if the mildew is already there? Here are solutions for removing mildew:

Use a white vinegar solution

White vinegar is what you have ready in your house. White vinegar solution is made of up to 8% acetic acid which you can use to treat the mold. The acid will help stop the growth of mold. Use it gently so that it does not scrape off the underneath features of your window frame.

Using commercial cleaning products

Acids can sometimes be risky for the wall areas near your aluminum windows. A different option is your commercial cleaning products, which mixed with warm can be used to clean the mildew off.

Next up, let's look at how you can deal with tough stains on your oxidized aluminum without damaging your window frames.

Tackling difficult stains on oxidized aluminum

When aluminum oxidizes it forms a white and hard coating that may act as a protection for your aluminum but it's not really good protection for your aluminum. What you need is to clean the stains that form from the oxidation.  You can clean oxidized aluminum windows with lemon juice or cream of tartar. Here's how to do that.

Trying vinegar or acid

In case the vinegar does not work, you can try other acids to remove the mildew such as citric acids found in your local food stores. Both solutions can be used by using this mixture:

• Take 1 cup of lemon juice or vinegar
• Add the juice to 11/2 cup of warm water
• Use a simple soft sponge and wipe the oxidation gently

 You can use this mixture in many ways. You can douse your aluminum sink with it and pour it down the drain to remove the oxidized layer.

Using cream of tartar on oxidation

In using the cream of tartar to remove oxidation, here's what to do:

• Add some teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar to a tiny bowl
• Add hydrogen peroxide to the tartar until pasty
• Use a microfiber cloth to spread the paste on the aluminum surface
• Leave the solution on the aluminum to rest for 10 minutes
• Rinse the microfiber and wipe off the paste from the aluminum surface

Once you clean oxidized aluminum you can remove aluminum corrosion with painting or anodizing. That's it! It only takes a few simple tips for cleaning dirty windows to make your aluminum windows look sparkling again.