How to Operate and Clean Your New Vinyl Replacement Windows

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How to Clean Insulating Glass and Hardware

Insulating Glass
Insulating glass can be cleaned with any non-abrasive glass cleaner and soft cloth.

Low Emissivity Glass
Our Low-E insulating glass packages can be cleaned with any non-
abrasive glass cleaner and soft cloth. The Low-E coating is applied to the inner surface of the insulating glass unit and therefore, cannot be scratched.

DreamGlas^®
Etched, jewel cut, and glass units with caming can be cleaned with any non-abrasive, mild cleaner and a soft cloth (without loose strings or edges that can catch/loosen the caming). Use of abrasive or caustic cleaners will void the warranty. Also, care must be taken not to use any type of scraping instrument on or around your camed glass unit, as it may delaminate.
 
The lead came option uses 100% lead came, which will form a protective oxidation when exposed to the environment. You should not attempt to remove this coating.

The brass came option uses a real brass cap over the came body, and can tarnish. It can be carefully polished with commercially available brass polishes such as Brasso^®.  Take care not to get excessive polish on the glass, and remove any polish on the glass.
 
Hardware
Window and door hardware can be cleaned with any non-abrasive, mild cleaner and soft cloth.

How to Clean and Maintain Vinyl Replacement Window and Patio Frames

Vinyl windows and doors come closer to being maintenance-free than most exterior building products. They may become dirty just as does a freshly painted house, a new automobile, or any other product that is exposed to atmospheric conditions. With very little effort, you can keep your vinyl window and door frames clean. In most cases, a heavy rain is sufficient to clean these products.

DO NOT wash windows with a high pressure spray. If rain does not do a satisfactory job, follow these simple instructions.

These instructions are based on a study conducted by the Vinyl Window and Door Institute on the efficiency of cleaning agents and their effects on the appearance of vinyl window frames after two years of outdoor exposure.

Normal Maintenance

• Wash using a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled soft bristle brush.
• For difficult-to-remove dirt and stains such as top soil, motor oil, lithium grease, crayon, felt-tip pen, caulking, lipstick, grass, bubble gum, mold and mildew, use the readily available household cleaners listed on the following page. Follow manufacturer’s instructions on use of cleaners.
• In some cases, you may wish to use a mildly abrasive cleaner, such as Soft Scrub®, Ajax®, Bon Ami®, etc. But the use of any abrasive material could have a negative effect on the glass surface and window or door frames.
  
• Do not use cleaners containing aggressive organic solvents because they could affect the surface appearance of the vinyl. Examples of such cleaners are: chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, strong soaps and detergents containing organic solvents, nail polish remover and furniture polish/cleaner.
• For Natural WoodGrain Interior Laminate, White Laminate and Honey/Caramel Laminate WoodGrain Finishes, use mild household cleaners from suggested list. DO NOT use harsh abrasive cleaners or Brillo Pads on these surfaces. Use a Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser® on the Honey/Caramel Oak or White laminate surfaces for hard to clean areas. DO NOT use Magic Eraser® on Natural WoodGrain surfaces.
  

Suggested Cleaners in Alphabetical Order By Problem:

• BUBBLE GUM: Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®, Solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%)
• CRAYON: Lestoil®
• DAP (Oil-based caulk): Fantastik®
• GRASS: Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
• LIPSTICK: Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®
• LITHIUM GREASE: Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
• Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser®
• MOLD & MILDEW: Fantastik®, Windex®, Solution of vinegar (30%) and water
• MOTOR OIL: Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
• OIL: Soft Scrub®
• PAINT: Brillo Pad, Soft Scrub®
• PENCIL: Soft Scrub®
• RUST: Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
• TAR: Soft Scrub®
• TOP SOIL: Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®

Honey Oak & Caramel Oak Finish Care

• DO NOT use any type of abrasive cleaners or Brillo Pads on Dream(R)Wood, Natural WoodGrain, White Laminate or Honey/Caramel Oak WoodGrain Finishes.
• For Natural WoodGrain Interior Laminate, White Laminate and Honey/Caramel Laminate WoodGrain Finishes, use mild household cleaners from suggested list. DO NOT use harsh abrasive cleaners or Brillo Pads on these surfaces. Use a Mr. Clean(R) Magic Eraser(R) on the Honey/ Caramel Oak or White laminate surfaces for hard to clean areas. DO NOT use Magic Eraser(R) on Natural WoodGrain surfaces.

NOTE: Thermal Industries does not endorse proprietary products or processes and makes no warranties for the products referenced herein. References to proprietary names is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to imply that there are not equally effective alternatives.

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