Proper care of your Milgard® windows and patio doors

 

With just a little routine care and cleaning, you can ensure your windows and doors will continue to perform their best while looking great.

 

Frame Cleaning

Have a little dirt or a smudge on one of your frames? No problem. You can wash it with mild, nonabrasive soap and water. Never use abrasive or acidic cleaners—they might cause permanent damage to the frame finish. Always test cleaners in an inconspicuous area first. Wipe dry when finished.

 

Glass Care

Milgard controls the entire production of every window and patio door—including the glass. Whether your window comes with the standard energy-efficient SunCoat® Low-E glass or with one of our many specialty glass options, an occasional cleaning is necessary to ensure clarity and exceptional performance.

1. The best practice is to clean glass with a mixture of mild dish soap and water. When finished, rinse completely with clear water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
2. NEVER use any of the following products on any part of your window or patio door (they may damage the glass surface or insulating seal):
• Petroleum-based cleaners
• Caustic chemicals
• Razor blades, putty knifes or abrasive pads
• High-pressure water hoses
3. When cleaning screens, use only mild soap, water and a soft brush. When finished, rinse with clear water and wipe dry.

Window and Patio Door Tips for Years of Easy Operation

1. Periodically lubricate all sliding window and door tracks and rollers. We recommend that you lubricate the hardware components once a year. In areas with high salt air, at least twice a year is recommended.
2. Regularly check weatherstripping to ensure your patio doors (and windows) seal airtight.
3. Occasionally vacuum the tracks on all sliding patio doors and windows to remove any dirt or debris.
4. Milgard sliding patio door rollers can be adjusted for proper height clearance. To adjust, insert a screwdriver through the access hole at the bottom of your patio door.

Managing Condensation

Condensation on the inside of a window indicates the humidity levels inside the room are higher inside than outside. Excess moisture on the inside of a window is unsightly and obstructs your view. Follow these easy steps to reduce the risk of excessive condensation.

1. Check all windows and patio doors for smooth operation and airtight seals.
2. Use exhaust fans regularly in rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, pool rooms, kitchens, etc.)
3. Use a ceiling fan to continuously circulate air.
4. Use dehumidifiers to reduce the amount of moisture inside homes with humidity problems.
5. Open windows and doors when practical to reduce excessive moisture inside a home.

Enabling Proper Window and Patio Door Drainage

Mother nature can sometimes be unforgiving. Fortunately, our windows and patio doors have a specially designed "weep" drainage system with vented slots on the exterior bottom of our frames to protect the inside of your home. Proper maintenance of your weep system is required to assure proper drainage.

1. The weep system allows water to drain to the outside as it builds up. It's normal for water to build up on the sill or the outside track, which is why it's important to keep the sill or track clean of any dirt or debris.
2. Periodically inspect the weep holes on the exterior bottom rails to make certain they are clear of any dirt or debris. Use a soft bottlebrush to clear openings, if necessary.
3. A good time to inspect and clean weep holes is when excessive rain is anticipated.

How can I get rid of the condensation that forms on my window/patio door glass panes?

The answer varies, depending upon whether the condensation is on the Exterior Pane, the Interior Pane or Between the Panes.

 

EXTERIOR PANE

Condensation on the outside of your windows or patio doors may occur during spring and in the fall, usually when cool nights follow a warm day. It is a result of moisture in the air exceeding certain limits and the temperature of the glass falling below the dew point in the air. Condensation on the exterior glass panes is a natural phenomenon, especially for energy-efficient High Performance TM insulating glass (currently the standard on most Andersen® products), which restricts the airflow between the panes of glass. This condensation will evaporate once the day warms. To receive a brochure about this phenomenon, go to our Care & Maintenance section.

 

INTERIOR PANE

On the edges or entire pane. Condensation on the inside of your windows is a result of too much moisture in the air of your home. This condition is common in new homes, where it may take months for the moisture from paint and fresh building materials to dissipate. This condition is also common in winter. Humidity levels in winter months should not exceed 30-35%. To maintain these levels in  your home, you may want to:

• check your venting,
• use a dehumidifier to remove moisture,
• turn your humidifier on furnace down or off,
• turn on exhaust fans during showers, and
• allow ceiling fans to run and circulate the air.

What is the best method for removing residue or other stubborn materials from glass?

There are a few recommended products and procedures for cleaning stubborn materials from glass.

IMPORTANT: Do not clean glass while it is exposed to direct sunlight. Cleaning with soap and mineral spirits

1. Apply mild soap, mild detergent, LEPTYNE® solvent, mineral spirits or naphtha solvents to glass either by spraying or using a clean, grit-free cloth or sponge saturated with cleaning solution.
   CAUTION: When using solvents, do not use too much solvent. Damage to the glazing or insulating unit seals can occur.
   After cleaning the glass with solvents or mineral spirits, immediately clean the frame with soap and water to prevent staining.
   Follow solvent manufacturer's directions on label for toxicity, handling and flammability warnings.
2. Wipe the cleaning solutions on the glass in a circular motion, applying light to moderate pressure. Approximately three to five passes of the affected area may be required to remove the residue.
3. Rinse the glass surface immediately with generous amounts of clean water, removing the cleaning solution from the glass surface.
4. Using a squeegee or clean, lint-free dry cloth, remove water from the glass surface.
5. If glass residue is still evident, repeat steps 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Cleaning with toothpaste

1. Use a damp cloth and toothpaste for glue, pitch, and other less harsh contaminates.
2. Apply toothpaste to damp cloth and buff circular until clean

Cleaning with polishing compounds

For harsher contaminants and scratches, there are polishing compounds on the market such as cerium oxide, which works well for reducing fine scratches and scuffmarks. Rare Earth can be purchased at most hardware stores, glass repair centers, or directly from the manufacturer, Sommer and Maca Industries' sales department (1-800-323-9200 or 1-708-863-5446). Follow directions carefully and heed all product warnings. Andersen is not responsible for damage caused by misuse of cerium oxide or other damage that could happen in trying to remove scratches.