How to Save Thousands by Keeping Your Windows Clean

Keeping your windows clean accomplishes a lot more than just making them shine. In fact, cleaning your windows regularly can save you thousands on eventual window replacement.

As harmful window buildup occurs, the glass can become damaged at a molecular level and eventually lead to a window that can’t be repaired. This unfortunate situation can be avoided.

How is glass corrosion defined?

• Stage 1 Corrosion: Glass with light corrosion, with little or no damage to the glass.
• Stage 2 Corrosion: Occurs when deposits are no longer on the surface of the glass, but have started to break down the molecular structure of the glass, leaving an etched or white haze on the glass after the stain has been removed.

Fortunately there are professional techniques and products to restore damaged or staining in glass surfaces. Stage 1 Corrosion should be easily fixed by a professional window cleaning company. Some techniques used by professionals can also work on Stage 2 Corrosion. If you have Stage 2 Corrosion it pays to give restoration a try.

The best solution to determining whether your windows have Stage 1 or Stage 2 Corrosion and what can be done is to contact a professional window cleaning company. At Southampton Window Cleaning and Janitorial Service, Inc., we’ve been helping windows stay strong for over 50 years.

To be proactive you can simply have your windows professionally cleaned on a regular basis. The recommendation is at least once per year. However, a trained professional inspecting your premises can determine the best frequency.

Lessening or avoiding corrosion starts by understanding what causes corrosion.

Factors that cause corrosion:

• Acid Rain
• Hard Water
• Salt Spray
• Rust
• Oxidation
• Over Spray
• Airborne Pollutants
• Sprinkler Systems

Here are 4 tips for avoiding staining and glass degradation from the above causes – 

1. Have your windows professionally cleaned at least once per year. This helps prevent glass degradation from acid rain, hard water, oxidation, airborne pollutants and salt spray.
2. Rearrange sprinkler systems so tap water does not wet windows. Tap water contains calcium and other hard minerals and will, over time, etch exterior window glass.
3. When painting or staining your building interior or exterior, cover glass in a protective plastic to prevent over spray.
4. Inspect window frames regularly to ensure there is no rust forming. This rust can bleed onto your glass and cause degradation. Use professionals to treat the rust and restore the frame.

Here’s an example of how we identified a client’s window corrosion source to help them remove it:

While reviewing a client’s property we noticed a hard water stain building up on the windows at the northwest end of the building. The cause of this problem was due to the over spray of the roof top cooling component of the property adjacent to the building. The moister over spray was circulating through the airborne urban pollution and attaching itself to the glass and creating hard water stains. We knew that over time this problem would increase and the corrosion would etch the window surface and damage the glass. The solutions to this problem was to remove the stain before the oxidization set up and increase the frequency in which the windows on that end of the building were cleaned.

As was the case in this example, with a proper inspection and knowledgeable window experts, you can make small changes that will save you thousands over the long term.

The best precaution you can take would be to invite us to your property regularly for a site review. We’ll be able to create a plan for you based on your property and the environment that will ensure we fight as much corrosion as possible. In addition we’ll provide free recommendations for what other precautions you may be able to do to ensure long lasting windows.

Southampton Window Cleaning and Janitorial Service, Inc. understands the industries latest equipment and procedures so we can be trusted to maintain one of your greatest assets.

Give us a call today to discuss window corrosion further and schedule your free site review.

Call the window experts at 215-357-1498.