Care and Maintenance of Your Vinyl Windows and Doors

Congratulations on choosing windows and doors that offer the easy care and maintenance of vinyl. Vinyl won't pit or peel with only simple care and cleaning, your windows can keep their beautiful appearance for years to come.

Like any surface exposed to outside elements, your windows or doors will get dirty from time to time, but cleaning them is a snap. Often, heavy rains will wash the vinyl clean, but if the rain isn't enough, you can restore the splendor of the windows or doors by following these simple instructions.

Wash using mild detergent (if necessary) and a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled soft bristle brush. Do not wash the windows or
doors with a high pressure spray. The extreme pressure could crack or destroy the caulking around the window or door.

For difficult to remove dirt and stains use the readily available household cleaners listed on the chart. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on use of the cleaners.

In some cases you may wish to use a mildly abrasive cleaner such as Soft Scrub®, but the use of any abrasive material could scratch the surface of the glass and window or door frame.

Do not use liquid grease remover, strong soaps and detergents containing organic solvents, nail polish remover, furniture polish or cleaners containing chlorine bleach. These items could affect the surface appearance of the vinyl.

Cleaners to Remove Stains From Vinyl Window and Door Frames

Bubble Gum	Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water, Windex®
Crayon	Lestoil®
DAP (oil based caulk)	Fantastik®
Felt-tip Pen	Fantastik®, water based cleaners
Grass	Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
Lipstick	Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®
Lithium Grease	Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
Mold and Mildew	Fantastik®, solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water, Windex®
Motor Oil	Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
Oil	Soft Scrub®
Paint	Brillo® Pad
Pencil	Soft Scrub®
Rust	Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®
Tar	Soft Scrub®
Top Soil	Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®

*Cleaning materials are listed in alphabetical order

Operation of Your Vinyl Windows and Doors

Along with being virtually maintenance free, your windows and doors have been designed and manufactured to be thermally efficient, aesthetically pleasing and easy to operate. For easy access during cleaning, all Double Hung sash tilt in, Slider sash lift out, Casement sash open by turning the handle and doors feature corrosion-resistant rollers.

To tilt in the operable sash on Double Hung and Single Hung windows, you must:

Unlock the sash and raise (or lower) it approximately 2" above (or below) the frame.

Slide the tilt latches toward the cam lock and gently tilt the sash in.Always support tilted sash while cleaning.

When finished cleaning, tilt the sash up and snap the tilt latches into place.For safety, make sure the tilt latches are securely engaged.

If it becomes necessary to remove and reinsert the sash, tilt the sash inward to a 90-degree angle and lift the bottom of the sash up and out of the frame. To reinsert the sash into the frame, make sure both pivot bars (located at the bottom of the sash) are fully inserted into the balance shoes.

To remove a Slider sash, simply:

Unlock the sash and slide it past the sash retainer insert located in the head.Note: some windows may have a sash retainer clip instead of an insert that must be removed before opening the sash.

Lift the sash up into the head and pull the bottom of the sash towards you.

To operate Casements:

Lift the handle on the side of the frame to unlock the sash. Turn the handle on the bottom of the frame to open the sash to the desired position. Turn the handle in the opposite direction to close the sash.To lock the window, make sure the sash is fully closed then lower the handle on the side of the frame.

To lock patio doors:

Close the operable sash and make sure it is fully against the frame.

Lock the sash with the lever located on the sash handle.