How and with what to clean plastic windows after repairs

Tatiana

The team has finally finished the renovations in my new apartment! All that remains is to clean up and in a couple of days you can gather your friends for a housewarming party. I went home and, looking at the windows, was dumbfounded: they were completely covered with construction dirt.

I didn’t know how to clean the plastic on the windows and glass from cement and foam, primer and glue. I decided to search on the Internet. I figured it out, summarized the information and share it with you.

Clearing your profile

Remove the logo sticker from the surfaces and wipe the PVC with a damp cloth. To remove construction dust:

Wipe the PVC profile with a detergent solution;
Cover the plastic with liquid soap to loosen the dirt and after 10 minutes, remove the composition with a damp cloth.

If you don’t know how to clean primer, cement, or plaster from windows after renovation, use a utility knife. Use a blade to carefully remove the plaster from the PVC and wipe off the plastic.

Additional processing

In order for plastic windows to serve as long as possible without breakdowns or malfunctions, we must not forget about maintaining the fittings, metal mechanisms and rubber seals in good technical condition. After finishing washing it is useful to perform the following treatment:

fittings and metal mechanisms - machine oil or technical petroleum jelly;
rubber components of plastic windows - with silicone grease;
window sill and plastic parts of windows - with polish, which makes them shiny and well-groomed.

If the surface of the window sill or plastic window parts is damaged by small scratches, it is advisable to use solvent 646. With its help, you can remove even old yellowness and greasy deposits from kitchen fumes from the plastic. Avoid contact of solvent with rubber seals as this may have a detrimental effect on their quality characteristics.

PVC windows - care and cleaning

How to clean windows from tape?

It is recommended to remove protective polyethylene from window systems after installation. Sometimes this is very difficult to do. The film is firmly fixed to the surface; it is extremely difficult to clean PVC from the glue, but it is possible. Try removing the glue by wiping the surface with a dish sponge dampened with hot water. Place the hard side of the sponge at the bottom so that it is in contact with the plastic. Can't clean the surface? Scrape off the dirt with a PVC spatula, after soaking the stains:

100% medical alcohol, vodka,
tea tree oil,
nail polish remover.

There are other ways to remove tape stains:

Warm up the coating with a hair dryer and remove any remaining polyethylene with a cermet scraper.
Scrape off the glue and film with a stationery knife, and remove the remains with a stationery eraser.
Soak the crumbled film in White Spirit, and after a few minutes, wipe the surface with a stiff brush (not made of metal!).
You can stick regular wide tape onto small pieces of tape, and after an hour, tear it off the surface.

Protective film

After installing plastic windows, a protective film remains on the profile. Leaving it until the renovation is complete is a wise decision, but risky because it may change its properties, making it more difficult to remove. Instead of film, it is better to use masking tape.

The dried film is removed:

Heating device and scraper.
Use a knife and rubber band to remove any remaining film.
Alcohol and a stiff brush (without metal fibers).
With adhesive tape, by gluing it to the profile and removing it after a while.

It is recommended to wash off the remaining adhesive after removing the film with soap and water. The inscriptions are washed off with a special solvent for polyvinyl chloride. An excellent option is Cosmofen 20. The composition is similar in properties to polish.

Removing tape

How to clean cement from windows after renovation?

When walls are plastered and leveled, it is very difficult to protect PVC frames and glass packages from cement mortar stains. They are very difficult to clean. They can help you:

Special products : ATLAS SZOP, Baugerätereiniger 81, Cement N Concrete Remover. Apply the spray of the selected composition to the surface, remove softened stains with a rag.
Comet in the form of a thick gel. Designed for cleaning plumbing fixtures. Can be used to clean PVC windows. Apply to stains and, after the cement has softened, remove it with a damp cloth. Several approaches may be required.
Acetic acid . Use a rag soaked in the essence solution to dampen the cement stains. After a few minutes, scrub off the dirt. Apply baking soda to a rag and wipe the stained areas with it.

Traditional methods for combating yellowness on plastic frames

Experts recommend using ordinary soap or its liquid version when washing window structures. A small piece of soap must be grated or cut and poured with a glass of boiling water. Let it brew and stir. The composition must be applied to plastic frames, left for 30-40 minutes, then rub the yellow spots with a soft sponge. Next, rinse off the product with water.

It is important to remember that when working with even the most gentle compounds, you should use gloves and respiratory protection.

Toothpaste or powder

This product only fights fresh yellowness. If the stains are old, toothpaste will not help. So, you need to squeeze a little paste onto a soft sponge or flannel cloth, rub the stains, leave for an hour and then rinse thoroughly with water.

You can use tooth powder. It does not contain large abrasive particles and whitens plastic perfectly.
The powder must be mixed in equal proportions with crushed chalk and diluted with water to form a thick mass.
Afterwards, you need to apply this composition to the yellow spots and leave for half an hour.
During this time, the product will dry and can be easily removed. The powder will absorb the yellowness.
If you fail to clean the frames the first time, you should reapply the product.

Soda

This is a universal remedy that fights grease stains, soot or even soot. Soda also has a bleaching effect and works great on yellowing that appears on plastic structures.

Soda should be combined with other detergents.
It enhances their effect in eradicating yellow spots on plastic.
You need to dilute a little powder in warm water, add soda, stir, rinse the frames and window sill with this solution and do not wash off the composition for 24 hours.
Afterwards wash and wipe dry.

Vinegar, citric acid

The action of these products is considered gentle; vinegar does not corrode plastic. Granular acid must be dissolved in water in a ratio of 1 part powder to 10 parts water.

Any of these products must be applied carefully, testing the effect on a small area of the plastic surface. At the end of the procedures for removing yellowness, frames and window sills must be rinsed with water and wiped dry.

Liquid bleach

You can use the powder version.

Mix bleach powder with liquid citric acid or vinegar, add 50 ml of water, apply to stains, rinse after 40 minutes.
This remedy works for sure. Bleach whitens surfaces and helps get rid of stains of any complexity.

Hydrogen peroxide

A three percent solution is needed. This liquid is sold without a prescription at any pharmacy.

You need to soak a foam sponge in peroxide and rub it on plastic surfaces, including the window sill.
Wait until the stains lighten and rinse off the composition with water.
You can use hydrogen peroxide to clean plastic structures as often as you like. The product does not damage plastic.

How to get rid of paint stains on windows?

Use a solvent appropriate for the type of paint when cleaning glass. Plastic is more difficult to clean - it is vulnerable to solvents. Water-based paint can be removed with hot water. It is sprayed, then the stains are removed with a scraper. Turpentine helps get rid of other coloring compounds. Do not clean surfaces with blades or iron spatulas to avoid scratching them.

Fresh oil paint on PVC can be removed with White Spirit or Solvent, while dried paint can be removed with a cermet scraper. The glass is cleaned with a blade.
Fresh water-based paint (with acrylic, latex) is removed with a soap solution, dried - with a spatula. With some effort, using a soapy solution and a stiff brush, you can scrub off even old water-based emulsion stains.

Knowing how to clean windows after repair without damaging them, you can not be afraid of repair work of any scale. Use the methods and surface cleaning products recommended in the article and your windows will be clean.

What to remember

Cleaning window frames after repair takes place in 2 stages: first, traces of building materials are removed, then finishing is carried out.
You can clean windows using ready-made and improvised products: household chemicals, nail polish, table vinegar, ammonia, laundry soap.
There are special devices for washing windows. They make cleaning convenient and safe.
Clean glass is streak-free glass . To avoid divorces, you need to follow certain rules.

Video: how to clean windows and glass from cement and plaster

How to clean window glass after renovation?

A damp cloth is not enough to clean glass surfaces - after washing with water, a white coating remains on the glass unit. How to be?

Mix a glass of vinegar with a liter of water.
Wipe the glass with a sponge moistened with the mixture and polish it with newspaper.
To clean fixed glass, use a brush with a telescopic handle. Wipe the glass surface with a sponge. Then turn the brush and use a rubber spatula on the back to remove the moisture and remaining dirt.

Choosing the Right Cleaner

As noted above, you need to buy a product that does not contain small abrasives and includes a minimum of chemically harmful substances. to be guided by .

1. The solution must be liquid or gel-like. This can be either a composition for washing glass or cleaning glass hobs. An alternative is dishwashing liquid.

2. The solution can be made independently at home. There are three options here :

dilute 2 tablespoons of potato starch in one liter of water;
dilute one glass of table vinegar (9%) in one liter of water;
Dilute two tablespoons of ammonia in one liter of water.

However, home remedies are not as effective as store-bought ones. With them, the window cleaning process will take a little longer, but it will be much safer.

Removing traces of glue

Are you scratching your head, not knowing how to clean the window sill of a plastic window after repair from hardened glue? Use special tools. It could be Cosmofen. The composition with the “five” is the most gentle, with the “twenty” the most concentrated. You can check with the window company for the appropriate brand of product.

You can also use a hair dryer to clean PVC. Heat the areas with glue and remove it with a spatula. Wipe the surface with acetone solvent and detergent dissolved in water.

Alcohol-containing compounds

There is no need to use forty proof vodka. You will need medical ethyl alcohol. Of course, it is not advisable to dilute it with water, otherwise the temperature will decrease to the same vodka.

Such a remedy will have little effect. So, you need to apply a little alcohol to a cotton pad or foam sponge and wipe the plastic surfaces.

You can try ammonia. If it doesn't work, you should mix it with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. This composition has excellent bleaching properties and does not corrode plastic.

What if nothing helps?

In extreme cases, a grinding machine or drill will help out. For cleaning you will also need felt circles, detergents containing acetone, and GOI paste. You need to polish the plastic like this:

Use a spatula and cleaning solution to remove any stubborn dirt;
polish the PVC with equipment with a special wheel - the outer layer of PVC with dirt will be removed.

Micro-scratches are removed in the same way. Deep ones are covered with liquid plastic or acrylic.

Sorbent and ionizer

Household appliances can also help in the fight against fungus. An ionizer is a device that purifies the air from germs, bacteria, pathogenic organisms, etc. Small models are very convenient to use. The device is placed on the windowsill and turned on at high power, and after some time the minimum mode is set. The device is left on for about half an hour.

A sorbent is an aroma absorber. It is produced on an industrial scale to eliminate unpleasant odors in rooms. It will not be able to radically change the situation in the fight against mold, but its use will have a small effect.

Proven tips on how to clean windows after renovation

When cleaning window systems, remember:

When cleaning with solvents, wear rubber gloves and protect your eyes.
To clean putty and glue, use a composition for cleaning cement and lime. It is sold in construction stores.
It is necessary to avoid contact of cleaning compounds with the sealing contour; it may deteriorate and the seal of the glazing may be compromised.
When working with simple solvents containing many acids, be careful - the acidic environment threatens the plastic with corrosion.

It is not difficult to clean the glazing from dust and debris, glue, and plaster, but it must be done correctly. Use our recommendations to make your windows clean and beautiful.

Read about how to clean a plastic window sill after repairs here.

Recommendations for selecting consumables

During operation, numerous methods have been developed for washing plastic windows using a variety of consumables, which are the most effective for removing contaminants. Washing plastic windows is greatly facilitated by using:

convenient devices - mops with scrapers, rubber, fabric and foam pads;
systems with glass watering and flat rubber nozzles for cleaning glass and plastic surfaces;
napkins made of soft cotton fabrics - flannel, fleece, cotton - white to avoid the appearance of colored stains;
ordinary newspapers used in everyday life, with which wet glass can be cleaned to perfect condition;
old nylon tights, convenient for cleaning glass;
paper towels and microfiber cloths, etc.

Attention: It is not recommended to use toilet paper for washing to avoid small wet pieces remaining on the glass.