How to Clean & Maintain Awning Windows

May 3, 2019

Awning windows are not quite as easy to clean as casement or double hung windows, but fortunately, most modern awning windows do have functional components that enable them to be cleaned from inside your home, which means you won’t have to get up on a ladder to complete the job.

Cleaning the Screen, Glass & Frame

To clean your awning windows, start with the window in the closed position. Begin by wiping down the interior frame with a damp terrycloth towel to remove any dirt and dust. Next, remove the screen by simply unlatching the pins around the perimeter of the screen. Once you loosen the pins the screen should pop out relatively easily. If the screen is dirty you can clean it using one of the following methods:

  • Soaking it in warm water in the bathtub
  • Running it under the faucet if your sink is big enough
  • Spraying it with a garden hose, using a moderate setting to avoid damaging the screen

While you’re letting the screen soak, or after you’ve cleaned it and have set it aside to dry, begin wiping down the interior window frame with a damp terrycloth towel. Then, spray the glass pane with your preferred glass cleaner and wipe it clean with a paper towel or lint-free cloth.  Next, crank the window open as far as it will go. Once the hinges are fully extended, reach out to where the hinges connect to the window sash and unfasten the clips. After you’ve done this, the sash should be able to pivot freely. Simply bring the sash all the way up, until it is perpendicular with the window frame, and, with one hand steadying the sash, reach out and wipe the exterior of the glass pane with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. For awning windows with a larger glass surface area, you may need to use a squeegee to reach across the sash. When you are done, simply crank the window shut, put the screen back in, and secure with the pins.

Maintaining the Hinges & Crank Assembly

Regular cleaning will certainly help your awning windows retain their like-new appearance, but proper upkeep of the crank and hinge mechanisms is also required to keep them operating optimally. If your awning windows make a screeching or scraping noise or get stuck when you’re trying to open or close them, they likely need to be lubricated. Using a silicone-based lubricant (not an oil-based lubricant such as WD-40) spray the hinges and the inside of the crank mechanism. To ensure that the lubricant is distributed throughout the entire hinge and crank assembly, simply turn the crank to open and close your window a few times.

Contact West Shore Home

If you’ve cleaned and lubricated your awning windows, but they are still not looking or operating as you would like them to, we suggest contacting a window installation professional who can further diagnose the issue and determine whether you need to replace your windows. The home improvement experts at West Shore Home proudly serve residents of Pittsburg, Lancaster, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and all surrounding areas, as well as the entire Tampa Bay, Florida, area. Contact us today for more information.