When it comes to energy efficiency in any house or flat in London, one of the most widespread materials for windows and doors definitely is the so-called uPVC. It has numerous benefits as a building material and is used for other construction jobs as well. This variation of PVC wears significantly slower compared to wooden window frames or those made of aluminium. However, these polymer components need some maintenance too.
More About uPVC Windows
First of all, let’s provide some more detailed information about the plastic. The abbreviation uPVC literally means unplasticised polyvinyl chloride and is alternatively labelled as rigid PVC, because of its low flexibility. It’s said to be a harmless material and is even used for production of dental elements. Anyway, the number one business that utilises uPVC is still construction industry and it can be found as main ingredient in window sills and framing, door casing, drains and gutters.
There are so many benefits to using uPVC that it’s difficult to even mention all of them. It’s a very solid and safe material which requires almost no maintenance. It doesn’t rust and has a great resistance to fire and water. Along with all these advantages, it is very lightweight and allows decent colouring. The icing on the cake – uPVC is fuly recyclable, which means it also qualifies as a green solution for window cleaning.
Window Cleaning Tips
No matter how durable as a building material uPVC is, you still have to pay some attention to elements made from it. There are three main points in terms of window cleaning.
The channels. Around the windows you can see a narrow concave line where hinges are located. Avoid cleaning them with soapy water – this is a common mistake and can easily make things even worse. Instead, find an old toothbrush and scrape off any dust and dirt that has stuck inside the channels. You might want to vacuum in the end if there’s too much filth.
Window sills and frames. This is the spot where soapy water can be used. Just add a little bit of mild dish-washing liquid to a bucket full of water and your cleaning solution is ready. Apply with a soft cloth and stay away from caustic detergents and abrasive pads.
Window panes. Fortunately, the panes of these windows are not different from other regular ones, because they’re made from glass and not polymers. Window cleaning specialists from London remind that you should only use a squeegee if its rubber blade is not worn out. Otherwise, you’re better off just taking a piece of microfibre cloth to apply cleaning product or soapy water. Wipe dry with a new cloth or paper towels – newspapers are appropriate as well.
