Using these simple guidelines, caring for your single-paned windows will be easy and result in an increased life-expectancy for your window unit.
Part 1: Caring for the Window Frame
The following tip will not be applicable to home-owners of new homes built with a metal or vinyl window frame.
Many old or expensive homes have hand-crafted window frames for their windows. It is important that these frames be properly taken care of to ensure that weather and the elements do not splinter, warp or decay the wood. Any disturbance with your wood will reflect in the life-expectancy and shine-quality of your windows...not to mention the insulation of your home.
To begin, make sure that the wood on your window frames is treated with at least one layer of a wood-protecting weather treatment. Unless you are hand-crafting your frames on your own, this step should be taken care of by your professional contractor. However, if you are building the windows on your own, the wood-treatment can be found at any hardware store and should be painted on and let to dry over night.
Using an all-weather paint, paint one base coat on the frame of the window, covering all surfaces completely. Should you happen to leave any portion of the frame unprotected, you run the risk of allowing water to seep into the wood - rotting your frame and threatening the security of your single-pane window.
Part 2: Caring for the Glass
It is important to clean and maintain your glass every six months for proper and prolonged protection.
Because your single-paned windows do not have the added protection of a second- layer, you must be careful to clean away cob-webs and dirt from your windows and frames, which can catalyze the decay of your unit.
Do not use an oil or petroleum based product when cleaning your windows. Instead, choose one that has a high-degree of alcohol. The alcohol will dissolve any bacteria (if your home is in a humid part of the country) and will help to clean away dirt and dust right down to the surface layer. You do not have to worry about eroding the glass with the use of alcohol, as glass itself is strong and resilient to chemical reactions.
Using newspaper print to wipe away the cleansing agent will prove to provide an extra sparkle to the glass's shine. The chemicals used in the printing mill when processing the ink for the paper are rumored to mix well with the chemicals in common cleaning agents - leaving your windows streak-free and glistening.
A final word of caution and advice: If your windows are on an upper-level of your home, be safe when accessing them. If you cannot reach them fully from inside your home, never attempt to lean out of the window, as any loss of balance could lead to personal injury or even death. Instead, secure a steady ladder against the side of your home and carefully balance next to the window. Hundreds of people die from falling every year while attempting to clean upper-story windows. Always use caution.
