No more pollen and thieves!Cleaning windows for spring: How to keep them clean and safe!

Ceilings, walls, furniture, floors – and the windows? When spring cleaning, it's worth taking a closer look at the windows. Here are some tips on what you can pay attention to – so that the windows are not only clean, but also keep out burglars and other unwanted intruders.

Windows should be maintained regularly so that they last a long time, remain smooth and you don't waste heating energy. Therefore, you should not only clean the window panes, but also clean the seals and frames.

The Window and Facade Association (VFF) advises using a clean, soft cloth, lukewarm water and a pH-neutral soap to clean window profiles and glass surfaces. You should also clean the window rebate between the sash and the frame – it is best to remove insects, plant residues or dirt with a vacuum cleaner. And a toothpick helps if dirt is stuck in the frame or drainage opening.

The seals are cleaned with water and seal care products keep them supple. In addition, movable window fittings should be lubricated with an acid- and resin-free grease or oil.

When cleaning and maintaining, you can also pay attention to damage to the windows, the frame and the installation. If you want to check whether the windows are properly sealed, you can use a piece of paper or a lighter. Does the flame flicker when you move the lighter inside along the seals of the closed window? Then the window seal could be defective or the window sash may not be tight enough.

If you clamp a piece of paper between the window sash and the outer frame, you can check this more closely. Can the sheet be pulled out without any problems? Then the windows are almost certainly leaking. It often helps to replace the seals or readjust the window sashes. If the damage is more severe, repairs or window replacement may be necessary.

While you're at it, you can also check the burglary protection. It is important to check all mechanical components of windows, writes Network Home Safe. Among other things, you can pay attention to:

Manufacturers also recommend having window fittings serviced every two years.

If you don't yet have any burglary protection, such as no lockable windows, you can get free advice from the police. This involves, for example, weak points in the house or apartment as well as effective security technology against burglars. Those interested can find nearby advice centers online at the state and federal police crime prevention offices.

It is important that fittings have at least the burglary-resistant resistance class RC2. In addition, the protection must be installed professionally. Consumers can find specialist companies nearby at k-Einbruch – an initiative by the police and business as well as at the Safe at Home network. Tested and certified products for retrofitting windows and doors can be found in the police manufacturer's directory.

If the windows are clean, there is still something you can do: reinstall or replace insect or pollen screens. This is particularly useful in spring, when many flowers are blooming and the first insects are on the move. There are big differences between the protective grilles – some you can assemble yourself, even without drilling, for example with Velcro or adhesive fasteners, while other models may require screwing. Depending on your craftsmanship, the hardware store solution is sufficient or a specialist company has to do it.

There are, for example, fixed clamping frames. They are stable, long-lasting protection. If you want to open the windows regularly to water flowers, for example, rotating and pendulum frames are suitable. There are also roller blinds and pleated blinds with integrated insect protection. They are particularly flexible and, according to VFF, are suitable for roof windows.

If the focus is not on insect protection, but rather on protection against pollen, one thing is particularly important, according to the VFF: the protective grille must be a pollen protection grille. Then it is particularly fine-meshed and also protects against fine pollen and more.

Sources used: awi/dpa