Follow these tips to make your windows look beautiful and work as planned for years to come.

CLEAN YOUR GLASS WINDOW

Spray a generous amount of store-bought glass cleaner (or a solution of 10 percent vinegar and 90 percent water) on the glass. Never use abrasive cleaners or strong chemicals, or you could etch the glass. Clean with a lint-free cloth, a paper towel or a squeegee.

To remove dry paint, caulking or window glass sealant, apply a small amount of denatured alcohol or hot vinegar to a clean, dry cloth. Rub the surface and, if necessary, gently scrape with a single-edged razor blade.

To remove scratch marks or adhesive, apply a glass stove cleaner on a clean, damp cloth and wipe gently to remove unwanted marks.

KEEP YOUR WINDOWS

Occasional maintenance helps your windows run smoothly and creates an airtight seal when closed. These are the tasks you must perform once a year or as needed:

Clean the inside window frame with a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Be sure to dry the wooden frames completely.

Vacuum the tracks on which the blade operates with the brush attachment to remove dirt, dust, cobwebs and other debris.

Lubricate the tracks as necessary with silicone spray, which does not attract dust and dirt.

Clean the operative parts of the awnings and casement windows, including the crank gears, pivot pins, guillotine locks and other moving components. Then, spray these areas with a penetrating lubricant, such as silicone or lithium spray. Be careful not to throw water jets with lithium, as this could decrease its effectiveness.

Clean the factory exterior finish with mild detergent and water. Rinse immediately with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.