By Matthew Bennett

Aluminum storm windows are heavy duty and built to weather the battery of strong winds and heavy rains. They take a lot of beating, and as a result, build up a lot of dirt and grime along the way. Storm windows protect homes and businesses from the damage of storms and hurricanes. After a particularly strong storm, there might be a lot of dirt that clogs up these storm windows. To get rid of the dirt and debris that accumulates, just follow these easy steps in cleaning your aluminum storm windows.

  1. Start by cleaning the storm windows of the largest bits and pieces of dirt and debris. Use a broom to sweep away the debris that has accumulated outside your windows. You will want to get rid of as much dirt as possible before starting to spray your windows with water: excess dirt and grime will only make things muddier and messier. Without using water, brush off as much dry dirt as you can.
  2. Use a stick wrapped in a cloth to get rid of the persistent dirt. A towel can get rid of most of the dirt an ordinary broom can’t handle. Use firm and circular brushing strokes to get rid of the buildup of dirt that has accumulated on the windows. Some authorities recommend using a white towel for easy bleaching, but any color will suffice. You may need several towels before your windows are free of the superficial layer of grime.
  3. Spray the windows with water. Use a watering hose to provide a jet stream of water with enough pressure to dislodge the dirt that still remains on the windows. Do not include soap yet in this initial spray. The pressure from the hose should be enough to loosen the dirt for the soap and detergent to have their maximum effect.
  4. Spray the windows with soap. There are cleaners available that were specifically designed for aluminum. You can use these, or any mild dish detergent without bleach. When spraying, use a downward direction and motion: you will want to avoid harming the storm windows and your walls. After coating the windows with a sufficient amount of lather, you can opt to rub them down with a towel again, or proceed to the next step.
  5. Rinse the lather with clean water. After you’ve cleaned the storm windows with soap, wash off the soap bubbles with clean water. The jet stream will wash away all the dirt that has been removed by the soaping. Use deliberate downward motions when cleaning, and make sure you cover the entire surface area of your storm windows.
  6. From inside your house, clean the window frame and window sills with a mixture of lemon juice and distilled vinegar. You should also try to remove the bacteria and mildew buildup, which not only can produce unpleasant smells, but can harm the integrity of your storm windows. A damp cloth should be sufficient in applying the mixture to the frame and sills from inside the house.

You can choose the schedule of cleaning that suits you best. Do not forget, however, that you should clean at least once a year, or after major storms that have led to a considerable buildup of dirt and debris.