Green & Clean: JELD-WEN’s Recipe For Homemade Window Cleaner
JELD-WEN’s Window Care Tips Make Spring Cleaning Easy on the Wallet and Environment

February 01, 2008 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Getting ready for spring and summer means focusing on a few key household chores, including getting the grime off windows and patio doors.

As the world’s largest manufacturer of windows and doors, JELD-WEN suggests homeowners try an easy-to-make cleaning solution that only costs pennies and is as gentle on the environment as it is on windows and doors. According to JELD-WEN experts, it only takes a simple recipe of common household items to help windows and doors sparkle this season. Making your own home cleaning products not only saves money, it is environmentally friendly and safer. Household detergents and cleaning products are among the 2.5 million annual calls to U.S. poison control centers, according to the National Institutes of Health. Opting for chemical-free cleaners that can easily be made at home is one way to avoid the watery eyes and headaches many people experience with some store-bought cleaners.

Mixing it up. JELD-WEN’s simple recipe for mixing up glass cleaner at home includes:
1. Mix one teaspoon of baby shampoo to one gallon of water or 1 1/2 cups of vinegar to one gallon of water.
2. Wash with the solution using a clean, soft cloth or sponge.
3. Rinse with clean water. Avoid pressurized sprayers that can break seals.
4. Promptly dry glass surfaces thoroughly with a cloth.
5. Dry window frames and door surfaces with a separate cloth.

When it comes to cleaning windows, there’s no substitute for old-fashioned elbow grease. JELD-WEN experts say a dry, overcast day is ideal for washing glass. That’s because intense sunlight can cause streaks as the cleaning solution may dry too quickly.

Once glass is clean, there are a few other areas of the window that may need a little TLC to look their best:

• Cleaning exterior finishes. Mild soap and water and a soft sponge or cloth is the simplest and safest way to clean exterior finishes like wood, metal-clad surfaces, vinyl, plastic and brass. Always rinse and wipe dry immediately after cleaning.

• Removing stubborn labels on glass. Soak the label with soapy water and remove with a plastic putty knife.

• Removing dried paint on glass. Soak paint with a warm water and baby shampoo solution. Wipe with a soft cloth or plastic putty knife, if needed.

• Cleaning insect screens. Remove screens and place them into a tub or shower stall if indoors, or on a hard surface outdoors.  Gently spray the screen with water. Brush lightly with a soft bristle tool until clean. For stubborn dirt, a mild soap and water solution can be used. Rinse clean and replace the screen when dry.

Maintenance made easy

For homeowners who want to make window cleaning and low maintenance even easier, JELD-WEN offers a number of new and innovative options. 

JELD-WEN® Custom Wood windows are available with retractable Phantom Screens built right into the window that retract out of sight when not in use. Phantom Screens can reduce the need to clean screens as frequently because they can be tucked away and protected from dust and dirt when not in use. 

For an extra hand when it comes to cleaning, JELD-WEN also offers Neat™  glass as an option for its Custom Wood and Premium Wood Tradition Plus windows and patio doors. Neat glass features a layer of titanium dioxide that reacts with the sun’s UV rays (even on cloudy days) to break down and loosen dirt. This allows rainwater to easily rinse away grime. A thin layer of silicon dioxide lets water disperse evenly and evaporate quickly, which greatly reduces spots.

For more information on JELD-WEN windows, how to make your own window cleaner and tips on window care, visit www.jeld-wen.com.

About JELD-WEN
JELD-WEN, inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors. Based in Klamath Falls, Ore., JELD-WEN began as a small Oregon millwork plant with 15 employees in 1960 and has grown to more than 20,000 employees in nearly 150 locations worldwide. Today the company manufactures a full breadth of windows, doors and garage doors, and has earned numerous awards and endorsements for reliability, innovation and excellence. For more information about the exceptional value and reliability of JELD-WEN products, or to find a dealer near you, please visit jeld-wen.com or call 800-877-9482.